N Scale Locomotives
N scale locomotives and other model railroad locomotive engines are available in many shapes and sizes. You can purchase N scale locomotives from a variety of quality model train manufacturers. Steam engines, electric engines, and diesel engines are options available to you. Of course, the era or time period you intend to model will typically dictate the type of N gauge locomotive you choose for your small scale 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 N scale locomotives engine might include the 464 Hudson for passenger service and the 284 Berkshire for freight service.
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 Minitrix N scale PENN CENTRAL diesel locomotive minty clean and POWERFUL $22.50 (10 Bids) End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 7:06:26 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Kato 176 1303 N Scale EMD F3A DRGW 5531 Locomotive $52.95 End Date: Sunday Mar-4-2012 19:00:10 PST Buy It Now for only: $52.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 KATO Lima Locomotive Works GS 4 N Scale Southern Pacific 4449 $130.00 End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 8:06:40 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Pair of Grand Trunk GP 40 Locomotives N Scale $45.51 (3 Bids) End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 8:29:26 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Kato 176 1308 Denver Rio Grande Western DRGW EMD F3B Diesel Locomotive $53.95 End Date: Sunday Mar-4-2012 19:03:59 PST Buy It Now for only: $53.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Bachmann N Scale Santa Fe AT SF Steam Locomotive And Tender 3283 works $8.00 (3 Bids) End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 9:01:46 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 WESTERN MARYLAND DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE used working condition no markings or number $9.99 End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 9:32:22 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Bachmann 11751 N Scale 4 4 0 American Locomotive Tender Baltimore Ohio $39.95 End Date: Tuesday Mar-6-2012 10:02:51 PST Buy It Now for only: $39.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 KATO N SCALE U30C LOCOMOTIVE UP 2861 ITEM 176 0934 $59.95 End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 11:37:34 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 KATO N SCALE U30C LOCOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 001 ITEM 176 0938 $59.95 End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 11:37:34 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
Selecting Your N Scale Locomotives
In general, when selecting N scale locomotives, model railroad buildings, rolling stock, or even certain types of scenery for your model train layouts, 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 more futuristic N scale locomotives on a 1930s train table layout. They didn't exist back then.
The same general rules apply to N scale buildings, 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 if you include 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 either; as none of these megastars were even thought of back in 1930.
So, if you're building a model train layout and are searching for N scale locomotives, you might want to check out a few of the N gauge locomotives listed below. There are both n scale steam locomotives and n scale diesel locomotives in the list. These are just a few of the popular customer searches of our N scale locomotives listings.
N Scale Locomotives: Steam Engines
- Atlas 4-6-2 Steam Loco
- Athearn Challenger N Scale
- 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive
- N Scale Big Boy Locomotive
N Scale Locomotives: Diesel Engines
- Atlas N Scale 2098 Burlington
Fun With N Scale Locomotives
Naturally, it's your hobby, your train table, and your N scale locomotives; so, the decision is ultimately yours. If it's a realism that you're trying to achieve, 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 the heck makes you happy! There really are no steadfast rules when it comes right down to it, because it's your model train layout. 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 went out and bought my starter N scale train set, some extra train track, a couple extra N scale locomotives, and a few more things I thought would work nicely.
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 with your N scale trains!