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The History of N-Scale Model Trains – How Their Small Size Made Them So Popular

January 16th, 2010 Doug Leave a comment Go to comments
N scale trains have been around in some form as early as 1927, but they are one of the newest of the model train sizes. Due to the abundance of other scale trains that had been around much earlier, N’s did not become popular and begin to be produced in commercial quantities until 1962. They were, however, one of the earliest scales to start out with recognized standards. In the early 1960’s standards were agreed upon among manufacturers with respect to the voltage to be used, the track gauge, the train height, and other aspects of the scale. Before manufacturers around the world agreed on standards, buyers could not be guaranteed that an N scale train from Marklin in Germany would fit on the same track as an N scale train built by Bachman in the US. Even today with standards, there are variants. These include 1:150 or 1:160 in Japan, and 1:152 in the UK among others.

N-scale trains grew to become the second most popular standard in the world. Only HO scale is more popular. N-scale takes less floor area than HO scale and so is used much more in locations where space is limited. N-scale’s popularity is partly because its smaller size allows for a greater number of trains and much more expansive scenery in a given space. The scenery is also usually more detailed. The proliferation of N-scale has grown at varying rates in different countries. The rise in popularity of any type of model train often depends on people producing train models that are similar to the actual trains of the region. Since N-scale is one of the latest scales, it has taken some time for models that reflect regional trains to be produced in certain countries. In Japan, where space is limited, N-scale became popular very quickly and indeed is the most popular scale today, while in Australia it has taken a longer time to become more accepted.
For various reasons such as modeling narrow gauge (N scale train on HO gauge track), modeling minimum gauge (N scale train on a T scale track) or modeling perspective (N scale train in HO scale scenery) not all N scale trains are run on N gauge track. These scales have been given their own letter designations in order to distinguish them from a totally N scale layout. Actual narrow gauge N scale tracks are around, but are rare due to a dearth of parts suppliers. N scale trains look very small, (and at 1:148 of full scale, they are approximately half of HO scale), but they are not the smallest scale that is produced. Both T (1:450) and Z scales (1:220) are much smaller. If you would like your layout to fit in a smaller area, but still have heaps of detail or would like to have  a greater amount of scenery, N scale trains might be your best choice.

N scale trains have been around in some form as early as 1927, but they are one of the newest of the model train sizes. Due to the abundance of other scale trains that had been around much earlier, N’s did not become popular and begin to be produced in commercial quantities until 1962. They were, however, one of the earliest scales to start out with recognized standards. In the early 1960’s standards were agreed upon among manufacturers with respect to the voltage to be used, the track gauge, the train height, and other aspects of the scale. Before manufacturers around the world agreed on standards, buyers could not be guaranteed that an N scale train from Marklin in Germany would fit on the same track as an N scale train built by Bachman in the US. Even today with standards, there are variants. These include 1:150 or 1:160 in Japan, and 1:152 in the UK among others.
N-scale trains grew to become the second most popular standard in the world. Only HO scale is more popular. N-scale takes less floor area than HO scale and so is used much more in locations where space is limited. N-scale’s popularity is partly because its smaller size allows for a greater number of trains and much more expansive scenery in a given space. The scenery is also usually more detailed. The proliferation of N-scale has grown at varying rates in different countries. The rise in popularity of any type of model train often depends on people producing train models that are similar to the actual trains of the region. Since N-scale is one of the latest scales, it has taken some time for models that reflect regional trains to be produced in certain countries. In Japan, where space is limited, N-scale became popular very quickly and indeed is the most popular scale today, while in Australia it has taken a longer time to become more accepted.
For various reasons such as modeling narrow gauge (N scale train on HO gauge track), modeling minimum gauge (N scale train on a T scale track) or modeling perspective (N scale train in HO scale scenery) not all N scale trains are run on N gauge track. These scales have been given their own letter designations in order to distinguish them from a totally N scale layout. Actual narrow gauge N scale tracks are around, but are rare due to a dearth of parts suppliers. N scale trains look very small, (and at 1:148 of full scale, they are approximately half of HO scale), but they are not the smallest scale that is produced. Both T (1:450) and Z scales (1:220) are much smaller. If you would like your layout to fit in a smaller area, but still have heaps of detail or would like to have  a greater amount of scenery, N scale trains might be your best choice.

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