HO Scale Model Trains

About Vintage HO Scale Model Railroad Trains

HO scale model trains are 1/87 the size of real trains and 1/2 the size of O scale model trains (HO stands for "half O"). As with O scale trains, the letter "O" in HO is a misnomer since the designation was initially conceived as a zero to identify trains that were smaller in scale than 1. But the use of the letter O rather than the numeral 0 crept into everyday speech among model-train buffs and remains the standard way to refer to HO scale today.

Though first invented in the 1930s, HO scale model trains didn’t become popular in the U.S. and Europe until the 1950s when the scale was heavily promoted by Märklin, Lionel, Athearn, and others. HO never quite gained acceptance in England, though, where larger 00 scale trains still predominate...

HO has two important benefits over trains of larger sizes. First, an HO scale layout of reasonably ambitious detail and complexity can fit on a table rather than requiring an entire room, as is the case with larger scales. Second, HO trains are less expensive to manufacture than OO, O, and other large-scale trains, which makes them more affordable to collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Most HO scale trains run on two-rail tracks using direct current (DC). Adjusting the voltage delivered to the tracks can increase or decrease the speed of the trains; reversing the polarity causes the trains to roll in reverse. Some manufacturers, notably Märklin, produce HO scale trains that operate on alternating current (AC), which is delivered to the train via a conductive third rail.

The gauge used by the majority of HO scale model trains is a standard HO gauge track that’s roughly proportional to the size of the trains running on top of it. But as with the OO scale trains in England that run on HO gauge tracks, HO scale trains are also made to run on a variety of different gauge tracks, which themselves are scaled-down versions of historical railroad track sizes.

Of these variants, the most common is called HOn3. This code denotes an HO scale train running on a track similar to the 3-foot, narrow gauge tracks used by Rocky Mountain railroad operators in the late 19th century.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of HO for collectors is the opportunity to join a local module club. Members of such clubs build modules of predetermined size; each module has a finite length of track. When members get together at model train exhibitions or in private homes, the modules are linked up and trains are run on the resulting massive layout, which often feels like more than just the sum of its parts.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Brass Model Train Collector Dan Glasure

We’ve been operating Dan’s Train Depot, which is the parent company of BrassTrains.com, for about 11 year… [more]

An Interview With National Model Railroad Association Library Director Brent Lambert

The NMRA library’s original purpose was to focus on model railroading, but over time we’ve also received… [more]



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Dave McCarthy's Airfix Model Railway treasure trove is an in-depth archive of the company's plastic railway kits fr… [read review or visit site]

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Recent News: HO Scale Model Trains

Source: Google News

This week's entertainment calendar
Daily Press, November 20th

The Chesapeake Bay and Western Railroad (CB&W) is the largest HO scale model railroad in Virginia. The club is located just east of Route 17 on Dare Road,...Read more

Build: All aboard!
New Straits Times, November 20th

WHAT joy could one possibly get in watching a model train go round and round? It's probably as much fun as watching two chess masters ponder their next move...Read more

Salisbury Point hosts Railway Express Christmas Train Show
Amesbury News, November 19th

The event will feature operating train layouts in a variety of gauges: N.OO (Thomas the Tank), HO, S (American Flyer), O (Lionel) and G, and there will be...Read more

Model railroaders prepare for gala, open house events
Albany Democrat Herald, November 19th

The HO-scale model railroad club, now at 7155 Vandenberg Ave. in Adair Village, was founded in 1959. It grew out of the Corvallis Comets, a model airplane...Read more

Fairfax Station Railroad Museum on track to 20th anniversary
Washington Post, November 18th

The show also will include indoor displays of HO- and N-scale model trains, Lego trains and an Amtrak display, Rogers said. Much like Fairfax Station itself...Read more

Society of Model Engineers to hold annual train exhibition
NorthJersey.com, November 18th

The Society will be displaying two "Railroad Empires": the larger "O" Scale layout and the "HO" Scale layout. Model trains will be operating on both layouts...Read more

Model Train Fair & Farm Toy Show Nov. 21
Quad-Cities Online, November 16th

The N scale cars are small which allows them to put extra long trains on their tracks. The large HO train layout that was on display during the Bureau...Read more

Train show taking up more track
The Daily News Online, November 16th

Bill Lauretti, who has an HO-scale train at his home in Victor, said he's attended the show pretty much every year for the past 12 years...Read more

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