# Which model train looks good on this layout? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-model-train-looks-good-on-this-layout/353721 "2006-04-22T04:09:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-model-train-looks-good-on-this-layout/353721/1 "2006-04-22T04:09:31Z")
I’m thinking about getting a new train for [this layout](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6006274904). 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](http://z-world.com/cgi-bin-local/iteminfo3.cgi?items=1&entry=%5E8189%24&submitButtonName=search)? American but more [old-fashioned](http://www.rocousa.com/DETAIL.ASP?PRODUCT_ID=81438)? 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](http://z-world.com/cgi-bin-local/iteminfo3.cgi?items=1&entry=%5E8876%24&submitButtonName=search) or the [Flying Hamburger](http://z-world.com/cgi-bin-local/iteminfo3.cgi?items=1&entry=%5E88870%24&submitButtonName=search)? (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](http://www.rocousa.com/DETAIL.ASP?PRODUCT_ID=81417) or a [diesel railbus](http://z-world.com/cgi-bin-local/iteminfo3.cgi?items=1&entry=%5E8816%24&submitButtonName=search). Specialized freight trains look interesting. I like this [potash transport](http://z-world.com/cgi-bin-local/iteminfo3.cgi?items=1&entry=%5E81411%24&submitButtonName=search), and the [Swiss circus train](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6048415242) (though it’s a little bland for a circus train). Or maybe a more modern train would look better - say, the [ICE](http://z-world.com/cgi-bin-local/iteminfo3.cgi?items=1&entry=%5E88712%24&submitButtonName=search), or the [Alpine Transit](http://www.rocousa.com/DETAIL.ASP?PRODUCT_ID=81431) freight train, or a [bi-level commuter train](http://www.rocousa.com/DETAIL.ASP?PRODUCT_ID=81481)? 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. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-model-train-looks-good-on-this-layout/353721/2 "2006-04-22T07:54:27Z")
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 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-model-train-looks-good-on-this-layout/353721/3 "2006-04-23T13:30:31Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > If you were sitting in the back row at a really big, really boring meeting … 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. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-model-train-looks-good-on-this-layout/353721/4 "2006-04-23T19:12:53Z")
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.