Here’s a few newbie questions, and some history after that if you care:
I’m thinking about buying my first N gauge trains. I’m intersted in a Kato locomotive because they are nicely detailed. Will Kato locomotives couple with other brand cars or will I have to go Kato all the way?
Also, is their Unitrack a good way to go, or should I use something more universal? Will Unitrack connect to other brand track pieces?
For power supply, I have an old Tyco transformer that says 6VA (Total) 18V DC, 20V AC (DC for the train and AC for accessories). Can I use that, or should I just get the Kato power pack, or a different one? FWIW I don’t plan to use DCC, at least at this stage. I just plan to run one train and hopefully some accessories.
I’m thinking doing about something like this in terms of track layout but about 15 feet long and wall mounted. I have no floor space available for a layout, but I think I can do a shelf layout with N gauge. I do want a loop layout rather than point to point.
My father has a fantastic collection of prewar O gauge Lionels and it has always been a fascination. I presume I will inherit some of them some day.
I have a HO gauge Tyco Spirit of 76 Tropicana set from when I was a kid. The Alco Century 430 locomotive is used and I have not tested it. I never took the other cars or accessories out of the boxes. They are all in brand new condition. I’ll probably be putting them on ebay, and abandoning all hope of HO railroading for now.
I also have a Lionel 6-21948 New York Central Flyer set that has never been taken out of the box. Not sure what to do with that. It’s nice, but I have no place to set it up and I’ve just been storing it for years.
I think the Model Railroader forum would be a better place for the N scale question or for the HO set. If you have any questions about the Lionel set or your dad’s prewar collection, then this is the better place to go. Welcome to the world of model and toy trains. Most people have some of both, but some prefer to concentrate on one or the other.
Thanks. It’s hard to sort out these forums when you are new to them. Some of them are for real trains, some are for discussion of a magazine or a web site. I’m still trying to figure that out.
Also, is their Unitrack a good way to go, or should I use something more universal? Will Unitrack connect to other brand track pieces?
My sons and I built an N gauge Unitrack layout. It is great stuff but somewhat expensive. This was a number of years ago. At that time Kato did make an adaptor track to join with other brands, but you would need to shim the other track to match the height. They probably still make the adaptor sections, you’d have to check.
Unitrack has a couple of nice features:
1 - allows N gauge to be used to build temporary floor (or tabletop) layouts.
2 - the track locks together tightly, eliminating problems with derailing / poor running ude to uneven track.
My older son went on to buld an “N” gauge layout using flex track with more prototypical rail height.
My only experience with N guage is a carnival train on my O layout. I used N running on Kato track for the miniature trains I used to ride on at local Kiddelands. Otherwise N or even HO is way to small for my 61 year old eyes. O is easier to see and more fun to play with.
Skipper, a good guide to what to ask and where goes like this…
For questions about contemporary railroading, go to the “Trains” magazine Forum.
For O and S gauge trains, the “Classic Toy Trains” Forum.
For HO and N gauge, the “Model Railroader” Forum.
For the 20th Century’s “Golden Age” of railroading, the “Classic Trains” Forum.
All can be found easily by going to the top of the website and clicking on Trains.com Sites.
Plenty of knowledge on all those sites available for the asking, and remember, the only stupid question is the one you’re afraid to ask. Sure, some people on some sites can be snarky, but the overwhelming majority are fine folks indeed, and the breadth of knowledge out there is quite amazing.
PS: Looking for train shows? Click on “Resources” and then “Coming Events.” I use it often and it’s quite accurate.
PPS: Concerning the late, great Alan Hale Jr., have you ever seen him in this? If not, you’re in for a real treat!
Personally in my opinion. You can do a better job than the high price of uni track laying your own track. Lay some Road bed down after carefully planning. (Take your time planning. Planning is the most important step. Very important, this is not a race) Then take some Flex track and make it go the way you want it to go. It’s a beautiful thing.
A few years ago, I built a mini-modular layout using Kato N scale Unitrack. I found this to be an excellent, highly reliable track system, albeit a little expensive. Not everyone likes the plasic look of the roadbed, though, but that can be turned into a nice looking thing with a little bit of effort!
MR did a N scale project layout 7 years ago, using Kato N scale Unitrack.
Yes, UniTrack is great stuff. There is no reason not to use it. It is well made, well designed, attractive, and reliable.
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Yes, Kato locomotives are also wonderful pieces of equipment and they will connect with other manufacturers. Some older N scale equipment was factory made with “Rapido” couplers, but for the last 15-20 years or so, most N scale merchandise sold in the USA has a universal style coupler that will mate with Micro-Trains couplers.
Yes, Kato locomotives will connect to all other knucle coupler locomotives.
If you use Unitrack, you are limited to the radius of the curves that they make. Depending upon how you want your track to curve you might be better off going with Atlas track. They have flex track in 30 inch lengths and various switches to go with them.
The old Tyco power supply will work, since N scale uses 12 volts DC for power.
Thanks for all of the replies and the beautiful pictures. You guys are great. The main reason I’m interested in N gauge is because I live in an apartment, and while I can set up a temporary layout with my 027’s 28" diameter track curve, I can’t do anything permanent, and therefore can’t spend a lot of time trying to give it nice various details.
I agree that the Unitrack roadbed looks cheesy (unless you dress it up) and it also increases the track height, which may look artificially high in some places. I think it’s great for temporary layouts, being that it’s quick and easy, but I’ll go with the Atlas track.
I’d like to start on this after the holidays. Maybe even luck out and hit some sale prices. I’m planning a 2-level loop track with the lower level being a city train station with two or three platforms in the center-ish area, and going from city to country. A full circle at each end crossing over itself to minimize grade steepness. The first train is going to be a passenger train, but there will be a siding to allow another train to be left at another station in the country. I have an area of about 2’x18’ to work with. I assume the upper track will be closer to the wall to make it easier to see everything.
If anyone can recommend good software for doing this, that would be great. Otherwise I’m sure I can plan it in 2D on my computer and then lay it out with paper cutouts to make sure that it’s going to work.
I do want to buy the Kato locomtive and cars. Can anyone suggest an acceptable range of grades that these trains can handle?
As much as I’d like to get my hands on the first train, I think it’s best to get a working layout going first. I’ll keep you all posted.
