Z Gauge
Ratio: 1:220 Scale: 1.5mm to 1ft Gauge: 6.5mm
The smallest model railway gauge introduced in 1972. This gauge is usually modelled on the Continent, although a small amount of kits are available in British outline. A modern coach in this gauge would measure less than 5in in length and a small shunting locomotive would be around 2in long!
N Gauge
(English) Ratio: 1:148 Scale: 2.06mm to 1ft Gauge: 9mm
(Continental) Ratio: 1:160 Scale: 1.91mm to 1ft Gauge: 9mm
N Gauge stands for nine (9mm gauge) and was introduced in the early 1960s. N gauge has developed rapidly over the past 30 years, although the availability of this gauge in British outline modelling is limited. However, there is now an increasing amount of Continental outline N gauge available.
2mm Scale
Ratio: 1:152 Scale: 2mm to 1ft Gauge: 9.5mm
This scale was the first recognised scale in the real miniature sizes and was developed as long ago as the mid to late 1930s. Then as now, everything has to be made by the modeller, as this scale is not commercially available
TT Scale
(English) Ratio: 1:101 Scale: 3mm to 1ft Gauge: 12mm
(Continental) Ratio: 1:101 Scale: 2.5mm to 1ft Gauge: 12mm
The English TT (Table Top) gauge was produced by Tri-ang in the late 1950s but this gauge has now been discontinued as a commercial line. It is still popular with some enthusiasts who have formed a 3mm Association.
HO Scale
Ratio: 1:87 Scale: 3.5mm to 1ft Gauge: 16.5mm
This is the most widely used and popular scale on the Continent and in America. It is the true scale for 16.5mm gauge trackwork. There are very few commercial models made for the English markets, but a large number of enthusiasts in this country use this scale for their layouts which depict Continental or American practice.
OO Scale
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 16.5mm
The most popular scale in the UK and the gauge that all Hornby products are modelled to. A wide range of steam and diesel locomotives, passenger and rolling stock, and accessories are available through most model shops. There is also a wide variety of trackwork and various point configurations which can be obtained ready made. Complete systems and train sets are also available.
EM Scale
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 18mm
This is nearer the true track gauge for the scale of 4mm to 1ft - it gives a track gauge of 4ft 6in against the 4ft 8½in of the prototype. EM means eighteen millimetre and it gives a better scale appearance for 00 models. The rolling stock is exactly the same as 00 with the exception that the wheels are set further apart.
P4 Scale
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 18.83mm
This is the true gauge for the scale of 4mm to 1ft. The rail, points and wheel profiles are modelled to exact scale of the prototype.
Scalefour
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 18.83mm
The same standards as P4 Scale. A specialist society is in existence for modellers
S Gauge
Ratio: 1:65 Scale: 4¾mm to 1ft Gauge: 22.2mm
A specialist gauge started in America roughly midway between H0 and 0 gauges. There is no commercially available parts in the UK and everything has to be made by the enthusiast. There are a few supporters in the UK and an S Gauge Society exists to help those working in this scale.
O Gauge
(British) Ratio: 1:45 Scale: 7mm to 1ft Gauge: 32mm
(American) Ratio: 1:48 Scale: ¼in to 1ft Gauge: 32mm
This was the popular gauge in the period before the 1940s and most English enthusiasts can remember or have seen examples of the old Hornby 0 gauge tinplate system. It still holds a wide appeal and several manufacturers provide ready-to-run models and kits. The old Gauge 0 models are now referred to as coarse scale and the newer ones are generally built to finer scale standards with nearer to scale wheel profiles. America has slightly different measurements although the track gauge remains the same.
Gauge 1
Ratio: 1:32 Scale: 10mm to 1ft Gauge: 44.45mm
The largest gauge which comes within the sphere of model railways. In Edwardian days, it was a popular toy size, but now it is more for the enthusiast and lends itself to live steam (spirit or coal fired) models. Little is produced commercially for this size.
Narrow Gauge
There are many variations of the standard scales and gauges which can be adapted
for narrow gauge prototypes, ranging from Gauge 1 to N Gauge. The most popular NG scale is 4mm scale locomotives and rolling stock running on N gauge track, known as 009 or H09.
