Modelling 3' gauge railroads
Encyclopedia
Modelling 3' gauge railroads is part of the hobby
of rail transport modelling
. Specifically it relates to the modelling of narrow gauge prototypes of gauge
. This gauge was the most common narrow gauge in the United States and in Ireland
. Apart from some other lines in North, Central and South America, gauge was uncommon elsewhere. Therefore most gauge modellers model either United States or Irish prototypes.
gauge railroads were widespread in the United States in the period 1880-90. While most of these railroads were converted
to standard gauge
by the start of the 20th Century, a number of lines survived till the Second World War and later, and became popular subjects for modelling.
Probably the most popular prototype is the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
, followed by other Colorado
railroads such as the Rio Grande Southern
and Colorado and Southern
. Other railroads from California and the eastern states are also popular.
Scale and gauge combinations used in modelling include:
Perhaps not surprisingly, most narrow gauge modellers in the United States model US gauge prototypes. However these prototypes are also popular modelling subjects outside the United States as well.
gauge was the narrow gauge used in Ireland
, and the gauge of almost all the railways on the Isle of Man. It was also used on a handful of railways in Britain. However modelling these gauge railways is very much a minority pursuit, especially when compared with other prototypes such as the Welsh narrow gauge. Scales and gauges used include:
None of these scale/gauge combinations has much commercial support, and therefore modellers are required to construct most of their models from scratch.
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
of rail transport modelling
Rail transport modelling
Railway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale...
. Specifically it relates to the modelling of narrow gauge prototypes of gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
. This gauge was the most common narrow gauge in the United States and in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Apart from some other lines in North, Central and South America, gauge was uncommon elsewhere. Therefore most gauge modellers model either United States or Irish prototypes.
United States
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
by the start of the 20th Century, a number of lines survived till the Second World War and later, and became popular subjects for modelling.
Probably the most popular prototype is the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental...
, followed by other Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
railroads such as the Rio Grande Southern
Rio Grande Southern Railroad
The Rio Grande Southern Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad which ran from Durango to Ridgway in the western part of the US state of Colorado...
and Colorado and Southern
Colorado and Southern Railway
The Colorado and Southern Railway was a railroad company in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.The railway began as the...
. Other railroads from California and the eastern states are also popular.
Scale and gauge combinations used in modelling include:
- Nn3 - Using N scaleN scaleN scale is a popular model railway scale/track gauge. Depending upon the manufacturer , the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. In all cases, the gauge is . The term N gauge refers to the track dimensions, but in the UK in particular N gauge refers to a 1:148 scale with track gauge modelling...
(1:160 ratio ) with ZZ scaleZ scale is one of the smallest commercially available model railway scales with a track gauge of . Z scale trains operate on 0-10 volts direct current and offer the same operating characteristics as all other two-rail, direct-current, analog model railways...
gauge track. This is the smallest commercial scale. - HOn3 - Using HO scaleHO scaleHO or H0 is the most popular scale of model railway in the world.According to the NMRA standard S-1.2 predominantly used in North America, in HO scale, represents 1 real foot ; this ratio works out to about 1:87.1. According to the MOROP standard NEM 010 predominantly used in Europe, the scale is...
(1:87 ratio) with gauge track. Historically the most popular of the scale/gauge combinations. - Sn3 - Using S scaleS scaleS Scale is a model railroad scale modeled at 1:64 scale, S scale track gauge is . S gauge trains are manufactured in both DC and AC powered varieties...
(1:64 ratio) with gauge track. Limited commercial support. - On3 - Using O scaleO scaleO scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s...
(1:48 ratio) with gauge track. Probably the second most popular scale. - F scale - using 1:20.3 ratio with gauge track. This scale uses the same gauge as, and is derived from the popular G scaleG scaleG scale is a scale for model railways, and because of its size and durability, G scale is often used outdoors. Such installations are known as garden railways.-LGB:...
. It is the largest popular scale/gauge combination, and is suitable for use in the garden.
Perhaps not surprisingly, most narrow gauge modellers in the United States model US gauge prototypes. However these prototypes are also popular modelling subjects outside the United States as well.
Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Britain
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and the gauge of almost all the railways on the Isle of Man. It was also used on a handful of railways in Britain. However modelling these gauge railways is very much a minority pursuit, especially when compared with other prototypes such as the Welsh narrow gauge. Scales and gauges used include:
| Scale (per foot) | Scale ratio | Name | Gauge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2mm scale N scale N scale is a popular model railway scale/track gauge. Depending upon the manufacturer , the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. In all cases, the gauge is . The term N gauge refers to the track dimensions, but in the UK in particular N gauge refers to a 1:148 scale with track gauge modelling... |
1:148 | Nn3 | Z scale Z scale Z scale is one of the smallest commercially available model railway scales with a track gauge of . Z scale trains operate on 0-10 volts direct current and offer the same operating characteristics as all other two-rail, direct-current, analog model railways... |
| 3mm scale TT scale thumb|right|250px|TT scale model railroadTT scale is a niche model railroading scale, whose name stands for Table Top.Its 1:120 scale and gauge sizes it almost halfway between HO scale and N scale... |
1:101 | TTn3 | N scale N scale N scale is a popular model railway scale/track gauge. Depending upon the manufacturer , the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. In all cases, the gauge is . The term N gauge refers to the track dimensions, but in the UK in particular N gauge refers to a 1:148 scale with track gauge modelling... |
| 4mm scale 4mm scale 4 mm scale is the most popular model railway scale used in the United Kingdom. The term refers to the use of 4 millimeters on the model equating to a distance of 1 foot on the prototype... |
1:76 | OOn3 OOn3 OOn3 is a model railway standard for modelling narrow gauge railways in 4mm scale scale with gauge track. prototypes were common in Ireland and the Isle of Man, but the scale is not generally used outside the British Isles. gauge track is the same as that used in TT scale and HOm, so some... |
TT scale TT scale thumb|right|250px|TT scale model railroadTT scale is a niche model railroading scale, whose name stands for Table Top.Its 1:120 scale and gauge sizes it almost halfway between HO scale and N scale... |
| 5.5mm 5.5mm scale 5.5mm scale is used for modelling narrow gauge railways. gauge track is used to represent to gauge prototypes. gauge track is used to represent gauge prototypes.-History:... |
1:56 | 5.5mm | OO gauge OO gauge OO gauge or OO scale model railways are the most popular standard-gauge model railway tracks in the U.K. This track gauge is one of several 4mm-scale standards used, but it is the only one to be served by the major manufacturers... |
| 7mm scale O scale O scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s... |
1:43.5 | O21 | |
| 15mm | 1:20.3 | G scale G scale G scale is a scale for model railways, and because of its size and durability, G scale is often used outdoors. Such installations are known as garden railways.-LGB:... |
None of these scale/gauge combinations has much commercial support, and therefore modellers are required to construct most of their models from scratch.