Yeah, that is something that I have noticed about N scale. I grew up during the later years of the steam era, and I do have steam engines on my HO layout. But, I could do an N scale layout without steam since my main interest would be to model passenger trains.
Kato has a nice lineup of ATSF passenger diesels which suits my Dearborn Station needs just fine. Unfortunately, N scale comes up short when it comes to the other five road names (Wabash, Monon, Erie, GTW, and C&EI) that owned Dearborn Station.
Atlas and Intermountain diesels are both nice too. I have an Intermountain F unit that really pulls well and has great detail. I think they made quite a few passenger versions. I know they did one for CN which is close to GTW.
I have a couple of BMan steam locos and the only one that pulls well is the Heavy Mountain. The consolidation, light mountain and the 2-6-6-2 are all quite weak going up the grade. In fact I am selling the light mountain. I have a PK2 0-8-0 that is beautifully detailed and runs well but getting a decoder in the tender was a major pain. They claimed it was’ plug’n play’. What a joke. Again just staying with DC would have saved a lot of frustration. Oh I also have a Model Power Pacific which runs quite well but is very noisy. I had another one and a Mikado but sold both. Trainworld was selling them for $50 each at one time.
Good luck. N scale is fun and I don’t regret doing the layout. Suprisingly I found switching very easy using a uncoupling pick.
Try to find a club in your area with N scale to really see what can be done.
I have had 3 unitrack layouts with the largest being 13’ by 26’. Really had no problems with any of them. I like the fact that turnout motors are inside the turnout. Also I have found that tracking cleaning is almost never needed. Check out U tube for some great N scale layout videos.
One thing to consider about HO vs. N is the ability to do switching operations.
I know that it is possible to uncouple and push cars into sidings in N scale but how reliable is it vs. HO? Most N layouts I have seen are more aimed at long trains ang long runs and passing sidings. Where HO layouts are shorter runs with more drop offs at industries. Both are great just different.
That´s also one of those hard-to-die myths. There are plenty of folks in this forum who will tell you that switching operations are not at all confined to HO scale and bigger.
Switching works fine in N scale – there are many successful N scale layouts focused on freight switching. (I’ve built a couple myself and I’m about to build another.)
I have both HO and N scale layouts. I just finished the trackwork on the n scale layout with used atlas switches and flex track. I haven’t had any problems at all with derailments yet. I do have two yards and have done switching and it hasn’t been an issue.
One thing to note is that micro trains makes body mount couplers, so you can switch the truck mounted couplers out.
Since this post has resurfaced, I guess I’ll add some more 2 cents…
The plus/minus of N has been listed quite well in this thread. Many can and have been argued over, but there is one thing that should be no arguement about - and that is the capability of the MR to work with N’s smaller size.
I built a 4x6 N layout when I was in my late 40s, and as skilled as I may be (or not), I just could not work with the cars/locos/track as well as I would like. That was the dealbreaker, and I soon sold it off and went back to HO. Ha, today at 72 I’m thinking O might be more appropriate for me…
Make no mistake, I enjoy looking at N’s long trains and fantastic scenic vistas, but I just physically cannot work with something that small. Believe me, I do admire those that can, and appreciate their efforts.
I went the other way because of failing eye sight.
Forget any idea of saving money you will spend what you can afford on the hobby regardless of what you are building.
While modeling in “N” I found no real disadvantages the variety of “N” stock was good as was the availability of structures and small detail parts.
Way back then certain brands you did not go near there locomotives but today they have gone or their locomotives have well and truly improved
Its big advantage is being able to build a good model railroad in a smaller space. However, I think that should be avoided and a grand model railroad should be built in a reasonable space really taking full advantage of what the smaller size has to offer
It is just as easy to build a nice scene right down to a domestic garden in “N” as it is in HO.
Just like HO I would suggest using a good brand of flex track and points for exactly the same reasons.
In all scales set track limits what you can do.
“N” scale can be a bit fiddly and finicky getting things set up but that’s what jewelers loops where made for
I can see no reason why the change should not be made if that is what you want to do.
Once you have got used to the smaller size it’s full steam ahead
Even the proverbial dog and fire hydrant can be done in “N” or dog with a cat on trash can.
It’s all a question of how far you want to push the limits of what you think can be done believe me it is possible
When I started this thread, I was giving some thought to converting from HO scale to N scale as I contemplate building my Dream Layout. But this thread has convinced me to stick with HO scale.
I already had reservations about N scale because of the smaller size of the scale. My other concern is the lack of roadnames for what I am trying to accomplish. But, what I hadn’t thought about may be the biggest advantage of N scale, and that is the opportunity to create the appearance of greater vistas and more wide open spaces in N scale than HO scale.
My Dream Layout will be a highly urban layout, essentially a stretch of track running 2 miles or so from Alton Junction to Dearborn Station on the south end of 1950s downtown Chicago. Along that 2 mile route are coach yards, freight yards, an engine servicing facility and, of course, Dearborn Station itself with all of its freight houses. So, wide open spaces will not be part of my plan and neither will be N scale.
I appreciate all of the replies. They have done a good job in helping me reach my conclusion.
Rich, I model in N Scale and originally started out in N Scale in the late 60’s as a teenager when it was first introduced. What I would recommend is checking out some N scale layouts in your area if possible. Go see what other modelers have done both with Kato track and with other track brands. Then watch the layouts operate. You might even want to jot down things you like and don’t like while watching. Additionally you might want to search Mike Fifer on YouTube, he has built a large layout with Kato Unitrack and has quite a lot of hints and workarounds in the videos he has posted.
I’m in the process of planning a new layout, which will probably end up using Peco Flex and switches. My old layout was Kato Unitrack, but was a relatively small layout and the new one will be much larger. I will probably switch track brands mainly because of expense, Kato track is much more expensive and at the size I am planning on building I can save quite a lot of money using the Peco Track and Switches. My N-Track club uses flex track and Peco switches on its modules and to be honest I see little difference between Kato and Peco when it comes to reliability.
