What is N-Scale?

Model trains come in a variety of sizes known as scales.

The scale is a ratio expressing the relationship of the model to it's actual size counterpart. N-Scale is expressed as 1:160 proportion. In other words, if you could take an N-Scale locomotive and enlarge it 160 times, you would have a full size locomotive.

It's helpful to understand the difference between scale trains and toy trains, such as LIONEL. Toy trains do not have an exact scale. They do sometimes closely resemble full size trains but most are not produced to exacting proportions such as N-Scale or HO-Scale.