Lionel's Tugboats:

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Please, can anyone inform me of the gauge/scale of Lionel’s Tug Boats?

Thank you,

Ralph

2

Saw one on ebay. Says it’s 0 gauge (scale). It is 14" long & 4" high.

wyomingscout

3

My NYC Tug Boat is 19" long, 4.5" wide, 8.5 to top of smoke stack, 14" to top of tallest mast.

4

wyomingscout,

Much Obliged. Pard’ner!

Ralph

5

Mel,

Thank you, too,

Ralph

6

A quick survey of the Internet suggests that a typical tugboat is about 100 feet long. So–no surprise–Lionel tugboats are a little undersized for their nominal scale.

7

The tugs are more like “S” scale. As Bob noted most of the harbor tugs are in the 100+ foot range. There are smaller diesel tugs that are in the 40-60 foot range but that isn’t what these are modeled on. Here is a site with excellent scale drawings for almost any type of vessel: http://www.taubmansonline.com/

8

Thank You, Bob and Chuck,

I appreciate the detailed info., because I rather the item to be of scale proportions, markings, detailing and proper color schemes, as the prototypes.

I had a feeling that the Lionel tugs, though beautiful and of ‘O’ Gauge, were NOT true to scale. That site you sent me, Chuck, besides the scale drawings, has a lot of other goodies.

Thank You, All,

Ralph

9

IMHO the tug boats, even if they are slightly undersized, work and look great with O scale trains. They don’t look too small and they don’t dominate the layout taking away from the trains which really should be the focus.

10

bazonkers,

Thank You,

You’re right about the Lionel tugs being close to scale and having detail.
If a water scene is in the background, of a train layout, then the perspective view will allow the tug to appear about the correct size, to the trains and the layout scenery.

Ralph