N Scale Model Trains Offer Flexibility
Building and operating model railroads offers a creative outlet, provides a chance for a family to share an activity together, and is a lot of fun. If you’re thinking of getting into this fascinating hobby, you’ll first want to consider where you are going to put it. For this reason I recommend n scale model trains, and I’ve got a lot of company worldwide that shares that opinion. Simply put, you’ll get more excitement per square foot out of whatever space you can allocate to your model railroad with n scale than with HO scale. (HO is the scale we associate with train sets commonly given to children at Christmas.)
N Scale Train Benefits…
- Great if you’re limited with indoor space
- Train parts, tracks and scenery are readily available
- Larger scenes are possible because of miniature size
- Expanding the tracks or scene is much easier
Seen as early as the 1920s but first manufactured to modern standards in the 1960s, n scale trains, tracks and transformers have been around for a long time. Sets, components and replacement parts are easy to find and a huge selection is available from a number of reliable manufacturers. N scale 
trains are especially popular in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan, and are gaining more popularity in Australia. While there is a tiny fraction’s worth of differences in the scale in various parts of the world, the track gauge (width) and power supply – 9mm and 12 volt DC – are universal. N scale is the second most popular model train scale in the world today, and there are many organizations devoted to this hobby and gauge. A quick Internet search will turn up several. These groups can offer ideas and advice to help you get started.
While people with a limited amount of space tend to be attracted to n scale trains, that doesn’t mean that your layout can’t grow into anything you have the time and space for later on. Mountains, valleys, tunnels, bridges, stations, towns – the possibilities are endless, limited only by space, imagination and budget.
One caveat worth mentioning is that n scale trains (and others) are comprised of many small parts, and small parts do not go well with small children. Parents of toddlers will want to closely supervise the tykes, keep them away altogether, or wait until they are older to pursue this hobby. For the rest of the general population, n scale model trains can benefit all of us mentally and emotionally. Besides, they allow us adults to spend time at play without other people thinking we are crazy!
