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Scale and Gauge

Started by Earl Ghylldale, April 25, 2016, 05:47:53 AM

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Earl Ghylldale

Hello

Would it be possible to expand the FAQ relating to Scale and Gauge, to cover metric equivalents please?  For example 4 feet 81/2 inches = 1435mm

Also could the narrow gauge definitions include H0e (?H0n30) and H0m please?

As an aside, did you know that 00 came about in the UK because the smaller outline of British railway locomotives made it difficult to fit 12v electric motors into H0 (1/87scale) boilers.  The slight enlargement to 1/76 scale made it feasible.  Some finescale modellers use true scale track at 18.82mm wide.  Many UK modellers still use H0 track, so technically, all UK standard gauge models are narrow gauge!

Len

I posted this earlier this month in response to someone else's question. HOe is a bit tricky, as it actually covers more than one 'less than meter' gauge:

HO Track Gauge: Actual Size

Standard (4' 8-1/2"): 16.5mm/0.65in

HOn3-1/2 (3' 6")/HOm (1m): 12mm/0.472in
(Commercially available TT scale track often used for this)

HOn3 (3'): 10.5mm/0.413in

HOn30/HOn2-1/2 (2' 6") 9mm
(Commercially available N scale track generally used, as well as for HOe less than meter gauge narrow gauges)


Len
If at first you don't succeed, throw it in the spare parts box.

James in FL

#2
Probably way more than you'll ever want to know;

The following pages list some of the combinations of gauge and scale in use
since WWII.  They are blocked in "family" groups.

Scale name   Origin    Gauge     Proportion        Comments
----------   ------    -----     ----------        --------

Model Engineering scales:
-------------------------
                      24"       5":1ft            Live steam - parks & commercial
                      19"       4":1ft            Live steam - parks & commercial
                      18"       4":1ft            Live steam - parks & commercial
                      15"       3":1ft            Live steam
                      10 1/4"                     Triang Minex - proprietary
                                                                       1960's
                      9 1/2"    2":1ft
            USA       7 1/2"    2 1/2":1ft        Live steam - narrow gauge
                      7 1/2"    1 6/10":1ft       Live steam
                      7 1/2"    1 1/2":1ft        Live steam
            USA       7 1/4"    1 1/2":1ft        Live steam
                      5 1/4"    1":1ft            Live steam
                      3 1/2"    1":1ft            Live steam - 3'6" gauge
                      3 1/2"                      Live steam

Model Railway scales:                          
---------------------
VI           Europe    181.8mm   1:5.5             NEM standard gauge
1"           Britain   4 13/16"  1":1ft            Defunct tinplate scale
No 5 gauge             4 5/8"                      Maerklin standard - 1891
V            Europe    125mm     1:8               NEM standard gauge
11/16"       Britain   3 1/4"    11/16":1ft        Defunct tinplate scale
No 4 gauge             75mm or 3"
IV           Europe    90.9mm    1:11              NEM standard gauge
            USA       2 7/8"                      Lionel, early 20th century
No 3 gauge             67mm or 2 5/8"
III          Europe    62.5mm    1:11              NEM
            USA       2 1/2"                      American Flyer
IIIe         Europe    45mm      1:16              NEM narrow gauge
II           Europe    64mm      1:22.5            NEM normal gauge - Magris
            USA       2 1/8"                      Standard Gauge. Lionel, Boucher
7/8"n2       USA       45mm      1:13.7            2ft narrow gauge
IIm (or G)   Europe    45mm      1:22.5            LGB Metre gauge models -
                                                  "Garten"
G            USA       45mm      1:24-28           Narrow gauge - 3ft
SM45         Britain   45mm      16mm:1ft = 1:19   Narrow gauge - 3ft
SM32         Britain   32mm      16mm:1ft = 1:19   Narrow gauge - 2ft
                                             
No 1 Gauge   Britain   45mm      10mm:1ft = 1:30   Standard
   British modellers also use the more correct 3/8":1ft, 1:32 scale
   and most current trade offerrings are 1:32
I            Europe    45mm      1:32              NEM normal gauge

There is a proposed, and partly adopted (1999), standard for "Large Scale"
equipment, where the common factor is it runs on 45mm track, as follows:
LS13                   45mm      1:13.3/1:13.7     600mm/2 ft (610 mm) narrow
                                                  gauge, equivalent to 7/8"n2
LS16                   45mm      1:16              720(-760)mm narrow gauge
LS20                   45mm      1:20.3            3 ft (914mm) narrow gauge
LS22                   45mm      1:22.5            1000mm narrow gauge, equivalent to IIm
LS24                   45mm      1:24              Usually representing 3ft narrow
                                                  gauge equipment, model track gauge to wide
LS29                   45mm      1:29              Representing standard gauge equipment,
                                                  model track gauge too narrow
LS32                   45mm      1:32              Standard gauge, equivalent to I

