Narrow Gauge HO tends to be either expensive (HON3, 3 ft gauge) or scratch/bash intesive (HOn30, 30" gauge, uses N scale mechys and scratch built bodies and N scale track), or extremely scratch build intesive (HOn2, 2 ft gauge). Standard gauge may not be as "correct" to the proto type, and some might even argue as to how narrow the gauge should be. However, as Shamus demonstrated for many years, a lovey, convincing HO standard gauge logging layout in a moderate size.
If space is a concern, consider HOn30, because you can have as more or more track in a given area than N scale. The track is the same, but tight curves are at home in a logging layout.
Me? I couldn't decide, so I went dual gauge, HO and HOn30