| HO is the most popular model train scale in the U.S. | | | | railroad business. This organization really is a must see |
| and because of this, there are a large number of | | | | source in your search for information. |
| resources available for the model train hobbyist | | | | Another source that you have to look at is RailServe. |
| working with this scale. Because there is so much | | | | This website was started in 1996, originally as a source |
| information, it is often the most selected scale for | | | | of information for traveling by train. Since then it has |
| beginners and the easiest scale with which to get | | | | grown greatly in size and has links to thousands of |
| started. The wide popularity of HO-scale has caused | | | | sites in more than 150 categories and 130 countries. It |
| the number of clubs, websites, and national and | | | | includes almost everything related to both model |
| international organizations to skyrocket. | | | | railroads and actual railroads. The site has received |
| Many people beginning with model trains are frequently | | | | numerous awards and is often mentioned in railroad |
| attracted after first seeing a layout put together by | | | | publications. A lot of time can be spent looking through |
| friends, relatives or some local organization. The | | | | all the information on this website and you will be |
| railroad business was once a much bigger part of | | | | fascinated by all the things you find connected to |
| everyday life than it is now and many people, | | | | railroading. |
| especially older citizens, once worked in the railroad | | | | Besides these sources, there are some other great |
| industry or had personal contact with someone who | | | | places where you can find things for your HO-scale |
| did. These people can often remember when traveling | | | | set up. Your local hobby shop, as well as forums, blogs, |
| or moving freight by rail was commonplace. They can | | | | tourist destinations, historical societies and even some |
| be a great source of knowledge and information as | | | | museums dedicated to railroading can be great places |
| you try to make your layout as authentic as possible | | | | to find details needed to make your layout look realistic |
| and you should make sure not to overlook them as a | | | | and to make your trains run well. Most model |
| valuable resource. | | | | railroaders try to make sure their layouts are accurate, |
| A tremendous source of information for HO-scale | | | | historic depictions of the railroads and time periods |
| enthusiasts is the National Model Railroad Association. | | | | they are modeling. They routinely read books, and visit |
| They have a website at NMRA.org with a huge | | | | museums and tourist sites to research information to |
| amount of information. This organization has been | | | | aid them in their accuracy. They want the colors they |
| around for nearly 75 years. It is a nonprofit group | | | | use, the clothes their people wear and even the |
| whose stated intention is to promote and encourage | | | | wording on their signs to match what was being used |
| model railroading. They are a large organization with 17 | | | | during the time period they are recreating. Some |
| regions throughout the U.S. and around the world. They | | | | people spend more time on research than they do on |
| hold annual conventions where model train fans can | | | | their models! For others though it is all about running the |
| get together and share their passion for the hobby. | | | | trains. |
| There are links to everything relating to model | | | | There are many sources of information for HO-scale |
| railroading. You can find manufacturers, clubs, hobby | | | | trains. Use your imagination, that great database that |
| shops, model layouts, software, electronics, history of | | | | comprises the Internet, and ideas from this article to |
| railroads, memorabilia, tourist stops, and even today's | | | | explore these resources. |