Just for fun - the best N gauge models of the first 50 years?

[railsquid]

I'd also highly rate the latest generation of Farish MK1's

Indeed, these are utterly lovely models.

[Bealman]

This is interesting stuff. Younger modellers see the recent (as in last 10 years or so) as milestone models, whereas we old fogeys look with nostalgia on the likes of Peco Jubilee's.

[NeMo]

This is interesting stuff. Younger modellers see the recent (as in last 10 years or so) as milestone models, whereas we old fogeys look with nostalgia on the likes of Peco Jubilee's.

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive! Hence my appreciation of the Dapol china clay tanks as well as the Peco 'Jubilee'.

For what it's worth @Bealman, what I think sets the 'Jubilee' apart is that 30+ years after its release, it still looks good enough to run alongside modern stock. Certainly it lacks some of the delicate detailing of the modern Farish 'Jubilee' but all the proportions are right and the mechanism runs well.

Equivalent vintage Lima stuff is generally horrible all round; Farish stuff from the same era tends to have okay proportions and detailing but suffer from noisy mechanisms. Minitrix is a mixed bag I feel. The A3 Pacific and the teak coaches are excellent, but something like the 'Warship' really looks clunky today, and while I like the 9F, it's severely compromised.

In some ways my question is about which products got that compromise between cost, fidelity and reliability right -- at their time, and perhaps even by modern standards!

Cheers, NeMo

[railsquid]

This is interesting stuff. Younger modellers see the recent (as in last 10 years or so) as milestone models, whereas we old fogeys look with nostalgia on the likes of Peco Jubilee's.

Having only had anything to do with N gauge for the last 2~3 years I'm working hard on building up nostalgia

Anyway here's a Significantly Good Japanese model from 1979 by a company called Eidai, who went bankrupt after a year or two - significant because it is pretty damn good for that time, only 3 years previously Tomix launched their N gauge with a model of the same loco (an ED75 for anyone taking notes) which was much more toylike and primitive. In fact when I got this one I was so surprised how good it was I double-checked I hadn't received something much more recent from Tomix or Kato by mistake.

eidai-ed75 by Rail Squid, on Flickr
(Only cost about a tenner as well...)

[Bealman]

My Jubilee is currently in the UK,  being worked on by one of our members!  It hit the floor a couple of times in it's early years 

That is indeed a good looking loco, Squiddy!   

[silly moo]

Apart from the Peco Jubilee, I have three Poole Farish "crabs" which I have kept for years because they still run very well. They also have, in my opinion, very fine valve gear. I've sold off most of my Poole Farish steam locos but have hung on to these.

[Bealman]

Yes, they were quite nice models in their day.

[johnlambert]

Apart from the Peco Jubilee, I have three Poole Farish "crabs" which I have kept for years because they still run very well. They also have, in my opinion, very fine valve gear. I've sold off most of my Poole Farish steam locos but have hung on to these.

A Poole Farish Crab was the first N gauge steam loco I bought. It was a bit battered and needed some TLC but now runs very well.  If I ever had to sell my N gauge stuff it would be the last one to go.

[Skyline2uk]

Think I partipated in this convo last year, but will chip in again.

Give a shout to the outside frame 08 from Farish. It arrived out of the blue at a time when many thought such a mechanism wasn't possible in N. It's also the model that, whilst not quite "getting me back into" N gauge (never left!), it did persuade me that I needed a layout here in Bristol asap.

Also a brief mention to the Dapol 58. I have been lucky with all my Dapol locos, and the slow speed running of the 58 is great.

Skyline2uk

[silly moo]

I agree with NeMo's mention of the Dapol Terrier and the Deltic prototype earlier on in the topic, they along with the Dapol Q1 were locos I just had to have.

I was amazed that Dapol decided to make the Terrier, I didn't think we'd ever see them in N. I know that Marklin makes tiny Z scale locos but I think making a loco that small is quite an achievement.

[fisherman]

...little bit  different...

..the Lyddle   End...building series!!!

[Newportnobby]

...little bit  different...

..the Lyddle   End...building series!!!

Sadly missed :'(

[woodbury22uk]

As an icon I'd be going for the Kato SNCF TGV of the very first generation. Released in 1983 just after the full size trains came in to service. A full 10 car train available (in two sets) at release. Well detailed bodies with full interior detail in all the trailer cars. Smooth, powerful mechanism, with superb running in both directions. Fine wheel profile but seems to stay on the track whatever the speed or tightness of the curve. Cannot remember mine derailing ever in 33 years. Cost me about £85 back then for the full 10 cars.

Of course SNCF and their partners went on to develop a lot of different variants over the years most of which are in the Kato range or coming soonish.

[joe cassidy]

I would like to suggest the Farish Jubilee for the top 50.

I think this was the 2nd all-new Farish steam loco after the takeover of Farish by Bachmann. The Royal Scot and the Black 5 followed on based on the same "platform".

Maybe we should also consider the Farish V2, which was the first all-new steam loco after the takeover ? It didn't sell well due to the "skirt" under the boiler but I regret not having bought one and I would buy one today if they were reissued.

Best regards,


Joe

[Mr Sprue]

I Love the early Farish stuff but for me the Minitrix Scotsman and Britannia built with mechanics like an early Volkswagen are I guess my fetish!