Clothing
+ Fashion
Jewelry +
Watches
Home +
Furniture
 Pottery 
+ Glass
Art +
 Photos 
Paper +
  Books  
Music +
Movies
Toys +
Games
Sports +
Outdoors
Ads +
  Signs  
Eras +
Themes

Collectible N Scale Model Railroad Trains

For would-be Gullivers, N scale model trains from Athearn, Atlas, Bachmann, Kato, and others are a terrific way to go. Just as HO scale model trains are half the size of O scale trains, N scale model trains are half the size of HO, measuring between 1/148 and 1/160 the size of their real-life counterparts (the exact proportion depends on the country you live in or the manufacturer who made the model train). One thing is standard, though, and that is the gauge of the track, which is always 9mm wide.

N scale trains are most popular in Japan, no doubt owing to the premium put on real estate...

In England, a ratio of 1:148 is typical, although some N scale trains are 1:152. These latter models are understandably confused with the vintage Lone Star OOO scale trains that had the same scale.

Space alone is not the reason to choose N scale over HO scale. Many collectors have plenty of room to house their passions, so collecting at N scale simply allows those lucky folks to amass twice as many examples in N scale as they could in HO.

Unlike O scale, standard scale, and HO scale, some of which have been around for a full century, N scale only came into prominence in the 1960s. While the relative youth of the collectible limits the vintage value of N scale trains, it does mean that N scale collectors can generally mix and match components—standards were agreed upon early by manufacturers, making the interchangeability of many parts viable. Just having standard gauge tracks is an enormous help.

The downside of this rush to standardization was that one manufacturer, Arnold, was given the right to produce the N scale’s standard coupling, the Rapido. Not surprisingly, competitors were loathe to steer their customers to Arnold’s coupler, so they developed couplers of their own, even though Arnold owned the patent.

As it turned out, the Rapido did not work very well for automatic uncoupling and it was a bit bulky relative to the N scale’s diminutive size. Today, most serious N scale collectors prefer the magnetic knuckle couplers produced by Micro Trains.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all N scale Show & Tells

Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Brass Model Train Collector Dan Glasure

We’ve been operating Dan’s Train Depot, which is the parent company of BrassTrains.com, for about 11 years now. We bought out a ve… [more]

An Interview With National Model Railroad Association Library Director Brent Lambert

The NMRA library’s original purpose was to focus on model railroading, but over time we’ve also received donations that have helpe… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Airfix Model Railways

Airfix Model Railways

Dave McCarthy's Airfix Model Railway treasure trove is an in-depth archive of the company's plastic railway kits fr… [read review or visit site]

Gateway NMRA

Gateway NMRA

This great reference site for model railroaders, from the Gateway (St. Louis) division of the NMRA (National Model … [read review or visit site]

HOseeker.net

HOseeker.net

This site is a treasure trove of HO scale model railroad manufacturer catalogs and other reference information, inv… [read review or visit site]

Postwar Lionel Trains Library

Postwar Lionel Trains Library

Bernie Schulz’s Lionel Trains Library focuses exclusively on postwar Lionel trains and accessories. The site cont… [read review or visit site]

Eric's Trains

Eric's Trains

Eric Siegel's site displays his collection of O-gauge/O-scale trains, tracks, turntables, and other accessories. A … [read review or visit site]

Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT

Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT

MIT's model railroad club, as one might expect, has one of the best websites for learning about how people play wit… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Model Trains

