Best of the best: THE 2000-2009's N scale Product we should all own

[C855B]

Me too, on Code 55. It was the single factor that rekindled my interest. I consciously put my N scale modeling on hiatus around 1975 to wait for a mass-produced track product line that didn't make me cringe.

[Puddington]

TLT Trains Canadian locomotives (GP 9 chops and RS 10/18's) are it for me; and while I appreciate Atlas code 55 I am not a track crazoid so it's a "nice to have" but Peco's track always worked for me, despite rail spacing.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

1. Atlas C55. We would still be in hi-rail heaven if not for this. Best part? Pricing was on par with the inferior C80 line.
2. Athearn's jump to N scale. Would we see so many products today if Atlas had no real competition? Probably not. Bonus points for the big UP steam, superb vehicles, and well tooled rolling stock.
3. CMW entry into N scale. Like Athearn and Woodland Senics after it, this company proved we too can have high quality vehicles in multiple eras.
4. Walthers modulars. Hope they keep them coming! We now can model really large industries.

[central.vermont]

It is one of the major players as to why I got into N scale back in 2001.

Yeah, but apparently it wasn't quite good enough to keep ya.    You waffler!!  ;D ;D

I've gotta say that the code 55 line of track has been setting the standards now for a lot
of the manufacturers.

Jon

[MichaelWinicki]

The Accumate coupler nomination was a very good one– A definite channel changer for N-scale.

But ultimately I think C55 track from Atlas was the most important addition to the decade.  I'll throw my hat in with the others who said that if it weren't for code 55, they wouldn't be as active in the hobby... If at all.

[Two Truck Shay]

I'd have to say the improvements in steam power are the best for me:

Atlas Shay - got me back into modeling again
Kato GS-4 - shows how far N steam has come
Bachmann Spectrum Consolidated - high quality at a reasonable price (at least mine was!)
Athearn 2-6-0/2-8-0 - solid reliability and quality

Many, many more products are needed in this category...

[up1950s]

But wasn't it Atlas code 55 turnouts that PO'ed Jerry ( Keystone Crossings ) so much that he pulled the golden spike on N ? :-\ Are all you using Atlas C55 turnouts ? Any problems ?

[Mark5]

But wasn't it Atlas code 55 turnouts that PO'ed Jerry ( Keystone Crossings ) so much that he pulled the golden spike on N ? :-\ Are all you using Atlas C55 turnouts ? Any problems ?

I wouldn't pay any attention to that - listen to folks that are using it.

[inkaneer]

I agree with the Atlas C55 and I don't know if this will qualify as a "product" but I think Atlas's Trainman line deserves honorable mention.  With all the hustle and bustle to put out super detailed products costing $25.00 or more we forgot our roots.  If this hobby is to survive we need to get kids into it and that means we have to produce affordable products and make them available to the kids and their parents.   For too long that was left to the likes of Bachmann and Modelpower trainsets which arguably may have done more harm than good.  

[RDG_Rich]

But wasn't it Atlas code 55 turnouts that PO'ed Jerry ( Keystone Crossings ) so much that he pulled the golden spike on N ?  Are all you using Atlas C55 turnouts ? Any problems ?

The first runs (#5)were bad apparently. I have some, and I had to modify them with a dremel. People said "check wheel gauge". I did, over and over and over. It was the turnouts.

They have apparently fixed the problem, and I haven't heard any gripes about the wyes, 7s, and 10s.


I'd say Code 55 and Accumates are the biggest boon to N scale of the decade. And the Shay. Hmmm...All 3 Atlas products.

[Dave V]

Having actually finally installed and used it, I will agree with Atlas code 55 as being the decade's best N scale advancement.  Until its advent, the choices were all pretty sub-optimal due to appearance, affordability, or availability.

[Rossford Yard]

While not exactly N only, I think the entire WS scenery line, including the foam risers, etc. was most instrumental in getting a lot of layouts built or scenicked.  That was a real jump forward in technology that allowed many - perhaps including apartment or small home based N scalers to build layouts without the power tool sounds that would offend neighbors.

The entire movement to finer scale, exemplified by the C55 track, is one of the prominent symbolic motifs of the last decade, however.