Featured NEM Standards
102 – Clearances for Straight Track
103 – Clearances for Curves
111 – Minimum Curve Radius + Alternative Guide
112 – Track Distance in straights and curves
113 – Smooth Curve Transitions
114 – Superelevation / Canted Tracks
122 – Trackbed Profile – Dimensions
201 – Overhead Wiring Geometry
302 – Weight of Carriages
651 – The standard 6-Pin Decoder Socket
Related Guides
Platform types, heights and widths
Scale Speeds + Quick guide to tweaking DCC locomotives.
Background
Whereas US model making companies in general follow the NMRA standards, European manufacturers adhere broadly to the NEM standards (and NMRA‘s DCC ) and this have led to, for example, having standard plug-in couplers, plug-in DCC decoders and better interoperability between brands than before. Aside from that, the NEM standards can help you having more reliable and more realistic looking layouts. In contrast to the NMRA somewhat, the ‘helping’ is more in the form of formal standard than a guide.
Unfortunately, those standards are currently only available in French and German, so this is why I am making a selection of NEM standards available here, in English, and applied to normal gauge N Scale. They are not meant to be 1:1 translations, but easily applicable yet complete guides.
Requests
Please let me know in a comment if you like a particular standard or subject to be added here.
N-Scale Blog 