Other Great Reference Sites: Model Trains

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 1,370 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Brass "n" Samhongsa Oriental Prr Pennsylvania Streamlined S-1 (6-4-4-6) F/p MintComplete N Scale Kato Canadian Pacific Cp Passenger Train - Beaver Scheme - MintAthearn 'n' 11826 Up Big Boy 2-8-8-4 Loco - Dcc Sound!Intermountain - Lot Of 32 Cp Government Of Canada Cylindrical Grain Hoppers CpwxLambert/joe Works N-scale Brass Three-truck Shay, UnpaintedGhb International/fm Model Brass N-scale Brill 250 Gas-electric CombineHuge N Gauge Micro Trains Collection - Unpicked, No Reserve.N-scale Unique 1940s 14-story Skyscraper, Scratch Built. Used.New Kato 106-061 106061 N Southern Pacific Morning Daylight 10 Car SetRelist@lower $ N Scale Di Deluxe Armored Train Set 1-4 Flat Cars/military LoadsN Scale Brass Oriental Limited Southern Pacific Sp C8 2-8-0Fox Valley Models Alliant Energy Rd-4 12 PackKato N Scale Nyc Smooth Side Passenger Set W/ Lighting KitHuge N Scale Intermodal Container Hoard Walthers+ Deluxe+ Con-cor+++ [my18xp5]Model Train Diorama! N - Ho Scale, 2 Waterfalls, Tunnel, Lake, Trees!Kato 106-055 N-scale 11-car California Zephyr Set CzAtlas Freight CarsN - Minitrix 12051 Br 52 Steam Engine Of The Db Original BoxN - Arnold 2275 Br 96 Mallet Steamengine Original Box"n"- Brass Pfm Amtrak Emd F40ph,obKato 106-057 N Scale California Zephyr 11 Car Set 106057 - Free ShippingKato N Southern Pacific 14 Car Daylight Pass Car Set With E8 Dcc/dc Engine4 Car Canadian Pacific Corrugated Passenger Set Kato 106-1602 N [my18.10]N Scale Atlas Montana Rail Link Sd35 #705Santa Fe A-b-b-a Never Run Kato 176-2121 176-2122Kato N Scale Southern Pacific Morning Daylight 10 Car Passenger Set Model Train 4 Car Canadian Pacific Corrugated Passenger Set Kato 106-1501 N [my18.13]Spectrum N Scale Train Usra Light 2-10-2 Steam Loco Dcc Equipped Black 83351Santa Fe El Capitan Passenger Set Number 106-075Union Pacific City Of Los Angeles 11-car Set - Assembled - With Collectors CaseKato N Scale M2 Basic Oval & Siding With Kato Power Pack 381-208511Custom Made N Scale City Hall And Memorial Park.N - Arnold 2511 Br 41 2-8-2 Steamengine W/ Smoke Original Box6 Car Prr Smooth Side Passenger Car Set Kato 106-018 N Scale [my18.14]Woodland Scenics St1482 N Scale Lightweight Scenic Ridge Layout KitLife-like Heritage N&w #2011 Steam LocomotiveAthearn N Scale Emd Fp45 Sf Warbonnet Dcc/dc SoundSanta Fe Fantasy Paint P-42 Genesis In Red Silver War BonnetUnion Pacific Fantasy Paint P-42 Genesis In Grey HoundN Scale Bangor And Aroostook Bl2 N - Fleischmann 7173 4-6-2 Steam Engine Original BoxNs Triple Crown Roadrailer 10-car Set #1 By Deluxe Innovations #180120 Lot #111Athearn N Rtr F59phi W/dcc & Sound Go Transit #605Smokey The Bear Desktop Trains Set Micro Trains N Scale [my18.23]Fleischmann 9191 N Gauge Track Set "d" Complete (plus 3 X 9125 Extra Curves)N Scale Bangor And Aroostook Sw9Roundhouse 12 Pack Maersk Husky-stack Container Cars W/ Individual #s N Asst.955Spectrum N Scale Train 2-6-6-2 Dcc Equipped Painted, Unlettered Black 82671Kato Bethgon Coalporter 8-car Set #4618 MintRivarossi N-scale 4-8-8-4 Big Boy 9208-u.p. 4013Con-cor Rivarssi N Scale Y6b 2-8-8-2 Mallet Union Pacific (delux Paint) Vintage 'n' Scale Arnold Electric Locomotive #2460 Nib Made In Germany Atlas Gp38 Grand Trunk Western Gtw Dt&i Cn N Scale (rare)Nse Special Run 11-19 Union Pacific Flat Car With Nasa Booster Rocket Carrier #1Csx Intermodal 620091 Articulated Double Stack Train Deluxe 150911 N [my18.32]Minitrix "n" Gauge N203 Britannia Br Green Late Crest Running No: 70000 Unboxed Mtl Southwest Region Weathered Runner PackKato Sd70ace N Scale Heritage Wp # 1983Kato Sd70ace N Scale Heritage C&nw # 1995 Nib!Huge N Scale Rolling Stock & Locomotive Hoard Proto N Kato Spectrum+++[my18xp11]
»» Get our weekly N Scale Model Trains email



Right now on eBay



Recent News: N Scale Model Trains

Source: Google News

Preview calendar: Dance, galleries and museums for May 24-30
North County Times, May 23rd

San Diego Model Railroad Museum ---- The museum's 27000-square-foot layout is the largest indoor model railroad display in North America; permanent exhibits include five working model railroads, including HO-scale, N-scale, and Lionel and O-gauge...Read more

Trolleys and diesel trains open the ride season
The Daily News Online, May 16th

Model railroads in HO-scale and N-scale operate throughout the day. Through October, an electric trolley ride and tour of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is included, with its century-old country train station, railroad cars and...Read more

All aboard for Homewood rail fest
SouthtownStar, May 16th

Canadian National Railway, cosponsors of the fest, will display equipment and exhibits of operating model train layouts (O, OH, N scale). Among activities for children are free rides on Little Obie, a scale model of a CN locomotive, complete with a...Read more

Transportation Museum festival gets new name, adds activities
Salisbury Post, May 13th

Rail fans both young and old will see S-gauge, N-scale and HO-scale model train layouts in the Roundhouse, displays of the railroading on the small side. The event will also feature rail car lifting demonstrations, a diesel engine horn display,...Read more

Lake Metroparks Farmpark's to host annual Railroads in the Parks event
Plain Dealer (blog), May 2nd

And for an additional $2, we provide the opportunity for little kids to actually make a wooden train engine." For over a decade, the Railroads in the Parks event has included layouts of HO and N Scale operating model trains, as well as exhibits of G...Read more

Small statuettes stand tall as foundational pieces of Renaissance
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, April 29th

Desktop bronzes were collected by Frick and his peers as expensive desk toys, miniature sculptures you could appreciate in private; not, perhaps, quite the same as a table-top Zen garden you can rake with a tiny fork, or an N-scale model Bugatti (all...Read more