N gauge train sets

[300bhp/ton]

I know nothing about these, any suggestions?

[dr_gn]

300bhp/ton said:

I know nothing about these, any suggestions?

They’re very small model railways.

[x5x3]

dr_gn said:

300bhp/ton said:

I know nothing about these, any suggestions?

They’re very small model railways.

not as small as Z gauge though.

[dr_gn]

x5x3 said:

dr_gn said:

300bhp/ton said:

I know nothing about these, any suggestions?

They’re very small model railways.

not as small as Z gauge though.

True.

Smaller than OO though.

[300bhp/ton]

Any particular makes to avoid or go for? Are they interchangeable or do you have to buy into a certain brand?

[GIYess]

I bought Graham Farish and Peco locos and rolling stock. Both very good quality. Farish have been bought over though so don't think they make any new stuff. Mine are all packed in the roofspace atm due to kids. If you are looking for other vehicles, Wiking has detailed stuff.

[x5x3]

300bhp/ton said:

Any particular makes to avoid or go for? Are they interchangeable or do you have to buy into a certain brand?

What is your budget, do you want to go DCC, period of interest (modern/steam), is it just a toy or about to be a long term hobby?

Difficult to help you without more details.

[Yertis]

Peco for track, and wagons.

Graham Farish (who are not defunct, they were bought out by Bachmann and their models are now excellent, much better than when made at Poole) for locomotives, coaches and wagons.

Dapol also for locomotives, coaches and wagons.

N-gauge is not a toy.

I'm a fan of n-gauge because you can get more realistic-looking track formations and train lengths into any given space. I'm in no way a rivet counter so the relative lack of detail doesn't bother me.

[300bhp/ton]

Thanks will take a look.

No real budget. Just looking.

Watched the final of the Great Model Railway Challenge last night and the N gauge stuff appealed. I like the classic steam locos, but would have no objections to modern ones or something like a HST.

The digital controllers look appealing, but I don't know anything about them or their prices. I have quite a lot of Hornby track and rolling stock from years back, but it's all in the loft and hasn't seen the light of day for a long time. Space is a bit limited, so I think N gauge might work better, plus some younger members of the family are getting to the right age to have a go with such things and it would be nice to share something with them.

I guess ultimately something entry point starting without anything. Not top end, but not toy either. Can anyone recommend any good online retailers to have a browse through what is on offer?

[Wacky Racer]

Anyone coming into model railways from scratch will get a shock how expensive a hobby it is, £1000 will go nowhere unless you just want an oval layout to watch the train go round and round

In my day I used to have a large Hornby Dublo "00" gauge layout with super detail metal sided coaches and engines with "ringfield" motors, running on Peco streamline track.

Prices of this stuff from the 1960's has gone through the roof.

Always fancied a "n" gauge layout...….

[philwhite]

300bhp/ton said:

Can anyone recommend any good online retailers to have a browse through what is on offer?

Check out ehattons, I've used them a lot and their prices are about as low as you'll get online, and the service is great too. Alternatively you do get good prices at exhibitions.

I'd have a look at the Graham Farish starter sets, you'll just need to decide whether you want DC or DCC.

I can echo what others have said about costs, if you want more than an oval and a couple of locos it'll get expensive quickly. Bearing in mind the RRP for a new, mid-sized loco is around £120!

N Gauge is great as you really can cram a lot into a small space, and run decent length consists too. I'm in the process of building my second layout, based on US outline. The first sadly had to be ripped up due to moving house which was a pity.

[2gins]

A long time since I last dabbled in model railways but I had a pretty decent small terminus with attached shunting yard and fiddle yard affair behind the scene board thing, all fitted onto a roughly 6' x 3' MDF board over 1"x2" softwood frame. As you say N is great because you can get a lot more in.
I got most of my stuff from a place called The Engine Shed, they were quite local to me back then (Sussex) and have a website now called Gaugemaster (quick google). My stuff as others have said was all Farish locos and rolling stock and Peco track.

[GreengiantPH]

This is a good forum which will answer most things model railway.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/

Next weekend is the very big Warley show held at the NEC with over 90 layouts, I shall be operating one of them.

https://www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/warley-national-...

Martin

[unsprung]

N will go into smaller spaces, obviously, as others have already mentioned; this isn't just about efficiency, I reckon; it's also about a rich depiction of your chosen location and/or a diverse array in terms of geography / topography

if if I'm honest, I do prefer, or did prefer, HO because of the level of detail -- not just on rolling stock, but also on buildings, vehicles, accessories -- as well as what I believed was a wider availability of older rolling stock

but I have no "horse" in the race of this particular discussion; just offering a comment

grew up on O gauge, S and HO; used to run into the house firmly grasping the newly-arrived issue of Model Railroader magazine

[entwistlecymru]

I got back into railway modelling last year (for the benefit of the kids.....NOT!) and decided on N gauge because of the amount of stuff you can get into a small space. That went out of the window (literally) when I built a 4m x 3m shed in the shape of a goods wagon specifically to house the layout!

As others have said, the cost is quite high BUT Thats offset by the challenge of getting the level of detail that you’d think you can only get in OO or bigger. Some of the layouts on ngaugeforum.co.uk are staggering, Wrenton being the one that springs to mind.

My layout is based on a local junction with a bit of artistic license, in the late 80s/ early 90s (when I was a boy) and is populated with rusty old BR blue locos, all in the process of having DCC sound fitted. It’s gonna be grimy and very sad looking, It just takes a looooong time!

[Gareth1974]

Get yourself down to the NEC next weekend, for inspiration and the potential to pick up some things at good prices.

https://www.thewarleyshow.co.uk

[silverfoxcc]

Electric railways esp 00 are getting to the reamls of the super rich. Locos alone 200GBP good quality Coaches 50GBPIt is getting to the cash stage when buying a Lathe and stock steel etc will get you a 5in Gauge LIve steam loco that you take to your local track and pull the kids around on it PLUS you get to learn a soon disappearing skill
Down side .Will take you 3-4 years andd a pro buld boiler is well into 4 figures BUT you can but them via varous dealers and a good built one could give you change out of 5k

This is just one site

https://www.stationroadsteam.com/locomotive/

and the project B1 ,a good passenger hauler looks ok for under 3k

[ciege]

Toy trains are for boys...

Now my Lego one is for real men





Trains and Scalextric running: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeN1Gp06v3E

Slowmo around the layout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKI63EdCn_Q

[njw]

GreengiantPH said:

This is a good forum which will answer most things model railway.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/

Next weekend is the very big Warley show held at the NEC with over 90 layouts, I shall be operating one of them.

https://www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/warley-national-...

Martin

I'm exhibiting at the NEC this coming weekend. Happy to give you pointers. My layout is Yellow Ridge Uranium Mine (GN15)
Cheers
Nick

[GreengiantPH]

njw said:

I'm exhibiting at the NEC this coming weekend. Happy to give you pointers. My layout is Yellow Ridge Uranium Mine (GN15)
Cheers
Nick

Nick, didn’t know you were on here.
I will be operating Denton Brook stand D46, looks like you are just down the aisle from us.
Looking forward to seeing Yellow Ridge.

Martin (Whiteoak)