In 2006 to 2008 Garth Hamilton of Canada created a website detailing in English the rapid development of N-gauge trolley and tram models in Japan. His N-scale Trolleys website later went away. Rather than see it vanish, I asked Garth if he would send me the files and images so they could be hosted elsewhere.
Garth's former website pages, revised and edited, have found a new home here on trainweb.org/n-trolleys. They provide an overview of products from Modemo, Tomix, Tomytec, Kato and Greenmax products through 2008. Due to the large number of items produced in the Japanese market since then, those pages will not be updated further. For more recent information, look at online sources like the Hobby Search Japan website (an English version is available at www.1999.co.jp/eng/rail/) or the manufacturers' own websites (generally in Japanese). Also included is Garth's example of how to "kitbash" Bachmann Brill shells to model a Toronto trolley.
I have added a chronological timeline history and many more pages covering past and current products from these and additional manufacturers. They cover products that are N-gauge (operable either as ready-to-run or ready-to-power), N scale (finished static models in 1:160, 1:150, 1:148 or similar scale, many of which can be motorized with varying levels of difficulty), cast trolley and tram body shells, and kits. Ingenious modelers have devised ways to modify and power fully painted and decorated static models to meet their needs. Some static models and kits are not included here, nor are 3D printed model shells, nor models in the high custom or "bespoke" price range. The end result provides a unique reference to N-gauge trolley and tram products.
For additional information on N-gauge trolley modeling, please see my companion Tomix / EasyTrolley Modelers' Site at www.trainweb.org/tomix. Directly-related discussion groups include the JNS Forum www.jnsforum.com (an international bunch generally oriented toward Japanese railways and model products - you can contact me there) and the N Scale Traction group groups.io/g/nscaletraction. - R. D. Kerr
