Is OO compatible with HO?
So can OO trains run on HO track? Yes. Recapping on the explanation above, OO and HO gauge railways both have a track width of 16.5mm so the OO train will run on HO track.
OO and HO scales being the most obvious. These both use the same Gauge of track – 16.5millimeter – but OO models are slightly larger than HO (HO standing for Half O).
The difference between the two comes down to size. The OO scale models are built to 1:76th scale while the HO scale models are built to 1:87th scale. In simple terms, if you were to push 87 HO scale modes together, the result would be the same size as the real deal.
Yes, any OO scale loco, wagon or coach will work on any OO scale track, regardless of brand. Couplings are also compatible so they will connect together.
Launched in the UK in 1989, Bachmann Branchline has established itself as one of the major players in the OO scale ready to run market.
HO is by far the most popular model train scale in the U.S. and Canada. The HO scale ratio is 1:87.1. HO scale modelers tend to have the widest variety of models available for rolling stock, locomotives, and buildings.
Peco and Shinohara brands are favorites among many model railroaders since they appear a little more realistic than the others and they have curved turnouts available which many of the other brands do not. Bachmann, Piko or LGB are great choices for G Scale track. Lionel is the gold standard for 3-rail O scale track.
At OO scale, 1 mile equates to 21 meters – approximately 69 feet.
1:77 (24mm) OO-scale – Similar to HO, this is another very popular scale for model railroads.
Is OO scale the same as 1 72?
1:72 and HO/OO scale
The UK had its own scale of OO, which is 1:76, but uses the same track gauge as HO scale. Hence the term HO/OO. None of these scales are 1:72, and neither are they compatible with it, as a comparison between an Airfix and Revell GMBH Leopard I tank kits will demonstrate.
HO scale is called HO because it is exactly half the size of the O Scale, landing right about the middle of the available train scales. This has made HO scale very popular, as it is large enough to see the finer details but small enough to be able to model within a home.
Although Hornby have made some great models in the last 10-15 years, personally having both in my collection I find that the Bachmann models are less fragile, marginally cheaper and slightly more reliable. That said though - compared to what was available in the 1980s/1990s, both make beautiful models...
With a few exceptions, all HO equipment sold in the United States, since WWII which was a long time ago, is compatable. The track gauge is the same, it runs on two rail 12 volt DC, the scale is the same. There are exceptions.
"Can I use model trains from different brands or do I have to stick with one?" It's a very common question for those starting out in the hobby. Fortunately, thanks to common standards used by most manufacturers the answer is usually, yes you can.
- Athearn (HO, N scale)
- Atlas (O, HO and N scale)
- Arnold (N gauge, owned by Hornby)
- Bachmann (HO, N and G scale)
- Lionel (O scale trains).
- Walthers (N and HO scale)
...
Lionel Corporation.
| Lionel logo on a box from the 1950s | |
|---|---|
| Type | Public company |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Defunct | 1993 |
| Fate | sold rights, Liquidation |
Most O gauge models are small shunting layouts, as the minimum radius is 7′, and ideally more than that.
Because of its small size, the HO Scale has become one of the most popular scales for model trains. This is the perfect scale for the hobbyist looking to build their own layouts in a small space.
N and HO scales are the two most common worldwide standards for model trains an common question for those thinking about this wonderful hobby then is which is cheaper. The answer is undoubtedly that while both are inexpensive to started, N scale is cheaper than HO scale in the long run.
What scale is OO scale?
American OO scale is a model railroad standard that has a scale of 4 mm to 1 foot (1:76) and utilises 19 mm (0.748 in) for the standard gauge track.
The first documented model railway was the Railway of the Prince Imperial (French: Chemin de fer du Prince impérial) built in 1859 by emperor Napoleon III for his then 3-year-old son, also Napoleon, in the grounds of the Château de Saint-Cloud in Paris. It was powered by clockwork and ran in a figure-of-eight.
The value of vintage toy trains depends on the age of the model train. Most model trains are common and due to being well-loved, the value is in the memories your old train set holds for you. An old model train can be worth $100 or less, but it can also be worth $10,000!
Grades for Model Trains
A generally accepted standard in model railroading is 1 inch of rise for every 4 feet of run. This convenient measurement works out to just over a 2% grade. Unlike the prototypes, the size of trains we typically run can usually handle this grade without any helpers.
The correct size of figure for a OO gauge model railway is approx. 21mm or 0.82 inches.