9mm          NZ        32mm      9mm:1ft           NZR models - 3'6" gauge

O            Britain   32mm      7mm:1ft, 1:43.5
OF           Britain   32mm      7mm:1ft  Fine scale - more accurate wheel std
ScaleSeven   Britain   33mm      7mm:1ft, 1:43.5  Exact scale option
No 0 Gauge   Europe    32mm      1:43.5      
O            Europe    32mm      1:45
O            France    32mm      23mm:1m
Om           Europe                                Narrow gauge - 1 metre
O 27         USA       1 1/4"    No scale          Lionel Toys, 27" diameter curves
O 72         USA       1 1/4"    No scale          Lionel Toys, 72" diameter curves
O 17         USA       1 1/4"    17/64":1ft, 1:45
O            USA       1 1/4"    1/4":1ft, 1:48    NMRA standard
Proto 48     USA       1 11/64"  1/4":1ft, 1:48    Exact scale option
  formerly (1950's-) known as 1/4" AAR, replaces Q
Q            USA       1 3/16"   1/4":1ft, 1:48
On3 1/2      USA       7/8"      1/4":1ft, 1:48    Narrow gauge - 3'6"
On3          USA       3/4"      1/4":1ft, 1:48    Narrow gauge - 3ft
On2 1/2      Britain   16.5mm    7mm:1ft           Narrow gauge
O Minex      Germany   16.5mm    1:43.5            Maerklin HO stud contact
                                                                 - 750mm gauge
Oe           Germany   16.5mm    1:43.5            Fleischmann Magic Train
                                                                 - 750mm gauge
On2 1/2 (30) USA       39/64"    1/4":1ft, 1:48    Narrow gauge - 2'6"
On2          USA       1/2"      1/4":1ft, 1:48            Narrow gauge - 2ft
On1 1/2 (18) USA       9mm       1/4":1ft, 1:48    Narrow gauge - 1'6"

            Britain   12mm      5.5mm:1ft  1.55.5 2'- 2'3" narrow gauge
            Tal-y-Llyn and Festiniog Railways
Fn3 (?)      Britain   16.5mm    5.5mm:1ft, 1:55.5 3ft narrow gauge, IOM


H1           USA       7/8"      3/16":1ft, 1:64   Forerunner of S scale
S            USA       7/8"      3/16":1ft, 1:64
S 5'6"       NZ                  3/16":1ft, 1:64   Canterbury broad gauge
Sn3 1/2      NZ        16.5mm    3/16":1ft, 1:64   Represents 3'6" gauge
Sn3          USA       9/16"     3/16":1ft, 1:64   Narrow gauge - 3ft
Sn2 1/2      USA       15/32"    3/16":1ft, 1:64   Narrow gauge - 2'6"
Sn2          USA       3/8"      3/16":1ft, 1:64   Narrow gauge - 2ft
Table Top    Europe    5/8"                        Bing 1921-1934
OO           Britain   16.5mm    4mm:1ft           H Greenly - 1923 on
HO           Britain   5/8"      3.5mm:1ft         Developed from Bing standards
HO           Britain   16.5mm    3.5mm:1ft         Unusual, mostly foreign
            models, but a a UK group now exists modelling British
            trains to HO and or P87 standards
OO           Britain   16.5mm    4mm:1ft, 1:76.2  
            The standards formerly set by the BRMSB are now obsolete
            and largely ignored by the trade, a new OO scale association
            has recently been formed to define standards.
EM           Britain   18mm      4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   (Eighteen Millimetre)
EM           Britain   18.2mm    4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   Revised standard
EEM          Britain   18.83mm   4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   A temporary step in
            the evolution of P4, has long been obsolete
P4           Britain   18.82mm   4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   P4 or Protofour was a
            radical rethink created by scaling down from the prototype and
            increasing tolerances by the minimum neccessary for practical
            production of components. It created quite a stir in 1966/67 but
            is now very well established. P4 standards are also used for
            modelling Irish Railways broad and Narrow gauges, using 21mm and
            12mm gauges. And for modelling the GWR Broad gauge using 28mm gauge
S4           Britain   18.82mm   4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   Exact scale flangeways too,
            made possible by additional effort to reduce the production tolerances
            built into P4 standards
OO Broad G   Britain   28mm      4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   GWR Broad Gauge - 7'0  1/4"
Oon3         Britain   12mm      4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   3ft narrow gauge, IOM
            Current kits production in this scale
OO9          Britain   9mm       4mm:1ft, 1:76.2   Narrow gauge on N gauge track
OO           USA       19mm      4mm/1ft           Prewar commercial
                      (3/4")    (5/32")
OOb5 1/4     Ireland   21mm      4mm:1ft, 1:76.2  
HOb5 1/4     Australia 18.5mm    1:87              Victoria - 5'3" broad gauge
OOE          Europe    16.5mm    1.1mm:1m, 1:91
HOE          Europe    16mm      1:87              Followed from Bing, Bub 5/8"
                                                                         gauge
H0           Europe    16.5mm    1:90              Trix Express
H0           Europe    16.5mm    1:87              NEM standard
H0           USA       16.5mm    3.5mm:1ft, 1:87.1 NMRA standard
P87       USA/Europe   16.5mm    1:87.1       Exact scale option analogous to P4.
H0j          Japan     16.5mm    1:80              1067 mm gauge   Japanese model railroad magazines usually
H012 / H0n   Japan     12mm      1:87              1067 mm gauge   quote scale and gauge for clarity
H0j13        Japan     13mm      1:80              1067 mm gauge, uncommon
H0n3 1/2     NZ        12mm      1:87              NZR - 3'6"
H0m          Europe    12mm      1:87              Narrow gauge - 1 meter
H0n3         USA       10.5mm    1:87              Narrow gauge - 3ft
H0n900                 10.33mm   1:87              Narrow gauge - 900mm
H0n800                 9.18mm    1:87              Narrow gauge - 800mm
H0e          Europe    9mm       1:87              Narrow gauge - 750-785mm
H0n2 1/2     USA       9mm       1:87              Narrow gauge - 2'6"
H0n2         USA       9/32"     1:87              Narrow gauge - 2ft
H0n600                 6.88mm    1:87              Narrow gauge - 600mm
H0f          Europe    6.5mm     1:87              Narrow gauge - 600mm, also known as H0i or rarely H0z

