| O Scale trains were once the most common | | | | impossible to find, the majority of shelf space |
| scale of model trains Introduced in 1900 by | | | | these days is dedicated HO and N Scale trains. |
| Marklin, a German toy manufacturer. O Scale | | | | That being said, O scale trains are large and |
| trains were primarily produced in Germany and | | | | impressive and alot of fun to play with. These |
| continued to grow in popularity until World War II, | | | | trains are easy for a child to set up on a track (N |
| where (for some reason) German manufactured | | | | Scale and smaller trains can be enormously |
| products fell out of favor. O scale continued to be | | | | frustrating to get rolling) the only downside to O |
| popular in the United States until the early '60s; | | | | Scale is a layout quickly begins to demand alot of |
| primarily manufactured by Lionel, Ives | | | | space and a child could lose interest fairly quickly |
| Manufacturing and American Flyer. | | | | dedicated a lot of time into setting up a layout |
| So what exactly is O scale? There is often a | | | | only to have to take it down again or (worse |
| misconception that O Scale and O gauge refer to | | | | yet) being handcuffed to an oval truck nailed to |
| the same thing. O Scale refers to 1:48 scale from | | | | sheet of plywood (that would be fun for about 10 |
| real life (1:1). Basically, an O Scale model train is 48 | | | | minutes) |
| times smaller than a real train. Gauge on the other | | | | Collectors also favor O Scale models. Pre-war |
| hand, refers to the width of the track. O Gauge | | | | trains now fetch quite a wad on the auction block. |
| track is based on the real world standard gauge | | | | Another feature of O scale collecting is that a |
| track spacing of 4' 8 1/2" between the rails. | | | | large number of models are limited runs; hand |
| Track gauges can get very confusing if you're still | | | | made and designed by expert modellers in their |
| a bit green with model railroading. O Scale trains | | | | garage or basement. This limited availability |
| roll on O Scale track, but with one big caveat: | | | | creates quite a market for O scale models and |
| There is more than one standard! Just be sure | | | | can be an incredible investment. |
| you are using the proper gauge for your train. | | | | While there is a huge cottage industry in O Scale, |
| O Scale models are vastly superior in detail, | | | | Lionel, Atlas O, Bachmann and the venerable |
| making them a favorite for serious modellers. The | | | | Markiln still have an impressive presence in this |
| O scale enables modellers to put exacting detail | | | | scale. MTH Electric trains and Weaver Models are |
| into their layouts and rolling stock (the railroading | | | | also manufacturers of note. |
| term for model trains).While O Scale trains aren't | | | | |