Learn About N Scale Railroads And Why
N Gauge Trains Are A Sensible Option
When Building A Model Railroad Layout

The History of N Gauge Train Sets

There are three common types or scales (sizes) of model train tracks, cars and layouts. The smallest of these is the N Gauge Train Set. The N gauge set ups are the least expensive to work with and need the least amount of space. N gauge refers to the distance between the rails on the tracks at 9 mm or 0.354 in. The scale for N gauge ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. What these ratio numbers mean, is that the N scale item is 148 to 160 times smaller than the real actual item.

N scale trains and accessories, including buildings, have been available since about 1927. However it did not really become popular until 1960 with the introduction of the Rapido 20 at the German Nuremberg Train Show. The Arnold Company introduced this scale at this show. Then in the following years other companies such as Lone Star, MiniTrix, Lima and Riverossi also jumped into the fray with N scale products including buildings and building kits.

N scale is most popular in places like Japan, where space is at a premium and more trains, buildings and scenery can be pushed into a smaller space. HO scale is most popular in the US and is number 1 worldwide with N gauge at number 2. The UK equivalent to HO scale is OO gauge, although there is a slight difference in size. O gauge is harder to find.

By 1962 the N Gauge train sets manufacturers had all agreed to produce and recognize one standard definition and size of the voltage, gauge, type of couplers and height of the tracks. Arnold Manufacturing, who produced the first Rapido later shared the design for their couplings with the other N gauge manufacturers in order to standardize the gauge. Lone Star discontinued making electric trains in 1964.

Arnold made an entire line of N scale in the 1960’s including GG1 engines, passenger and freight cars, buildings, structures, track and accessories. The Arnold line was unbroken until the company went into bankruptcy in 1990 and the assets were purchased by Rivarossi. By 2002, Rovarossi had also declared bankruptcy and the assets were then sold to Hornby who currently produces trains under the Arnold name. Things have come full circle for the Arnold brand.

Another player in the N line in the 1960’s was Con-Cor made in Japan by Kato (Sekisui) and their products included the PA1 engine, freight trains, passenger trains, a bullet nose 4-6-4 Hudson, a NYC Commodore Hudson and a gas turbine. They sold building kits and corrugated passenger cars made by other manufacturers. They sold Rivarossi manufactured diesel and steam engines in late 1970 under the Con-Cor label. Committed to offering the largest possible array of trains, Con-Cor also sold Roco, Fleishmann, Mehanotehnika and Kato among others. They also produced a journal called TrainLog.

In 1967 Atlas Tool Company started offering a wide array of complete N gauge sets with kits from Rivarossi, Roco, and Mehanotehnika. There were diesel and steam engines, freight cars and kits for freight cars. Other kits offered were made by Faller and Pola. In addition, Atlas offered industrial switcher models, helium tank cars, stock cars and vinegar tank cars. Others offered were flat cars, center-flow hoppers, three-bay and four bay hoppers, refrigerator cars, gondolas, chemical tank cars and transfer cabooses.

In the early 70’s the boom continued with diesels by Roco and freight cars made in New Jersey by Atlas. Atlas offered an Alco RS3 in 1983 that was made in Japan by Kato. This would continue with Kato products till the end of the 1980’s.

Then in 1990 Minitrix joined the list of bankrupt train manufacturers and suppliers. Their assets were purchased by Marklin who began making them in the 1990’s. Bachmann became another major player in the N gauge train in the 1980’s. There were new manufacturers, cars and engines in the 1990’s and by the end of the decade Lima and Arnold were both lost to bankruptcy. Roco went into bankruptcy in 2005 and the brand is now under new ownership. As previously mentioned the Arnold name continues under the Hornby brand today.

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