E            USA       19/32"    1/8":1ft, 1:96
QO           USA       6/10"     1/8":1ft, 1:96
OOC          Europe    14.3mm    1:100             "Cent" attempt to establish a
                                                                 logical scale
TT           USA       12mm      1/10":1ft         H P Products - "TableTop"
TT           Europe    12mm      1:120
TT "120th"   NZ        9mm       1/10":1ft, 1:120  NZR - 3'6" gauge
TT3          Britain   12mm      3mm:1ft, 1:101.6  Tri-ang 1950's-60's
TTX          Britain   12mm      1/9":1ft, 1:108   } attempts to improve, not supported
TM           Britain   13.5mm    3mm:1ft, 1:101.6  } scale/gauge ratio
Scale 3      Britain   14.2mm    3mm:1ft,1:101.6   3mm Society supports TT3
            and Scale 3, components also used by residual TM users
H00          Sweden    10 mm     1:150             Some rolling stock, US prototype,
            made, as kits, by Casey Jones (Carl-Erik Nordstrand) around 1945-46.
            (Earlier he pioneered H0 in Sweden and this scale never came into use.)
QOO          USA       0.3"      1/16":1ft, 1:192
HH(O)        USA       5/16"     1.75mm:1ft, 1:174 NMRA standard - c1948
OOO          Britain   9.5mm     2mm:1ft, 1:152.4  Superceded by 2mm scale
2mm scale    Britain   9.42mm    2mm:1ft, 1:152.4  Current 2mm Association
OOO          Britain   9mm       2mm:1ft           Lone Star Treble O - 1950's, superceded by N
MiniTrix     Europe    9mm       1:150             1950's push along trains
            Europe    9mm       1:200             Arnold 1960
K            Europe    8mm       1:180             Forerunner of N
N            Europe    9mm       1:160             NEM standard - mid 1960's
N            USA       9mm       1:160             NMRA standard
N            Britain   9mm       2 1/16mm:1ft, 1:148 British N Gauge Society standard
N-NZR        NZ        6.5mm     1:160             NZR - 3'6" gauge
Nm           Europe    6.5mm     1:160             Swiss metre gauge
Nn3          USA       6.5mm     1:160             USA - 3ft gauge

TTT          USA       0.236"    1/20":1ft, 1:240  NMRA proposed standard
Z            Europe    6.5mm     1:220             Maerklin
HZ           Germany   3.25mm    1:440             Railex - 1992

(X)          British   3/16"     1mm:1ft           R Walkley - 1935
Un-named     British   1/8"      1:480             1970's

This list was mainly compiled by Greg Proctor and Peter Platt
(oaplattÉsouthpower.co.nz) (1994).





1/2" rise in 50 inches = 1% grade, easy grade
1/2" rise in 25 inches = 2% grade, maximum grade for simple mainline operation
1/2" rise in 16-2/3 inches = 3% grade, long trains/ steam trains may require helpers
1/2" rise in 12-1/2 inches = 4% grade, short trains or medium trains with helpers
1/2" rise in 10 inches = 5% grade, logging or industrial operation
1/2" rise in 8-1/3 inches = 6% grade, logging
1/2" rise in 7 inches = 7% grade (approx.), logging
1/2" rise in 6-1/4 inches = 8% grade, about maximum for logging operation

****
This list is 20+ years old and no longer complete, for instance I do not see Japaneese N scale @ 1/150 on 9mm track.
There may be others missing as well.