RC Cars, Collectible Model Train
Sets, Collectible Model Cars & More
Tips About Trains & Model Trains
Measuring Toy Trains
In 1891, Märklin, a toy company in Leipzig, Germany, became
eternally connected to toy trains when they developed the
standards for toy trains. Over a hundred and ten years have
passed and toy train manufactures are still using Märklin's
standards to measure toy trains.
When it developed the standards for toy trains, Märklin was a
company that mainly designed and built accessories for doll
houses. In 1891 they expanded the business and started making
toy trains. Märklin had always designed its doll house
accessories to a gauge (a certain gauge dollhouse corresponded
with a certain gauge of furniture). They realized that if they
used a similar gauge when building toy trains and railroad
tracks consumer's could continue purchasing bits of tracks for
years to come. As soon as they realized this Märklin sold
rolling and stock tracks that could be used to expand the boxed
sets they sold.
Trains that run on a G gauge track have little in common but the
track they operate on. It is a gauge that has been popular with
European toy train makers for years. The G gauge has a width of
1 3/4 inches and a size of 1:32 through 1:30.
Measuring at 1 3/8 inches wide, with a size of 1:48 or 1:43 or
1:45 or 1:64, the zero gauge is the most popular toy train
gauge.
The S gauge became popular in post World War II, when it was
used heavily by the American Flyer company. Designing train
tracks and trains that ran on the S gauge tracks is one of the
things that most consumers think about when they think of the
American Flyer toy company. Its measurements were in between an
O gauge track and an HO gauge track. It is important not to
confuse the S gauge with the wide gauge standard that was
introduced by the Lionel Company. The wide gauge was less of a
scale model standard that some believe to have been a result of
the company misreading the Märklin specifications. Another
theory is that the Lionel Company was trying to create a new
gauge of track that would lock out competitors. At least four
toy train manufactures in the United States used the wide gauge.
Sixty years ago, England devised a toy railroad track called the
HO gauge. It was suppose to be half the size of an O gauge
track. The actual measurements are 1:87. There are .65 inches
between the rails. For some reason the trains that were designed
to run on the HO tracks did not enjoy a great deal of
popularity. Some people believe that they were unable to with
hold the wear and tear their young owners put them through.
Germany came out with trains that ran on a Z gauge track. The
tracks that support these trains measure 1:22. Perhaps because
of their small size these trains have not been particularly
successful.
The OO gauge measured 1:76. It appeared on the market in the
1930's. In the 1950's a train that runs on a track that measures
1:120 came out. It vanished shortly after its inception.
For more information about
model trains checkout- "Model Trains for Beginners and
Insiders Club"- Click Here!
Model Train Layout Ideas, Tips, and Answers-Click Here!