Bill's Railroad Empire -- N Scale History |
Copyright © 2002-2008 by Bill's Railroad Empire
Lone Star Treble-0 F7A from the early 1960s. This electric locomotive had a rubber band drive. Lone Star was one of the pioneers in the manufacture of modern-day N scale trains. In 1964, Lone Star discontinued their line of electric trains, but continued manufacturing push trains.
N scale is 1:160 (1.9 mm/ft) with a track gauge of 9 mm. Lone Star Products (Great Britain) introduced a line of 8 mm gauge metal push trains in the 1950s. Arnold (Germany) first offered their electric trains in 1960.
Before 1:160 (with a 9 mm track gauge) was adopted as the standard, models were found in Treble-0 (000 gauge) with a scale of 1:152 (2 mm/ft) and with track gauges of 9 mm and 9.5 mm. Great Britain uses a scale of 1:148.
Arnold Rapido FP9A (1964-1969). Locomotive has a metal body. Note the stamped metal truck sideframes. These are part of an improved Rapido line that replaced the toy-like 1960 "Rapido 200" line.
In 1969, Arnold again redesigned their models to compete with the more realistic models being offered by Atlas, Bachmann, Con-Cor, and Minitrix.
Arnold offered a complete line of locomotives including the GG1, freight and passenger cars, track and structures.
Among the locomotives were an Alco FA2, EMD FP9, GP7, and GP30. Steamers included a 4-6-2 Pacific and a 4-6-4 Hudson.
Arnold declared bankruptcy in the 1990s. Rivarossi presently produces some of the locomotives.
Arnold Rapido GG1 with Con-Cor Smoothside Cars
Con-Cor Southern Railway PA1 Locomotive
Con-Cor was an early entrant in the N scale field. The line included a well-made PA1 plus freight and passenger cars manufactured in Japan by Sekisui (Kato).
Locomotives included a 4-6-4 Hudson, Aloc C636, EMD F3, GE U50, and a GE gas turbine.
Con-Cor offered building kits made by Heljan (Denmark) and corrugated passenger cars made by Rowa (Germany).
In the late 1970s,Con-Cor released Rivarossi-made steam and Diesels with improved motors and drives.
In 1980, a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy was introduced. Budd RDC cars followed in 1981 and an Alco DL109 was offered in 1982.
They also offered several Minitrix FM switchers, U28Cs, and U30CGs around 1980. The boxes had Con-Cor end labels.
Over the years Con-Cor offered locomotives made by Fleishmann (Germany), Kato (Japan), Mehanotehnika (Yugoslavia), Rivarossi (Italy), Roco (Austria), and others.
Con-Cor B&O 4-6-4 with Atlas Heavyweight Cars
Atlas B&O E8A Locomotive
Atlas Tool Co. began offering a complete line of N scale trains in 1967. Early steam and Diesel models were made by Rivarossi (Italy) and Mehanotehnika (Yugoslavia). Freight cars were made by Rivarossi and Roco (Austria). Some of the freight cars were painted in Yugoslavia.
Passenger cars were made by Rivarossi. Atlas also had a line of structure kits made by Pola (Germany) and Faller.
Locomotives included an 0-4-0 switcher, 4-6-2 Pacific, 2-8-2 Mikado, Alco RSC2, FM C-Liner, EMD E8, EMD GP40, and EMD SD45. An EMD SW1500 (cow and calf) was introduced in 1971.
Among the Atlas freight cars were a 94' tank car with four trucks, 85' box cars, and 85' stock cars.
The early 1970s brought Diesel locomotives made by Roco that included a GP9, GP30, and F9A. Atlas began the manufacture of freight cars at their factory in New Jersey.
Alco FA1 and EMD E7A locomotives made by Roco were introduced in the late 1970s.
In 1983, Atlas offered an Alco RS3 made by Kato (Japan). Other locomotives made by Kato would follow throughout the 1980s.
