I just wanted to bounce a few observations around with brethren N-Scalers.
I started into N-Scale in 1980. Like 21st Century newcomers, I was attracted to the large amount of railroading in a small space and the great mechanical aspect of the tiny locomotives. There were only two hobby shops in the area I live in, but they were rather well stocked and friendly to give advise and could order anything you wanted via the Walthers Catalog and the phone. The was no internet for supposed ease of buying. Heck, there were not many fax machines for placing orders. Atlas, Con-Cor and the new kids, Kato, would release a new diesel locomotive once or twice a year. What steam locomotives that were available were notoriously hard to run and maintain and did not play well with the new track sizes coming available. Bachman and Model Power built throw away stuff and buildings were limited to very few American prototypes. Kit bashing Heljan stuff was the norm. HO had all the cool stuff, but I was OK with N Scale because of the way it fit my MRR needs. I built my first layout on a card table and developed my skills. It wasn't very prototype, but it was fun.
In the 1990's, I was away from being active for a few lean years and started back up the year I bought my house with a basement. I built three fairly ambitious layouts, one being fairly large in N Scale terms with the ambition of basement world dominance: 13' x 8' dual main line loop with a functioning wye for further expansion. Times were good. I accumulated tons of good quality rolling stock and locomotives. Building kits were improving and my old cornerstone structures had become very convincing line structures and background buildings. Walthers started making their great series of N Scale buildings and tons of manufacturers were making all sorts of things that began to rival (sort of) HO.
I had reached my third layout at the home in 2000. Product availability was good and the internet really began to take over the market place. Purchasing and research were never easier but hobby shops began to die off. The legendary "End Of Track" Hobbies in Franklin Park, Illinois closed around 2005, marking the end of a golden era. (They had the most gigantic, well detailed N Scale layout you could imagine-worth the two hour ride through Chicago traffic).
In 2008 the flood came. I was very much an N Scale Noah, saving as much as I could. Luckily, I had just disassembled my track from the layout and moved the locomotives to what proved to be one of the only safe spots from water: the attic. My Titanic train board/storage cabinet survived the deluge, but all the track (enormous amounts of Code 80 with ground throw turn outs) and all the buildings were destroyed by water and the resulting foundation collapse. Many of my locomotives were also wrecked. My rolling stock, while VERY damaged, was for the most part salvageable. I took my little box of engines and retreated from my subterranean empire to my exile upstairs while massive reconstruction took place. All the while, I eye-balled the "new" construction of the basement with railroad friendly in mind. I began to pick up a few bits of track for experimenting with and developed of track plan for the slow job of getting track space back from Mrs.
This past week I took out the engines and the few new bits of railroad hope I had stored away on the high ground. I made room in the basement storage where they could be accessed but draw no attention (plain, unmarked storage containers). I took out my well worn track plan and started to open boxes.
Now days, you really have great internet resources. Heck, I can Google stuff on my phone for info on the road. I can buy things easier (at no risk, right Target customers?) and research the daylights out of things. You Tube and the others provide direct access to amazing layouts made by a large group of Model Railroaders. There are still only two hobby shops in the area, which stock barely any N Scale. HO equipment still dominates, rightfully. The surviving hobby shops have learned to diversify and get involved with clubs that promote the hobbies they deal in. Atlas and Kato still release painfully small amounts of good equipment. Bachman and Model Power have locomotive lines that rival the big boys. Con-Cor is all but gone (why is there still such small amounts of good running steam available?). Building kits are still pretty much the same but the smaller companies with unique structures have added tons of prototypical structures to play with. Walthers has made a large amount of generic American prototypes available for easy modification. N Scale track has never seen such variety (which is good or bad depending). Atlas track is unavailable for the most part (tragic). Things seem to have changed but remain the same. I still feel like part of an underground movement of a Model Railroad N-Scale faction waiting for the technological nirvana to catch up with our needs and imagination.
I am interested in hearing your story, whether it be 40 years in N-Scale (sounds like a prison movie) or just getting started.
You long termers: what changes, good and bad, have you noticed?
You new comers: what innovative things do you see for N-Scale?
What do you think of the effect of technology on the hobby?
What will be needed to sustain the hobby?
What will be needed to make it grow?
I'd really like to keep it N-Scale focused since the other scales have their own issues!
