| The HO scale train has become the most popular train | | | | each locomotive has a built in power pack that takes |
| scale in the world. The HO stands for half of O, which | | | | power from the rail and delivers this power to the train |
| is 1:87 scale and having a track gauge of 16.5 mm | | | | motor while controlling the speed and direction as a |
| (0.650 in). The HO scale was born out of the Great | | | | regular power pack would do. The built in power pack |
| Depression. The scale first appeared in the United | | | | is controlled by another unit by using infrared, the same |
| Kingdom. The train being half the size of O could be | | | | way that your TV remote controls your TV. Another |
| produced for less allowing more people to purchase | | | | advantage of DCC is that you can control switches, |
| the train than that of O scale. The HO scale became | | | | lighting, and other thins on your layout from one hand |
| very popular in the United States in the 1950s when | | | | held device. Also it allows for easier wiring of the track |
| modelers became more interested in true scale and | | | | because you can do away with block wiring system |
| realism. | | | | where you had a control panel with switches to control |
| The HO scale train is a perfect size for most train | | | | direction and speed of your train, which could become |
| modelers. The train is half the size of an O scale, | | | | very complicated at times. |
| which allows the modeler to incorporate twice the | | | | The HO scale train, being the most popular scale has |
| scenery and detail into the same size layout as the O | | | | the advantage of having more products produced in |
| scale. This size train is also large enough to be handled | | | | the scale than any other. You can find any type |
| very easily and also allows for a great deal of detail to | | | | locomotive or rolling stock in almost any road name. |
| be modeled into the locomotive and rolling stock. The | | | | The locomotives can be found representing the first |
| HO scale is also twice the size as the N scale trains, | | | | steam locomotives all the way through to the modern |
| which is the second most popular scale. Even though | | | | diesel electrics. The amount of rolling stock on the |
| the N scale is smaller and allows for more detail on a | | | | market is enormous, allowing you to model the first |
| layout it is small and not as easy to handle as the HO | | | | train, an old west train, early 1900s trains, or modern |
| scale train. Therefore the HO scale is probably the | | | | trains, including passenger and freight trains. Also it is |
| best scale for the beginner and also the expert. | | | | amazing at the amount of track side building, and |
| Most modern HO scale trains come from the factory | | | | accessories that are available. You can also find |
| DCC equipped. DCC (Digital Command Control) allows | | | | building to model towns and city or almost any type of |
| for more than one train to be operated on the same | | | | industry that enables you train to keep running. This is |
| track, and be controlled separately from each other. | | | | just a small sample of what exist for HO trains. |
| The simplest way to explain DCC is that basically | | | | |