N Scale equipment massive database web site

[videobruce]

Sorry if this was already mentioned or known, but for those who never been there, there is a massive, really massive (over 93,000 listings) for just N Scale locos, rolling stock, accessories etc. in this site;

https://www.trovestar.com/generic/group.php?Collection=4

What is most interesting, clicking on an item (say a locomotive) produces and full description of the roadname, the model itself and the model manufactures histories! Also included is the list price when sold new and the going used price if available. I was amazed of the amount of info available! 

[learmoia]

I've checked into it several times...

It's a viewer fed database.... Maybe 8 or so years ago.  Someone was heavily advertising their website on various message groups trying to get people to join and start building databases (I always assumed this advertising was taking place with all sorts of hobbies.. )

But N scales took it and ran with it.  (Compare the N scale with the HO.. and you'll see)

The users seem to keep up with the new releases.. but there are still large holes in the vintage (pre 1990) era of N scale..
Since you need photos, I assume it's just a matter of finding people that have all of these items.. to populate the database..

Eventually.. you'll find that the 'detail' is just generic Wikipedia style info that is the same for every similar model..

Also.. we can't ignore @spookshow 's great site.
http://www.spookshow.net/

~Ian
 

[SP-Wolf]

@spookshow is my go to for any N Scale info I may need. His site is second to none

Regards,
Wolf

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I wish the Trovestar guys knew about Bootstrap and modern web design...
But their site is SO handy. I am incredibly grateful for it.

I don't know how many times I've used it to look up something with the question "should I buy this freight car?".
Do a google search for "Manufacturer Item#" and there they are. Thank goodness.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hahahah. This cracks me up. Their "related content" logic is pretty good!

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Yes. Yes they did. Because that was me!

[reinhardtjh]

We are sorry, but only registered users may search the database.

Please REGISTER for TroveStar before using this feature.

That means @Chris333 won't like it. 

[Chris333]

TroveStar is another thing I wish there was a simple plugin to eliminate it from my life.

[learmoia]

We are sorry, but only registered users may search the database.
Please REGISTER for TroveStar before using this feature.

There is a way around that...
Once you get your self into the index.php file, you can use the data filters to find what your looking for.

https://www.trovestar.com/generic/index.php?Collection=4&Road+or+Company+Name=135501

But locking the search feature behind a login, while anyone can view and filter the database makes no sense..
Either put the whole thing behind a login, or unlock the search feature.

[Chris333]

Is there a way to make clicking the Trovestar site automatically redirect you to Spookshow?

[spookshow]

Trovestar guy contacted back when his site was just starting up and asked if he could use my locomotive reviews on his pages. Assuming that he was a fellow amateur enthusiast I happily said "go ahead!". However, when I eventually figured out that his was some sort of "for profit" operation I told him to leave me out of it. All that said, it has certainly turned out to be a useful source of information for stuff that I would never have the time or inclination to try to keep track of (things like what road names for what models were released when, etc). Of course I don't know who (if anyone) is fact checking all this stuff, but that's not my worry 

-Mark

[nkalanaga]

Chris333:  The easiest way would be to change your bookmark to Spookshow's site, and don't click on anything that says Trovestar!

[Chris333]

Chris333:  The easiest way would be to change your bookmark to Spookshow's site, and don't click on anything that says Trovestar!

Been done did it.

[bbussey]

Trovestar is good to use as a reference but by no means is it a complete bible on a half century of N scale releases. A sizable percentage is documented though, and most of the documentation is reasonably accurate. It’s a good source for validating identifying information to make it easier to hunt for discontinued items.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Trovestar is good to use as a reference but by no means is it a complete bible on a half century of N scale releases. A sizable percentage is documented though, and most of the documentation is reasonably accurate. It’s a good source for validating identifying information to make it easier to hunt for discontinued items.

Absolutely. For me its biggest use is answering "what was the item number of this car" and "what does it look like?".
I generally don't care about most of the text at all.

[MetroRedLine]

@spookshow is my go to for any N Scale info I may need. His site is second to none

Regards,
Wolf

I see them as similar but differently-purposed resources; Spookshow's strength is its comprehensive reviews and info on N scale locomotives for consumers. If I want to buy a loco or find out more about the ones I have (i.e. DCC installation, etc) then I would go there.

Trovestar's strength is rolling stock and more statistical, market-based info for the sellers. If I'm selling some railcars online or at a train show/swap meet, most of the info I need is there.