OO9
Encyclopedia
OO9 is a model railway scale and gauge combination of 4 mm scale
and gauge tracks, which models a prototype track gauge of . It is a common choice in the United Kingdom
for the modelling of narrow gauge railways whose prototype gauges lie approximately between and . The track gauge is used by N gauge model railways, a common commercial scale, which means that a selection of wheels and mechanisms is readily available.
gauge railways were common in Britain, but and particularly were quite rare. This leads to difficulty in achieving correct scale when the gauge is widened, particularly with outside framed engines.
There is currently no commercially available ready to run support for OO9, although Peco do sell the necessary trackwork, and small manufacturers have made limited runs of models from time to time. The modeller is therefore generally dependent on kit manufacturers, of which there are many, adapting models made for OO, or scratch building
. Many OO9 modellers also use HOe equipment
Standard HOe couplings are most often used. An alternative is the Greenwich coupling which is compatible with the standard couplings but can be magnetically operated. MicroTrains or Kadee
couplings intended for N gauge can also been used.
model railways. In Europe
, this is known as HOe
while in the United States
this is called HOn30 or HOn2½. As the latter indicates, 9 mm in HO scale is in the prototype, closer to gauge.
gauge lines (common in Ireland and the Isle of Man) are generally modelled in 4 mm scale but with gauge track, which is known as OOn3
.
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...
and gauge tracks, which models a prototype track gauge of . It is a common choice in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for the modelling of narrow gauge railways whose prototype gauges lie approximately between and . The track gauge is used by N gauge model railways, a common commercial scale, which means that a selection of wheels and mechanisms is readily available.
gauge railways were common in Britain, but and particularly were quite rare. This leads to difficulty in achieving correct scale when the gauge is widened, particularly with outside framed engines.
There is currently no commercially available ready to run support for OO9, although Peco do sell the necessary trackwork, and small manufacturers have made limited runs of models from time to time. The modeller is therefore generally dependent on kit manufacturers, of which there are many, adapting models made for OO, or scratch building
Scratch building
Scratch building is the process of building a scale model "from scratch", ie. from raw materials, rather than building it from a commercial kit, kitbashing or buying it pre-assembled....
. Many OO9 modellers also use HOe equipment
Standard HOe couplings are most often used. An alternative is the Greenwich coupling which is compatible with the standard couplings but can be magnetically operated. MicroTrains or Kadee
Kadee
Kadee Quality Products Co. is a model railroad manufacturer. They are best known for their couplers, but also produce rolling stock and accessories....
couplings intended for N gauge can also been used.
Related Scales
Using N gauge 9mm track to model narrow gauge prototypes is also popular in HO scaleHO scale
HO 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...
model railways. In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, this is known as HOe
HOe scale
HOe or HOn30 is a popular rail transport modelling scale/gauge combination widely used by modellers of European, American, and Japanese narrow gauge railways....
while in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
this is called HOn30 or HOn2½. As the latter indicates, 9 mm in HO scale is in the prototype, closer to gauge.
gauge lines (common in Ireland and the Isle of Man) are generally modelled in 4 mm scale but with gauge track, which is known as 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...
.
Manufacturers
- Backwoods Miniatures - Locomotive Kits
- Nigel Lawton 009Nigel Lawton 009Nigel Lawton is a United Kingdom producer of kits for model railway wagons and locomotives.Lawton markets around a dozen products for OO9/HOn30/HOe narrow gauge. Products include several micro motors which can be used for other small scales such as N gauge, 2 mm scale Z Scale...
- Industrial narrow gauge rolling stock kits and micro motors. - PecoPecoPeco is a UK-based manufacturer of model railway accessories, especially trackwork, based at Pecorama, Beer in South Devon.Peco is the collective name for the Pritchard Patent Product Company Ltd, Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd, and Pecorama...
- 009 narrow-gauge style Crazy Track and accessories - Parkside Dundas - Also list other manufacturers kits
- Worsley WorksWorsley WorksWorsley Works, is a manufacturer of kits for model railway carriages and locomotives, owned and run from Worsley, UK, by Allen Doherty.Worsley Works is well-known in the finescale modelling world, especially in less-popular scales, including British HO scale and 3mm-scale models along with...
- Rolling stock kits and Locomotive body kits