Atlas Seaboard Coast Line E7A (Roco, 1977)
In 1977, Rivorossi introduced several steam locomotives including a 2-8-8-0 EL5, 2-8-4 Berkshire, 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific, and 2-8-2 Heavy Mikado using some of the earlier Rowa and Atlas tooling. They also offered a 0-4-0 Dockside Switcher and re-released the SW1500 that they originally produced for Atlas.
The Alco FA1 (previously made for Atlas) as well as some of the freight cars were re-released by Roco in the 1980s and marketed by Walthers.
Minitrix "Little Donkey"
Early Minitrix all metal European prototype 0-6-0T steam locomotive. It was packaged as a "Little Donkey" in the U.S. and was manufactured from the 1960s until Minitrix declared bankruptcy in the late 1990s.
Minitrix also manufactured F9A, F9B, U28C, U30CG, and FM H10-44 Diesels. Steam locomotives included an 0-6-0T, 0-6-0 B6 switcher, 4-6-2 K4 Pacific, and 2-10-0 Decapod.
The Minitrix freight cars were made in Austria. Passenger cars were made in Germany as were the locomotives.
Trix Mangold (Minitrix) declared bankruptcy in the 1990s and the assets were purchased by Marklin. The first Marklin produced Minitrix items started appearing in late 2003.
American Tortoise was the original U.S. importer of Minitrix. Model Power imported Minitrix from the 1970s. Con-Cor marketed some of the Minitrix locomotives around 1980.
Minitrix Penn Central F9A with Atlas Corrugated Cars
Arnold Rapido Southern Railway 4-6-2 with Model Power (PMI/Lima) Heavyweight Cars
In the late 1960s and early 1970s Aurora offered much of the Minitrix line under the Aurora Postage Stamp Trains name. At the same time, Revell provided Arnold Rapido products under the Revell MicroTrains name.
Postage Stamp Trains Set
Aurora and Revell are manufacturers of plastic kits and toys.
Revell MicroTrains should not be confused with Kadee Micro-Trains. These are completely different items made by separate companies.
Around 1970, Aurora offered a toy train set that was made in Mexico. It was far inferior to the Aurora Postage Stamps Trains made by Minitrix.
AHM Reading GP30, New Haven F7A, and Reading Switcher
AHM (Associated Hobby Manufacturers) entered the N scale market with models made by Lima (Italy) in the late 1960s. The models were not well detailed and most were oversized. Shown are GP30, F7A, and four-wheel industrial switcher.
A Q1B 2-6-4T steam locomotive was also offered.
Freight cars and passenger cars were also in the line. Structure kits made by Pola and others were also offered.
AHM later offered Mehanotehnica FA2 and RSD15 locomotives.
In December 1982, AHM was reorganized as AHM by Regal Way. Regal Way subsequently declared bankruptcy. International Hobby Corp. (IHC) is the successor.
Some of the items manufactured by Lima were also sold under the PMI (Precision Models of Italy) name.
Rivarossi acquired the assets of Lima several years ago.
Bachmann SCL Bicentennial U36B
Bachmann Bros. entered the N scale market in 1968. The items were made in Bachmann's factory in Hong Kong. Early models were an oversized F9A and GP40. The Budd Metroliner was one of the models offered in 1969.
Bachmann Penn Central Metroliners
Bachmann UA Turbo-Train
Bachmann manufactured locomotives, cars, and ready-built structures. Several of the early items are still offered.
Other notable items that Bachmann made were the United Aircraft Turbo-Train and the Auto-Train.
In the 1980s, Bachmann introduced the TGV Train, Brill and PCC streetcars, EMD DDA40X, EMD SD40-2, and an EMD GP50. They also added several steam locomotives to their line.
Bachmann 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive
Parkway was a distributor of Bachmann and Arnold Rapido trains, repackaging them under the "Bookshelf Railroad" name.
MRC Santa Fe Alco RSD15
MRC (Model Rectifier Corp.) entered the N scale field in 1969. There were Alco FA2, C420 and RSD15 Diesels made by Mehanotehnika in Yugoslavia and a 2-8-4 and 2-8-8-2 made by Rowa in Germany.
