| N gauge trains are the smallest of the three most | | | | much more modest sized length of trackbed. |
| popular sizes and by some accounts, second only in | | | | But so much detail is lost when you shrink it that |
| popularity to HO gauge. N gauge trains are built to a | | | | much. |
| scale of 1:160, that is, one one hundred and sixtieth | | | | Yes, and O gauge modelers say exactly the same |
| the size of the real locomotive or coach being | | | | thing about HO; live-steamers the same about O |
| depicted. The trains run on diminutive tracks that are | | | | gauge. The real issue is to look at how much detail |
| spaced nine millimeters apart, hence the name N - for | | | | the manufacturers are managing to incorporate. |
| nine. If O gauge is the granddaddy of model | | | | Bachmann's EMD DD40AX (with Digital Command |
| railroading, N is the new kid on the block. Bachmann, | | | | Control) or if steam is your thing, Bachmann's big |
| the world's biggest manufacturer of model train | | | | 4-8-4s, available for a number of different roads, are |
| equipment has an extensive range of American N | | | | pretty much the state of the miniature |
| gauge locomotives and rolling stock. | | | | injection-molding art. Do you want to really spoil |
| Cute - but what's the real appeal for the serious | | | | yourself? Just take a look at the articulated C & O |
| modeler? | | | | 2-6-6-2 in Bachmann's Spectrum range. And of |
| N gauge trains are half the size of their HO brothers, | | | | course, if money's not an object, finally, the brass |
| so whatever you can do in HO in a given space, you | | | | loco makers have turned their attention to the |
| can achieve double that with N. This obviously has | | | | burgeoning N gauge train market. N gauge brass is still |
| appeal for the serious hobbyist who has only limited | | | | rarer than HO, but that's changing. |
| space to give to the railroad empire. It is no | | | | Smaller...and cheaper? |
| coincidence that Japan, with its small apartments and | | | | Well, no. Cost is about the same as HO. That being |
| restricted living spaces is also one of the major | | | | said, there are some wonderfully inexpensive N |
| producers of N gauge equipment for the domestic | | | | gauge train sets out there. Bachmann has plenty of |
| and export markets. | | | | starter sets as well as individual locomotives and |
| But there is another, more subtle advantage to | | | | rolling stock that won't blow the household budget. |
| choosing N. Somehow, the relationship of the trains | | | | The very nice Thunder Valley set, headed by the |
| to the miniature worlds they run in looks particularly | | | | classic EMD GP40, with two cars, track and |
| "right" in N gauge. You can model the mountains | | | | powerpack, all there in the box, is below $100.00. A |
| bigger, the canyons and gulches deeper, the forests | | | | personal favorite of mine is the Yard Boss: two cars, |
| denser. And finally, a mainline express loco, with nine | | | | caboose, track, powerpack and saving the best until |
| to ten coaches behind, all too often just looks wrong | | | | last, Bachmann's tough little 0-6-0 Yard Switcher and |
| in HO, unless you are lucky enough to have yards of | | | | tender. Yes, I'm a die-hard steam fan and it's that |
| relatively straight mainline track in your basement. | | | | little slope-back tender that gets my pulse racing. |
| With an N gauge train, you can get away with it on a | | | | |