| The gauge of a layout is the distance between the | | | | 50-foot-locomotive, in this model scale, is about 12 and |
| rails of a single track. The stability of this dimension is | | | | a half inches long. |
| critical. Any discrepancy in the rails will cause | | | | S-gauge Just a bit smaller than "O" gauge as are the |
| derailments because the wheels of the train are fixed | | | | train models. This size has tracks with a gauge of 7/8 |
| and cannot be adjusted. | | | | inches and a scale of 1:64. Our prototype 50-foot |
| The importance of gauge size is more complex than | | | | locomotive is only 9 and 3/8 inches long in this |
| just a dimension. In part the hobby of model railroading | | | | Small but Very....Very popular |
| is very successful mainly because the components | | | | Those above the largest of the trains. So how small |
| are competitively priced. The manufacturers have | | | | are the small ones then? |
| therefore been forced into dimensional consistency | | | | There's the HO gauge. HO literally stands for "half of |
| and stability because the large manufacturers make | | | | O". This class of trains is built to be exactly one half |
| model trains rolling stock and all accessories for all | | | | the size of "O" gauge models. When compared to the |
| gauge sizes. Thankfully this reduces the cost for us | | | | full-size trains, the HO has a scale of 1:87. That makes |
| and increases choice. | | | | our 50-foot, life-size locomotive prototype just 7 inches |
| Uniformity is essential because if it was absent each | | | | long in this scale. |
| manufacturer would have their own unique gauge's | | | | This may appear very small to you; in fact extremely |
| and scales, prices would rocket and availability would | | | | small, but the HO models are an ideal size for building a |
| inevitably suffer. | | | | great layout where space is an issue. These |
| The easiest way to explain the two terms; gauge and | | | | locomotives are large enough to display detail, and |
| scale is to talk about them both at the same time. | | | | they really are quite easy to work with. |
| Remember though that gauge is the track dimension | | | | HO is the most popular of all model railroad gauges |
| and scale is the train size description. | | | | and scales. More than two-thirds of modellers rank it |
| Large-scale trains | | | | as their favourite size! |
| Large model layouts all comprise of Gauge 1 track. | | | | But we go even smaller than that when we view the |
| This track has 45 mm between rails. If it was all as | | | | "N" gauge. This model, with a scale of 1:160, has a |
| easy, many of the large scale installations are outside | | | | gauge of 9 mm between the rails. It's preferred by |
| in the yard or in a barn. | | | | hobbyists who don't have as much room as they'd like |
| Many of these trains are used by aficionados who run | | | | for their layouts. There are some massive N gauge |
| their systems outdoors. The locomotives look great, | | | | layouts to be seen and the some very wide range of |
| pulling their cars through flower and herb gardens. | | | | scenery and accessories available. |
| The locomotives are quite big. Think of a full scale | | | | There are other model train scales and track gauges |
| 50-foot-long locomotive: In a 1:29 scale (1 inch | | | | but they are either massive or very small. The |
| represents 29 feet), the model train would be | | | | extreme top and bottom of the size range represent a |
| approximately 20-21 inches long! | | | | very small sector in the Railroad modellers scope so |
| "O" is he most popular gauge. The gauge for "O" is 1 | | | | we will not go into detail right now. |
| and a quarter inches; the scale is 1:48. That same | | | | |