UK outline layout in the US

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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This is my first post here. I’m getting back into MRRing and want to do something a little different. Read on…

While I’m waiting for my account to go active on the UK forums, i thought I’d post the question here to see if anyone has any experience in what I want to do. I’m somewhat limited in space, and I’ve always loved N scale. I’ve been selling off all my old HO stuff and starting to plan an N scale layout in our garage. This time though, I want to focus on the UK style trains. There’s something about their steamers that is just beautiful. Add to that the fact that my wife and daughters love the Harry Potter series and my wife actually showed interest in model building of the scenery and structures, and you’ve got yourself the start of an N scale British layout.

A few observations I’ve made already though. No.1 is that there is very little UK spec N scale equipment to be had in general, and even less available here in the states. I found model 11 in TX who carries all of the Graham Farish N scale UK outline stock but that’s it. No. 2 is that I intend to use local bought N scale track and I’d like to do this as a DCC layout. With the power differences between the UK and the US (220v & 110v respectively) I’m concerned about the power equipment being US based and the loco’s being UK spec. Then the matter of US DCC equipment controlling UK DCC equipment. I know DCC is supposed to be universal, but I’m no expert on electricity and the marrying of the 2 continent’s equipment.

I considered buying a DCC setup from the UK company Hornby and doing everything to UK spec with the only difference being the power to the system is supplied via a UK to US converter. Just curious if anyone on here knows about doing UK spec stuff here in the US.

Ok, so let’s complicate this a bit further. Given the lack of N gauge UK spec gear here in the US, my mind has wandered into the UK OO gauge stuf

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Phil,

I am not into UK outline modeling. I am a German guy who is into US outline modeling.

From what I know about the US market, British prototype MRR equipment is not readily available. That includes structures and figures. There are a number of mail order (Internet) houses in the UK who are happy to do business with you. Shipping may add a lot to the bill, however. In UK, kit building is quite common, and there are many smaller businesses offering kits for structures and rolling stock.

I cannot recommend buying a Hornby DCC system. It works on 230 V AC and the plug is very much different. You can use any US made DCC system and run your British locos without any problem. I use an old Uhlenbrock DCC controller to run my Tsunami equipped loco.

OO scale is much larger than HO scale.If you want to go into this scale, you need to source all structures and figures from British sources. When you compare the size of locos, the difference is not that noticeable, as British locos are much smaller than US locos.

Last but not least, the way British model railroaders build their layouts is also very much different. As space is at a premium in UK, layouts are much smaller. Usually, British layouts depict a single scene (or LDE) like a passenger depot, and use a fiddle yard for operation.

Modeling UK outline in the US is challenging, but certainly rewarding!

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I do the exact opposite, I model US outline in the UK - many reasons chief amongst them being whilst I love trains, having a father wo worked for British Rail from steam days until the privatisation era (1958- 2004) as a fireman and later a driver, I kind of overdosed on UK outline in my youth.

Firstly, your worry over voltages etc - DCC is a worldwide standard, from the dcc unit to the track is the same everywhere, a US supplied DCC system will work fine. I use a UK sourced Lenz system to run my US outlne models for instance.

For the N compared to OO, given the choice I tend to think I would go with the larger scale, as you note, far more variety, of both loco’s and rolling stock, and in general closer to the standard of the best US outline RTR stuff than the n , which apart from the very latest releases, do not compare well with the likes of Kato’s output in US Outline.

Bear in mind that a UK OO layout can often be done in quite a small space, over here the prevelance is for small branchline terminus, engine depot or the like in spaces of around 10’ by 2’ maximum, often smaller.

if you are joining a UK based forum you will no doubt get plenty of advice, but for sourcing your locos there are several of the UK based dealers who readily ship all over the world.

The one place where UK outline really is significantly behind US products is sound.

For UK prototype sounds there are a few factory fit from Hornby and Bachmann, but they, and ALL the aftermarket options are based on ESU loksound chips.

You cannot get UK sounds on any other sound decoder, and at least over here, the loksounds command a significant price premium over QSI or Soundtraxx.

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Thanks guys. I see a lot of the other way round actually. A lot of brits modeling US spec. Sounds like I’ll have no problems other than sourcing the products. I like the looks of the Lyddle end stuff from Hornby as far as structures go.

I finally got my account activated on the UK forum, so I’m curious to see what they have to say too. Should be a fun ride!

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Despite the difference in input voltage, both US and UK ‘regular’ power packs produce the same output. US and UK engines are made to run on 12V DC power around 1 amp or so. It doesn’t matter whether the input to power supply is 220V or 110V or whatever, the output power is the same. The engines don’t know the difference. [:)]

IIRC US DCC standards are at least in part based on designs originally created by a German company, so there should be no problem putting “US” decoders in a European/UK engine (except for the usual N scale issue of finding space to put them in!!) as long as it runs on DC normally. It’s only the three-rail AC trains like Marklin HO that can be an issue.

I’ve been interested in UK railways (both model and real) for many years. I used to subscribe to The Railway Magazine and when visiting Canada used to always try to pick up a few UK model railroad books (which were usually very cheap there). The Brits are phenomenal scenery makers, usually I suspect because their “layouts” are usually tiny compared to US basement-fillers so they really put time into the details. Martyn Welch’s “The Art of Weathering” is still the bible of model RR weathering to me.

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I am a Brit living in the US, modelling predominantly US prototype HO, but with an extreme fondness for British stuff.

OO scale trains run fine on HO scale track. I use Atlas code 100 without any problems. I have installed decoders from NCE, TCS and Digitrax in all my British stuff and run everything using Digitrax DCC equipment.

Periodically I will get something from http://www.hattons.co.uk/ In fact just received an order comprising Eurostar extra cars and a steamer that was on sale. Shipping charges were 11GBP (about $17.00) with the package arriving within a week of the order placement. When shipping out of the EEC, the VAT is deducted from the order. In my case the VAT deduction was greater than the shipping, so these items actually cost me less, including shipping than they would have had I purchased them in the UK.

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I too am a Brit living in the US. I don’t think you can beat British steam locos. I have been researching buying Peco turnouts here in the US and I found that it was cheaper to buy them from Hattons in Liverpool. Because the order is shipped to the US VAT is removed and therefore that just about covers the cost of shipping. Catch a decent exchange rate and you will have what you need within a week or so.

I have no problem running Hornby OO locomotives on my DCC HO layout.

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my main railroad is 3-rail o scale. however I have a 4x8 ‘oo’ layout with UK outline equipment. Over the years I have used ‘Hattons’ with good results also e-bay/canada. a lot of UK outline is sold in Canada. a few years ago I picked up an entire Tri-ang collection from the fifties. still runs great even after all the years.

Ripley Manor