Where to start....

[Bass_Ed]

Greetings, one and all...
I've yet to start even laying track, but thinking ahead, and having read some rather hair-raising reviews of locos here, i'd be grateful for suggestions/recommendations for locos that are reliable, that are (preferably) BR eras 4,5, or 6. Steam and/or diesel, any region. Please bear in mind that i'm almost entirely new to model railway generally, and entirely inexperienced in N. I'm open to suggestion, but my main aim is Express and Heavy Freight.

[Bealman]

I model steam and green diesels, and in this small scale I have found diesels to be more reliable than steam locos because of the lack of intricate parts, lightweight Pony trucks, and so on.

However there are differing opinions of this, and a number of threads here which discuss it. 

[Bass_Ed]

I thought that diesel locos might be more reliable for the very reason you mentioned, and green/early blue diesels are what i'd like to run. Childhood memories and all that, not to mention a soothing tonic for the old homesickness.
Couldn't point me in the right direction could you, please? For the right threads, i mean. Not able to find them so far, not being familiar with the site yet, and not having had much time to have a good nose around.

[Bealman]

Childhood memories for me too, mate. 

Unfortunately it's Saturday night here in Australia, and I'm out on my phone, but will supply some links when I get home.

However, I'm sure some of our members may beat me to it! 

[pctrainman]

All the things in my town that were there when I was a child have now gone to make way for an ocean of Flats but having visited Sweden and lived in oz for 2 years where the past unlike here does not seem to be something you tear down at every opportunity I think you most likely have more childhood memories in your adopted lands than we have here .

[Newportnobby]

I would recommend the following based on my experience with them but please bear in mind anyone can get a lemon if they're unfortunate enough

Steam - all Bachmann Farish and are the latest incarnations
Std 5MT 4-6-0
Austerity 2-8-0
B1 4-6-0
4F 0-6-0 tender loco
J39 0-6-0 tender loco
Fairburn 2-6-4 tank loco
Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0
Jubilee 4-6-0
Rebuilt Royal Scot 4-6-0
N class 2-6-0

Diesels - Bachmann Farish
Classes
20
24
37
42
55

Dapol
Classes
22
52

All the above are based on smooth running and what I consider to be very good haulage, although I have no inclines on my layout.

[Bass_Ed]

Great. Bit of a relief to see such a comprehensive list. You're quite right, of course. Anybody can get a ''friday afternoon job''. Bought my lad a 00 Thomas from Olivia's which they'd apparently tested before sending, and it travels along the track in what can only be described as a very jerky way, and sometimes has a strange wobble. I can't possibly put my finger on what it might be, and had to put it down to experience. It has so far been the only 'lemon' i've ordered from England. This is a risk i think we all take, but i'm glad to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel, if you'll excuse the pun 
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. I wish i had clearer memories of the trains i travelled on when i was a boy. There were definitely DMUs, when we travelled from Shrewsbury to Gobowen in the early 70s to visit my grandparents in Oswestry (This, by the way, has given my tastes a strong Cambrian bias, and partially decided my choosing N, since there are Manors available. Anyone tell me how good they are?) Otherwise i can only remember blue and yellow on the occasions we travelled by rail. Someone can probably tell me, i'm sure. It was mostly between Euston and Birmingham New Street, and Birmingham (Snow Hill?) and Shrewsbury. I remember in the late 70s travelling on my own to Euston from Brum, and that was the Intercity 125 (not familiar enough with classification to give it the correct one).
Sorry if i'm rambling. It might result in some information being imparted!  Thanks very much so far!

[Bealman]

Okay, Sunday morning here now, so to get you started, ed, you may find the loco and rolling stock reviews section of the forum useful, along with the train surgery section. 

[Webbo]

Hi Ed

Both Farish and Dapol produce beautifully detailed locos that run superbly, but many on this forum including me have found that their Quality Assurance can be a bit spotty. Accordingly, I suggest that whatever you buy you at least run them in for a couple of hours well before the manufacturer's guarantee expires. I note that NPN lists the Farish class 55 as a recommended purchase, but mine failed after 15 minutes running so I had bought a lemon. It was replaced promptly and without issue. A bit of a nuisance, but not a real problem - I would not hesitate to buy another one if I 'needed' two class 55s.

Webbo 

[NeMo]

Some really good advice above. I'll just add a couple things...

