N Scale Locomotives

Model railroad locomotives are available in many shapes and sizes. You can purchase steam engines, electric engines, and diesel engines. The era or time period you intend to model will typically dictate the type of locomotive you choose for your train table.

As previously mentioned, the options available to you include diesel, steam, and electric. In general, you want to match these technologies with the era you intend to model. If, for instance, you are going for a 1930’s look and feel an appropriate choice of engine might include the 464 Hudson for passenger service and the 284 Berkshire for freight service.

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KEY Imports #2929 Brass Locomotive AT&SF 4-8-4    US $750.00

Lemaco N-001 SBB E 4/4 Steam Locomotive #8901 NIB    US $555.00

Republic Locomotive Works Ready To Run Shay Locomotive    US $499.95

Electric Locomotive Type 8000 - World Kougei (Kogei)    US $398.00

MINITRIX 4-6-0 Steam Locomotive with Tender (Boxed) N    US $236.36

JR Locomotive EF81 with Sleeping Car 7 cars-Tomix 92950    US $218.00

N Scale Lima Locomotive Works GS-4 - SP #4449 - Kato    US $197.98

N Scale E8/9 A+B Locomotive Set - AT&SF #82L&82A - Kato    US $182.99

N SCALE RAPIDO PENNSYLVANIA GG1 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE    US $180.00

Re 4/4-460-SBB-Swiss Post Locomotive - Kato K137111    US $168.00

Kato N Scale GS-4 Locomotive (SP Day Light) [126-0302]    US $159.99

EMD Class 66 HGK #DE672 Locomotive - Kato K10819    US $158.00

EMD Class 66 MRCE #513-9 Locomotive - Kato K10820    US $158.00

BACHMANN SPECTRUM N STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 4-8-2, NYO&W    US $157.25

PROTO 2000 HERITAGE N SCALE 0-8-0 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, C&O    US $152.98

Life-Like 7528 Steam Locomotive AT&SF 1791 USRA 2-8-8-2    US $150.00

Atlas C628 N Scale Locomotive DCC Hamersley Iron #54173    US $145.97

Atlas C628 N Scale Locomotive DCC Hamersley Iron #54172    US $145.97

Japan Railway Diesel Locomotive Type DD51 - Tomix 92954    US $138.00

ATLAS N SCALE SD50 LOCOMOTIVE W/DCC, UNION PACIFIC/SP    US $135.96

MTL 992 00 101 EMD FT A/B Locomotives SANTA FE Rd #159    US $129.95

MTL 992 00 102 EMD FT A/B Locomotives SANTA FE Rd #161    US $129.95

Atlas N B30-7 Frisco #866 Locomotive 49979    US $129.95

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In general, when selecting locomotives, model railroad buildings, rolling stock, or even certain types of scenery for your layout, you want to stay within the same period of time you are modeling. If you're trying to provide the most authentic look and feel to your layout possible, you wouldn't want to include a TGV, EMD GP7, Alco PA1, or other futuristic N scale engine on a 1930s layout. They didn't exist back then.

The same general rules apply to model railroad structures and certain types of scenery too. You probably won’t do well trying to pull off a realistic 1930’s train table that includes models of the World Trade Center or Sears Tower in the middle of your layout either. On the scenery side of the house It wouldn't be such a hot idea to put billboards around town with pictures of Cher, Dolly Parton, or Beyoncé on them as none of these megastars were even thought of back in 1930.

Naturally, it's your hobby, it’s your train table, and it's ultimately your decision. If it's a realism that you're going for then you need to adhere to basic rules of time and space.

If you're just in it to have fun, which should be the primary reason, you can do whatever makes you happy! There really are no rules. Just do your best to make everything as realistic as you can and have a ton of fun doing it.

That's pretty much what I did when I started working on my first layout some years ago. I wasn't even slightly interested in modeling a particular road name or region of the country. My only motivation was to set up as realistic an N scale railroad as I could, and have a lot of fun in the process.

Good luck and happy railroading!