OO Gauge O Scale, HOn3
and Other Model Railroad Scales
Model railroad gauges and scales can be confusing particularly when the names
sound almost the same. OO gauge and O scale fall into this category and can trip up
beginner and even experience model railroaders at times. So, here is the difference
explained once and for all.
OO Gauge Model Railroads
OO Gauge has for many years, been the most popular model railroad scale with
British Railway Modelers. OO gauge has a ratio of 1:76 equaling a scale of 4mm to
the foot. It is considered to be the standard for many model railroad enthusiasts
in the UK and is a popular model railroading scale with beginners buying Hornby or
Bachmann model train sets.
OO Gauge Scale Model Railroad Specifications: 4mm : 1ft 1/76th Scale Track
Gauge: 16.5mm Because OO gauge is so popular in the UK there is a wide range of OO
gauge accessories available in the UK. There is also a good secondhand market for
OO gauge in the UK which can considerably reduce the costs of the hobby. For more
information on how to design, build, maintain and repair the model railroad set of
your dreams be sure to use this helpful model railroading
resource.
About 25 years ago Bill Taylor had a dream. He wanted to build an
outdoor live steam railroad in the woods around his home in Charleswood. Bill was
an avid model railroader and had a 750 sq. ft 1000 foot HO model railroad in his
basement that started in 1969. Bill also liked going to the N.M.R.A. "National"
conventions and each year a side tour to a live steam railroad would be
featured.
Today Bill Taylor is President of THE ASSINIBOINE VALLEY RAILWAY.
The AVR is 1.5" (1.6") scale 7.5" gauge and is located on a seven acre site
immediately west of Assiniboine Park (nicknamed "The Route Of The Hazel Nuts").
The railway started in 1995 and currently has 56 members. Club
members spend most Saturday afternoons working. The club currently has 3 diesel
locomotives, one box cab under construction and several steamers under construction
by various members and about 18 cars plus 10 more under construction. The AVR use
aluminium rail on wood ties on ballast and sub- roadbed construction with a ruling
radius of 50’.
A massive 5,400 feet of railroad track is on the ground. The main
line is 3700’
with seven passing sidings. There is a turning wye and movable 12 foot lift for
unloading.
Slim Gauge Guild Model Railroad Club in Pasadena, CA, has two model
railroad layouts located in a 2000 square foot basement.
The Model Railroad Clubs HOn3 layout is based on the Denver and Rio
Grande Railroad and the Rio Grande Southern. On the HOn3 layout the club tends to
model specific prototype scenes.
The Sn3 layout is more freelanced. The club loosely models the
Colorado and Southern for their mainline and northern California lumber companies
for their highline.
