G scale
Encyclopedia
Garden railway
A garden railroad or garden railway is a model railway system set up outdoors in a garden. While G is the most popular scale for garden railroads, 16 mm scale has a dedicated and growing following especially in the UK. Model locomotives in this scale are often live steam scale models of British...
s.
LGB
G scale was introduced by Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk under their brand name of LGB, meant for indoor/outdoor use. the major European manufacturer of G scale trains, and considered the one that really made garden railways popular. Their trains are sold as the Lehmann Gross Bahn (or "Lehmann Big Train"). Lehman Patentwerk was founded in 1881 and started producing LGB in 1968. The remains of the company, subject to seemingly endless litigation, have been bought by MärklinMärklin
Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH or Märklin is a German toy company. The company was founded in 1859 and is based at Göppingen in Baden-Wurttemberg. Although it originally specialised in doll house accessories, today it is best known for model railways and technical toys...
, and production of certain items seems to be continuing. The US side of the company, known formerly as LGB of America [LGBoA], has somewhat less clear position in the newly arranged company under the Märklin aegis. LGB produces models of European and US originals, of steam, diesel and electric prototypes as well as a large range of coaches, trucks and accessories.
'G Scale' versus 'G Gauge'
The term "scale" is a misnomer, as the actual scale of the trains that run on it vary from system to system, country to country. G scale is more correctly called "G Gauge", as the gauge of the track, , is the one consistency.The name comes from the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
groß (meaning "big"). Traditionally, G scale is the use of gauge track, as used for standard gauge (Gauge 1) models, for modelling narrow gauge railways, using the correct scale of 1:22.5. Metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
is the most common narrow gauge in Europe, where it is known as IIm.
Some people think that the "G" in G Scale stands for Garden Scale. This is also a misnomer, but the term Garden Trains has picked up usage over the last several years in the media to describe G Scale Trains.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the commonly used narrow gauge is ; modelling this correctly with a track gauge gives a scale of 1:20.3, which is commonly used by American manufacturers. In actuality, these products are labelled G Scale, even though in reality they are not. Some modellers and train producers call 1:20.3 narrow gauge "Fn3 scale
Modelling 3' gauge railroads
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...
".
Other scales are used to model other narrow gauges.
Gn15
Gn15
Gn15 is a model railroad scale.Generally Gn15 Models are G scale trains running on HO/OO track, thus representing minimum gauge and miniature railways. Typical models built between 1:20.3 and 1:24, but scales from 1:22.5 to 1:29 have been used...
modellers use 1:24 scale
1:24 scale
1:24 is a very popular size for Die-cast toy vehicles, which are collected by children and adults. Primarily automobiles are made in this scale, with a few examples of tractor trailers and other larger equipment. Plastic automobile kits are frequently made in this scale.1:24 is the largest of the...
parts and details along with H0/00 scale track ( gauge) to model gauge railroads, otherwise known as minimum gauge
Minimum gauge railway
Minimum gauge railways have a gauge of less than or , most commonly , , or . The notion of minimum gauge railways was originally developed by estate railways and by the French company of Decauville for industrial railways....
.
Although some call models of 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...
equipment to track gauge 'G scale', these models are more correctly referred to as Gauge 1, I Scale (NEM
Normen Europäischer Modelleisenbahnen
NEM standards are the standards for model railroads issued by the MOROP. NEM stands for Normen Europäischer Modellbahnen , Normas Europeas de Modelismo or Normes Européennes de Modélisme , the German translating to European Standards for Model Railways)...
Standard 010), or 3/8" scale (NMRA
National Model Railroad Association
The National Model Railroad Association is a non-profit organization for those involved in the hobby or business of model railroading. It was founded in the United States in 1935, and is now active in Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and the Netherlands...
S-1).
Manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada and their scale products
- Wrightway Rolling Stock 1:32 and 10mm scale custom built British North American and European passenger stock.http://www.wrightwayrollingstock.com [Ontario, Canada]
- Northern Fine Scale Stock in 10mm scale British only freight stock in kit form http://www.northernfinescale.ca
- Accucraft has five scales - Fn3 is 1:20.3, Gauge 1 is 1:32, their ½" scale is 1:24. They also build 1:29 scsle North American models in live steam and electric under the AML brand, as well as British live steam and electric models in 1:19th scale [also called 16mm] and Isle of Man live steam and electric models in 1:20.3 scale - the Isle of Man uses three foot gauge track, the same width as the dominant US Colorado narrow gauge.
- Aristo-Craft is 1:29, “Classic” series is 1:24
- Aster is 1:32, 1:30 for Japanese prototypes and 1:22.5 for European and Japanese narrow gauge.
- Bachmann's "Big Haulers" series is to 1:22.5, while their "Spectrum" Series is to 1:20.3 scale
- Hartland Locomotive Works products are engineered to fit with 1:24 scale Narrow Gauge equipment and 1:29 Standard Gauge equipment.
- LGBLGBLGB may refer to:* Long Beach Airport in California* Laser-guided bomb* Lateral geniculate body in human brain, a.k.a. lateral geniculate nucleus* LGB , brand in model railroading...
is 1:22.5 - Marklin "MAXI" is 1:32
- MTH Rail-King is 1:32
- PikoPikoPIKO is one of the largest and best-known model train brands in Europe and also enjoys a wide following in the United States and other parts of the world...
is 1:27-1:29 - USA TrainsUSA TrainsUSA Trains is a manufacturer of G scale model railroad products that started out as Charles Ro Manufacturing Company. They offer two different scale sizes of trains that use the same track; the "Ultimate Series," which is 1:29 scale, and the "American" and "Work Trains" series which is 1:24 scale...
“Ultimate” Series is 1:29, “American” Series is 1:24
LGB and numerous other manufacturers [Train-Li, PIKO, Peco] produce track made of brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
which can remain outside in all weathers – a quick wipe and it is ready for use. Track can also be obtained in less expensive aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
as well as oxidation-resistant, though more expensive, stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
.
See also
- Gn15Gn15Gn15 is a model railroad scale.Generally Gn15 Models are G scale trains running on HO/OO track, thus representing minimum gauge and miniature railways. Typical models built between 1:20.3 and 1:24, but scales from 1:22.5 to 1:29 have been used...
- G Scale models of gauge trains on gauge track - Rail transport modelling scalesRail transport modelling scalesRail transport modelling utilises a variety of scales to ensure scale models look correct when placed next to each other. Model railway scales are standardized worldwide by many organizations and hobbyist groups...
- Model railway scales
- SE scaleSE scaleSE scale is a designation used by a growing number of modellers to describe miniature trains which run on either Gauge 1 track or O gauge track. In SE scale, 7/8ths of an inch equals one foot, which is a ratio of 1:13.7...
- Gauge 1
- Garden railwayGarden railwayA garden railroad or garden railway is a model railway system set up outdoors in a garden. While G is the most popular scale for garden railroads, 16 mm scale has a dedicated and growing following especially in the UK. Model locomotives in this scale are often live steam scale models of British...