Is there a complete or almost complete list of all Scales starting with live steam?
I realize most of the common scales but get very confused when subscales are referred to and just what size track that these scales run on. For instance does O scale run on 3 rail or two rail do some O scale loco’s run on HO scale track? Just how many n designations are there ie HOn3 On30 etc.
It would be nice to have a complete list of each scale and subscale and what size track that they would run on.
I found this list. It is the most in-depth list I have seen.
http://www.spikesys.com/Modelrr/scales.html
Is this what you were looking for?
That’s quite a list, so complete that it is possibly confusing with so much data. Seems to be European centered?
Also not really up to date:
“NARROW GAUGE On2.5
Practiced Gauge: 0.609” (~39/64") 15.5mm
Theoretical Gauge: 0.6250"
Made By: ???"
This is called On30 by most of the real world except for the folks at MR, for some unknown reason. Bachmann is one of the largest suppliers of On30 equipment, although there are others. It is scaled to be able to run on HO scale track, although there is correct track available. Many convert HO scale mechanisms to On30.
Hi Railphotog
Add to the error list 1to20.3 made by LGB it is not they claimed they where Nominally 1/22.5 see page 4 1997 LGB catalogue
Also 7mm scale UK “O” scale runs on 32mm gauge Not 33mm track for std gauge.
I would not rely on the accuracy of the information listed
regards John
This is true that I cannot attest to the accuracy of the list. It was just a list I had found when I was looking. I think with the list as a starting block and everyone’s input we may end up with a good list once all is said and done.
“Live steam” isnt a scale.
David B
[:O] I had no idea there were THAT many!
I have some problems with that list. For starters, it isn’t arranged in a very uniform order, either by scale or by gauge.
But further, and most annoying to me,[soapbox] is that it doesn’t make clear the difference between scale and gauge. The worst offender in this regard is the reference to “G Scale”. G is not a scale - it is a gauge. Specifically, 1.77" between the rails. There are a number of scales (the size ratio) that run on G gauge track, ranging from 1:20.3 to 1:32 in size. As can (with difficulty) be determined from the list, the G Gauge is also (and was originally) named “Gauge 1”. Our “O-gauge” was originally “Gauge 0” (zero), the next step down from Gauge 1. They need to keep in mind, that the gauge is merely the distance between the rails, and has only incidental connection to the scale of the models being run on it.
[end rant]
The list does indeed have some wierd scales/gauges listed, the vast majority of which are no longer (if they were ever) used.
What I tried to do is get a list of the scales that are known and what size track that is used to run them on. This list and the additions to it a great way to find this info out. There are so many different scales and it is hard to know what scale runs on what gauge track. I didn’t know live steam isn’t a gauge or that G is a gauge. I always thought that G stood for Garden rail.
Gene