Be sure to check out the N Gauge Reviews section of the forum. You'll find a lot of stuff that'll be useful to you. Bear in mind forums attract complaints, and as @Webbo suggested, quality control is a bit of a weak spot with Dapol and Farish. I can't think of any modern models that are actually bad. Rolling stock is basically a no-brainer, with pretty much everything looking good and working properly. Locomotives and multiple units sometimes suffer from having had a bad batch of components in some runs.

Quite a few of the Dapol 'Westerns' for example seem to have suffered the same overheating diode that fails after a few hours' running. No big deal in the longer term as Dapol (via DCC Supplies) will put it right, but it's still a nuisance -- but not enough to put me off owning three of what must be one of the most carefully designed British diesels ever (there's literally hundreds of pages of back-and-forth discussion at RMWeb between Dapol and the modelling community, resulting in some pretty significant improvements that mightn't have been made otherwise).

Anyway, a peruse of the review section for any particular loco will give you lots to think about, in particular what to look out for while running a new loco in. Keep the receipt, and don't hesitate to send even a vaguely misbehaving loco back.

My second bit of advice would be to look over the Union Mills range as well. These are all steam locos, and the level of detailing is fairly basic. But they are beautifully made, relatively inexpensive (around £70 is typical), and because they are made from solid metal and contain a rather large motor, have tremendous weight and haulage. Union Mills models are very simple in design, and this is probably why they have a legendary level of reliability (the phrase 'runs like a Swiss watch' inevitably springs to mind when watching these locos tootle around the track). Another nice thing about their models is that they're often models of older or rarer designs that other, bigger manufacturers wouldn't touch. Their upcoming 'Dukedog' for example has outside frames and a positively Edwardian appearance that should make for a very attractive model for GWR and early BR modellers. I'm happy to settle for adding a crew, a vacuum pipe at the front, and  bit of weathering to improve the look of my Union Mills locos, but some modellers go even further adding brass handrails and other features; you'll find threads here by @Dr Al and others doing that sort of thing and some of their work is amazing!

Cheers, NeMo

[Bealman]

All good advice, Nemo. I'd forgotten to mention Union Mills models! 

Of course, there's also CJM if you win lotto, ed.... 

[daveg]

Loads of good advice for you there, Ed.

You mentioned Manors; I have 2 both of which look fine and run very nicely but have to add that mine are from the original maker, Ixion. I understand that Dapol bought the tooling some while back.

Look forward to learning more of your planned layout.

Dave G

[Bealman]

Just a slight aside here, but living where I do, I find it interesting that Ixion is a collaboration between an Australian and English modeller, both of whom I met during the 1990s.

I believe they now specialise in O gauge locomotives.

[Jack]

Greetings, one and all...

... Please bear in mind that i'm almost entirely new to model railway generally, and entirely inexperienced in N. I'm open to suggestion, but my main aim is Express and Heavy Freight.

As you mentioned that you were "entirely inexperienced" I would suggest that you start small, an apprentice piece if you like. This will enable you gain any skills that you need within our hobby. As an idea for small starter layouts have a look here http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=16753.0

Once you've gained some skills, alone with confidence then move on to the "Big One" - the dream layout with all your  heavy freight etc.    There's nothing more soul destroying than starting a big layout that seams to take ages to get anywhere and then losing heart and giving up.

You'll have frustrating times when problems arise and that's where this wonderful forum really comes into play. 

Enjoy the wonderful journey!

[Dock Shunter]

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. I wish i had clearer memories of the trains i travelled on when i was a boy. There were definitely DMUs, when we travelled from Shrewsbury to Gobowen in the early 70s to visit my grandparents in Oswestry (This, by the way, has given my tastes a strong Cambrian bias, and partially decided my choosing N, since there are Manors available. Anyone tell me how good they are?) Otherwise i can only remember blue and yellow on the occasions we travelled by rail. Someone can probably tell me, i'm sure. It was mostly between Euston and Birmingham New Street, and Birmingham (Snow Hill?) and Shrewsbury. I remember in the late 70s travelling on my own to Euston from Brum, and that was the Intercity 125 (not familiar enough with classification to give it the correct one).
Sorry if i'm rambling. It might result in some information being imparted!  Thanks very much so far!

Class 101 and 108 two car DMU's (both available and fantastic runners from Farish) would definitely feature on the Cambrian in the 70's.Class 24 and 25 37's and the odd 40 also. All available and great runners.