Jump in...share your thoughts.
I started into N-Scale in 1980. Like 21st Century newcomers, I was attracted to the large amount of railroading in a small space and the great mechanical aspect of the tiny locomotives. There were only two hobby shops in the area I live in, but they were rather well stocked and friendly to give advise and could order anything you wanted via the Walthers Catalog and the phone. The was no internet for supposed ease of buying. Heck, there were not many fax machines for placing orders. Atlas, Con-Cor and the new kids, Kato, would release a new diesel locomotive once or twice a year. What steam locomotives that were available were notoriously hard to run and maintain and did not play well with the new track sizes coming available. Bachman and Model Power built throw away stuff and buildings were limited to very few American prototypes. Kit bashing Heljan stuff was the norm. HO had all the cool stuff, but I was OK with N Scale because of the way it fit my MRR needs. I built my first layout on a card table and developed my skills. It wasn't very prototype, but it was fun.
In the 1990's, I was away from being active for a few lean years and started back up the year I bought my house with a basement. I built three fairly ambitious layouts, one being fairly large in N Scale terms with the ambition of basement world dominance: 13' x 8' dual main line loop with a functioning wye for further expansion. Times were good. I accumulated tons of good quality rolling stock and locomotives. Building kits were improving and my old cornerstone structures had become very convincing line structures and background buildings. Walthers started making their great series of N Scale buildings and tons of manufacturers were making all sorts of things that began to rival (sort of) HO.
I had reached my third layout at the home in 2000. Product availability was good and the internet really began to take over the market place. Purchasing and research were never easier but hobby shops began to die off. The legendary "End Of Track" Hobbies in Franklin Park, Illinois closed around 2005, marking the end of a golden era. (They had the most gigantic, well detailed N Scale layout you could imagine-worth the two hour ride through Chicago traffic).
In 2008 the flood came. I was very much an N Scale Noah, saving as much as I could. Luckily, I had just disassembled my track from the layout and moved the locomotives to what proved to be one of the only safe spots from water: the attic. My Titanic train board/storage cabinet survived the deluge, but all the track (enormous amounts of Code 80 with ground throw turn outs) and all the buildings were destroyed by water and the resulting foundation collapse. Many of my locomotives were also wrecked. My rolling stock, while VERY damaged, was for the most part salvageable. I took my little box of engines and retreated from my subterranean empire to my exile upstairs while massive reconstruction took place. All the while, I eye-balled the "new" construction of the basement with railroad friendly in mind. I began to pick up a few bits of track for experimenting with and developed of track plan for the slow job of getting track space back from Mrs.
This past week I took out the engines and the few new bits of railroad hope I had stored away on the high ground. I made room in the basement storage where they could be accessed but draw no attention (plain, unmarked storage containers). I took out my well worn track plan and started to open boxes.
Now days, you really have great internet resources. Heck, I can Google stuff on my phone for info on the road. I can buy things easier (at no risk, right Target customers?) and research the daylights out of things. You Tube and the others provide direct access to amazing layouts made by a large group of Model Railroaders. There are still only two hobby shops in the area, which stock barely any N Scale. HO equipment still dominates, rightfully. The surviving hobby shops have learned to diversify and get involved with clubs that promote the hobbies they deal in. Atlas and Kato still release painfully small amounts of good equipment. Bachman and Model Power have locomotive lines that rival the big boys. Con-Cor is all but gone (why is there still such small amounts of good running steam available?). Building kits are still pretty much the same but the smaller companies with unique structures have added tons of prototypical structures to play with. Walthers has made a large amount of generic American prototypes available for easy modification. N Scale track has never seen such variety (which is good or bad depending). Atlas track is unavailable for the most part (tragic). Things seem to have changed but remain the same. I still feel like part of an underground movement of a Model Railroad N-Scale faction waiting for the technological nirvana to catch up with our needs and imagination.
I am interested in hearing your story, whether it be 40 years in N-Scale (sounds like a prison movie) or just getting started.
You long termers: what changes, good and bad, have you noticed?
You new comers: what innovative things do you see for N-Scale?
What do you think of the effect of technology on the hobby?
What will be needed to sustain the hobby?
What will be needed to make it grow?
I'd really like to keep it N-Scale focused since the other scales have their own issues!
Jump in...share your thoughts.
Last edited by a moderator:
