Model Railroad Trains

Model Railroad Trains come in a wide variety of types and sizes. A newcomer can be overwhelmed by the quantity of phrases and terms to worry about. To complicate matters, not even all hobbyists use jargon like scale and gauge correctly.

The first consideration is gauge. This is the width of the track. A related concern is scale, usually expressed as a distance on the model that corresponds to a distance on the real sized train, such as 2mm on the model to 1’ on the train. Another way to express this is a direct scale, such as 1/48th.

These work together in ways that are not always obvious. A given gauge will often be used with several scales. There are a number of real life gauges in use around the world, so a model gauge might be used with one scale to simulate a 1m gauge and a similar scale for a 30” scale. Alternately, similar scales might be used to provide the illusion of depth on a layout or even mixed on the theory that most viewers won’t notice the slight differences.

Another consideration is the powerplant. Most model trains use electrical power transmitted through the tracks. Some carry batteries. There are even real steam engines, especially for larger scales.

There are a number of standard gauges and scales, such as HO or OO. These are generally built with the understanding that some details will not be to scale. This is to simplify manufacturing or to decrease fragility. Some are exaggerated for ease of use. For those who find this lack of rigor annoying, there are scales in which detail exaggerations and distortions are not allowed. Examples would be P4 or 2mm scale.

The most common gauges are 16.5mm, 9mm and 45mm. The smallest commercially available gauge is 4.8mm, while the other end is 190mm for model trains which can actually carry passengers. Larger gauges exist, but are more intended for amusement parks than model railroading. Scales range from 1/300th to 1/8th of the size of a real train.

There have been many standards over the years, and many formerly common scales have fallen into disuse. The once popular 2 gauge, Wide Gauge and TT gauge, which is making a comeback. HO is the most popular scale in the world right now, though specific countries like Japan and Britain have locally more popular options.

A classic subset of model railroading is the rideable model. Some of these are big enough that they carry passengers, a hobby which goes back at least a century.

Another subset are those who build layouts, or dioramas, showing some real or imagined location associated with trains.

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