N scale

E515213

N scale is a popular model railway scale characterized by its small size (typically 1:160), allowing extensive layouts in relatively limited space.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf model railway scale
advantage broader scenic vistas in small rooms
longer trains in a given space
space efficiency
allows extensive layouts in limited space
alsoKnownAs N gauge NERFINISHED
commercialSupport locomotives
rolling stock
scenery products
structure kits
track systems
commonRegionVariant British N scale 1:148
European and US N scale 1:160
Japanese N scale 1:150
commonUseCase mainline operations with long trains
urban and industrial switching layouts in small spaces
commonVoltage low-voltage DC
compatibleWith 9 mm narrow-gauge representations in larger scales (e.g., H0e) for track components only
disadvantage less mass and traction than larger scales
smaller parts that can be harder to handle
eraCoverage from early steam era to modern high-speed rail
eraOfWidespreadAdoption 1960s onward
largerThan Z scale NERFINISHED
letterDesignationOrigin N comes from the German word "Neun" meaning nine
marketPresence global
popularIn model railroading
scaleRange 1:148 to 1:160
smallerThan HO scale
standardizedBy NEM (European Normen Europäischer Modellbahnen) NERFINISHED
NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) NERFINISHED
supports DCC (Digital Command Control) NERFINISHED
diesel locomotive models
electric locomotive models
freight car models
passenger car models
steam locomotive models
structure and scenery modeling
trackGauge 9 mm
typicalLayoutSize door-sized or smaller for complete mainline circuits
typicalMinimumRadius approximately 9 inches (about 228 mm)
typicalScaleRatio 1:160
typicalTrackCode Code 55
Code 80
usedFor club layouts
home layouts
modular layouts
portable exhibition layouts

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.