Which model train looks good on this layout?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m thinking about getting a new train for this layout. As you can see, it’s a tiny layout with no realistic details at all, just blocks representing trees and houses. And I plan to keep it that way. What do you think looks good on it?

An American streamlined passenger train? American but more old-fashioned?

But most models in this scale are European. Considering the retro-futuristic look of the layout, maybe an early high-speed train like the Rail Zeppelin or the Flying Hamburger? (As in the city of Hamburg - nothing to do with ground beef.)

Or a branch line train may be better, considering the tight curves - either a steam train or a diesel railbus.

Specialized freight trains look interesting. I like this potash transport, and the Swiss circus train (though it’s a little bland for a circus train).

Or maybe a more modern train would look better - say, the ICE, or the Alpine Transit freight train, or a bi-level commuter train?

Actually I haven’t even received the layout yet, I just won it on eBay (not the auction I liked above, I paid much less than that). So I’m not in a hurry to get anything for it. But I’m still curious what fellow Dopers think looks good.

2

Personally, I’d go with the ICE, the Zepplin, or the Flying Hamburger. But the real reason I’m responding is to ask: how quiet is that thing? If you were sitting in the back row at a really big, really boring meeting, could you pull out your “briefcase” and play trains while the big shots droned on and on? Because that would be wicked :cool:

3

That would be so cool. But unfortunately, Z-scale trains are much louder than you’d expect. It’s as loud as an HO scale train.

4

It sounds like you’re not too fussed on realism. Nevertheless, long rolling stock will look weird on those tight curves. I’d be going for non-bogie stock. Maybe an 0-4-0 steamer, and a short rake of four-wheeler axle wagons. The railbus idea is a good one. Maybe even a tram/streetcar (these run off-street in some places).

OTOH, because it’s a whimsical sort of layout, then maybe you can throw realism completely out the window, and go for an American streamliner, just on style grounds alone.