Full Version: The start of N gauge
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I found this leaflet in an old file today.
This dates back, in my hands, to 1960. The line was older, I'm not sure how old. (The paint scheme on my steamer was BR blue -- 1948-1950?). The rolling stock was cast metal and not powered.
In 1962 it was electrified. The line was overcome by the better detailed Rapido cars.
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I'm pretty sure if I rummage through my basket of old Dinkey toys and Matchbox cars, I'll find a few pieces of Lone Star rolling stock. I had it when I was about 3 (1968), and a loop of track my Dad glued to a sheet of plywood, then painted on scenery and roads. I still had the "layout" until about 6 years ago when we cleaned out my Mom's house after she died.

This stuff was pretty tough, and provided a young budding model railroader with many happy hours, until it was supplanted first by a clockwork Tri-ang set, then electric Tri-ang trains, and then HO scale, then N scale, and so on, and so on and so on....

Thanks for bringing back the memories!
As the saying goes......WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY BABY !!!!!!
Cheers
dwight77
I still have a few lumps of mine. I used them at a show years ago -- I let a very young fan hold them in his hands.
A bit late to find this, I know...

I've never seen Lone Star models from before they were electric.

The "American Transcontinental Diesel" has the distinctive, totally wrong nose profile of a Tri-ang model.
When I saw the Lone Star models I agreed with the common census that N Scale was a joke and would fade away. :o

However...

I bought a sweet looking Atlas N Scale train set in '68 and was hooked-even the few years I was in HO my thoughts was never far from N Scale and after 95 I dabbled in N while in HO and finally changed my primary scale from HO to N back in '08.
You can read all about the history of the Lone Star Treble-O-Lectric range on Irwins Journal here. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/a1glocos/TrebleO.html">http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/a1glocos/TrebleO.html</a><!-- m -->
The models were to 1:152nd scale and not 1:148, 1:150 or 1:160th scales you get now.
The wonderfulness of rubber band drive in the transcontinental diesel , I had a whole bunch of their "crap". Probably, up in the attic at my sister's house.

Also bought the early Rapido switcher set from AHC.

That stuff was truly dreadful.

Harold