Cars included freight cars made by Sekisui and passenger cars made by Rowa.
MRC discontinued their N scale offerings about two years later.
MRC introduced the Y6B 2-8-8-2 in 1969
The Rowa Y6B was also offered by Arnold, Bemo, and Con-Cor at various times. Con-Cor later purchased the tooling and had them made by Rivarossi.
Rowa declared bankrupcy in the 1970s. The tooling for their locomotives was purchased by Con-Cor. Tooling for the attractive passenger cars was lost.
Kadee Burp-Oh Refrigerator Car (1970s)
Kadee began production of their automatic knuckle couplers in 1968. Their Micro-Trains freight cars followed in 1972.
In the late 1970s, Model Die Casting (Roundhouse) introduced their line of freight cars.
Life-Like Santa Fe SD45, Burlington GP40, and 0-6-0T
Life-Like began marketing a number of N scale items in the early 1970s that were made by Mehanotehnika. Shown are SD45, GP40, and 0-6-0T steam switcher.
In the 1980s, Life-like offered an Alco FA2 (Mehanotehnika).
1989 brought their GP38-2 (made in China). The F7A followed in 1990. These two locomotives started Life-Like's new line of locomotives. A new line of freight cars was also introduced.
Model Power Conrail GP40
Model Power entered the field in the mid-1970s absorbing American Tortoise, importers of Minitrix. They went on to perpetuate the Mehanotehnika line of locomotives and freight cars as well as importing Minitrix locomotives.
Model Power also offered the Lima/PMI FP45 and GP30.
In 1981, Model Power introduced an EMD F40PH and Brill trolleys.
Model Power Brill Trolley and Trailer (1981)
Minitrix PRR K4 4-6-2 with Atlas Heavyweights
In 1987, Kato introduced their first American locomotive, a GP38-2, under their own name. Their GP50 and F3 followed in 1988.
Bev-Bel Corporation offered several Atlas and Bachmann locomotives and freight cars in unique paint schemes.
Others that offered freight cars with unique paint schemes include Ak-Sar-Ben, Aztec, and Brooklyn Locomotive Works.
V-Line and others offered locomotive body shells for several locomotive types.
Handsome Lone Star EL66 0-8-0 Steamer with Rubber Band Drive (1964)
More of the history and photos of N scale (1:160), "Treble-0" and 000 gauge trains will be here soon. At present, this history is dealing only with models of American prototype equipment and the time period from the 1960s through the 1980s. I have not included Brass models.
The 1990s brought a wide variety of new locomotives and cars. A number of new manufacturers entered the scene.
The late 1990s found Minitrix in bankruptcy. The assets were purchased by Marklin. In 2004, new Minitrix items are surfacing, including a U.S. Army Transportation Corps train set.
Around 1998, Lima and Arnold were in bankruptcy and the tooling was sold to Rivarossi. Some Arnold items were offered by RR and the existing Rivarossi locomotives and cars were renamed as Arnold. Then in 2002, Rivarossi declared bankruptcy and the assets were sold to Hornby. The tooling was then shipped to China.
Lone Star Train Set
N SCALE LOCOMOTIVE ENCYCLOPEDIA
Mark Peterson's site has photos and reviews of almost every N scale locomotive ever made
Explanation and history of British N scale (1:148) including a list of manufacturers. Thanks, Neil!
George Irwin's Guide to First Generation Atlas N Scale with Photos and Links
HISTORY OF MICRO-TRAINS LINE CO.
Kadee and Micro-Trains History
HISTORY OF LONE STAR DIE CAST MODELS
Treble-0 pioneer's story and photos
Aurora Postage Stamp Trains ads from the 1960s
N SCALE REFERENCE GUIDES FOR COLLECTORS
Sootsman's, Hample, and Miller's Price Guides
ON THE NEXT PAGE . . .
A complete list of N scale locomotives offered by Bev-Bel Corporation
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