Athearn is one of the few companies in the country that started out as a home-based business. The founder, Irv Athearn, started out in his mother’s home in 1938. During that time, he was selling simple O scale trains and railroads which became popular in his locality. But it would still take eight years before the founder could open an actual retail shop. Two years after becoming a retailer, Mr. Athearn bought a facility in Hawthorne, California to build their own brand of model trains. Because of the establishment of that facility, Mr. Athearn started building HO scale models which also became a hit. Today, Athearn is owned by Horizon Hobby with a facility in Carson, California.

The N scale model train was only introduced in the latter years of the company. But even though it was offered to the public at the later years, it still has the distinctive components of the Athearn model train: the use of small rubber bands during the transfer motion, improved connection of wheel components through ring motor and efficient use of flywheels. Most of these innovations were introduced in 1973 which has catapulted the reputation of Athearn trains because of their durability. Their N scale model train has all the classic design even though it is offered in a more miniature form.