This information is from www.hornby.com
Ratio: 1:220 Scale: 1.5mm to 1ft Gauge: 6.5mm
The smallest model railway gauge introduced in 1972. This gauge is usually modelled on the Continent, although a small amount of kits are available in British outline. A modern coach in this gauge would measure less than 5in in length and a small shunting locomotive would be around 2in long!
N Gauge
(English) Ratio: 1:148 Scale: 2.06mm to 1ft Gauge: 9mm
(Continental) Ratio: 1:160 Scale: 1.91mm to 1ft Gauge: 9mm
N Gauge stands for nine (9mm gauge) and was introduced in the early 1960s. N gauge has developed rapidly over the past 30 years, although the availability of this gauge in British outline modelling is limited. However, there is now an increasing amount of Continental outline N gauge available.
2mm Scale
Ratio: 1:152 Scale: 2mm to 1ft Gauge: 9.5mm
This scale was the first recognised scale in the real miniature sizes and was developed as long ago as the mid to late 1930s. Then as now, everything has to be made by the modeller, as this scale is not commercially available
TT Scale
(English) Ratio: 1:101 Scale: 3mm to 1ft Gauge: 12mm
(Continental) Ratio: 1:101 Scale: 2.5mm to 1ft Gauge: 12mm
The English TT (Table Top) gauge was produced by Tri-ang in the late 1950s but this gauge has now been discontinued as a commercial line. It is still popular with some enthusiasts who have formed a 3mm Association.
HO Scale
Ratio: 1:87 Scale: 3.5mm to 1ft Gauge: 16.5mm
This is the most widely used and popular scale on the Continent and in America. It is the true scale for 16.5mm gauge trackwork. There are very few commercial models made for the English markets, but a large number of enthusiasts in this country use this scale for their layouts which depict Continental or American practice.
OO Scale
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 16.5mm
The most popular scale in the UK and the gauge that all Hornby products are modelled to. A wide range of steam and diesel locomotives, passenger and rolling stock, and accessories are available through most model shops. There is also a wide variety of trackwork and various point configurations which can be obtained ready made. Complete systems and train sets are also available.
EM Scale
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 18mm
This is nearer the true track gauge for the scale of 4mm to 1ft - it gives a track gauge of 4ft 6in against the 4ft 8½in of the prototype. EM means eighteen millimetre and it gives a better scale appearance for 00 models. The rolling stock is exactly the same as 00 with the exception that the wheels are set further apart.
P4 Scale
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 18.83mm
This is the true gauge for the scale of 4mm to 1ft. The rail, points and wheel profiles are modelled to exact scale of the prototype.
Scalefour
Ratio: 1:76 Scale: 4mm to 1ft Gauge: 18.83mm
The same standards as P4 Scale. A specialist society is in existence for modellers
S Gauge
Ratio: 1:65 Scale: 4¾mm to 1ft Gauge: 22.2mm
A specialist gauge started in America roughly midway between H0 and 0 gauges. There is no commercially available parts in the UK and everything has to be made by the enthusiast. There are a few supporters in the UK and an S Gauge Society exists to help those working in this scale.
O Gauge
(British) Ratio: 1:45 Scale: 7mm to 1ft Gauge: 32mm
(American) Ratio: 1:48 Scale: ¼in to 1ft Gauge: 32mm
This was the popular gauge in the period before the 1940s and most English enthusiasts can remember or have seen examples of the old Hornby 0 gauge tinplate system. It still holds a wide appeal and several manufacturers provide ready-to-run models and kits. The old Gauge 0 models are now referred to as coarse scale and the newer ones are generally built to finer scale standards with nearer to scale wheel profiles. America has slightly different measurements although the track gauge remains the same.
Gauge 1
Ratio: 1:32 Scale: 10mm to 1ft Gauge: 44.45mm
The largest gauge which comes within the sphere of model railways. In Edwardian days, it was a popular toy size, but now it is more for the enthusiast and lends itself to live steam (spirit or coal fired) models. Little is produced commercially for this size.
Narrow Gauge
There are many variations of the standard scales and gauges which can be adapted
for narrow gauge prototypes, ranging from Gauge 1 to N Gauge. The most popular NG scale is 4mm scale locomotives and rolling stock running on N gauge track, known as 009 or H09.
This information is from www.hornby.com
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