From my smaller model railroading days, the NMRA (Nat’l Model RR Assoc) had specific dimensions (standards if you will) for track and wheel gauge. This included not only wheel flange heighth/depth, but also wheel back-to-back distance, tread width, etc. Additional gauge points were provided for rail spread and turnout frog depth/width and right-of-way clearance.
In visits to G gauge equipment suppliers, internet surfing and advertisements, I have not seen something like the above mentioned gauge for G. Does anyone is such a gauge exists? or is this more a matter that universal G gauge standards have not been agreed to by the various equipment manufacturers?
Advice…comments…anything would be appreciated. Thanx in advance. cb
The only gauge I have seen advertised is a Kadee coupler gauge in G scale. The NMRA has ignored G scale all these years and has regarded it as more or less a bunch of old kooks trying to play choo-choo outdoors. That’s why there’s no NMRA gauge.
When the NMRA did wake up and say they wanted to establish G scale standards last year, the manufacturers told them to stuff it.
When the NMRA did wake up and say they wanted to establish G scale standards last year, the manufacturers told them to stuff it.
I wasn’t aware that the manufacturers told the NMRA that they wouldn’t support any G scale standards; however, I know a lot of G scale modelers are very passionate on this topic. I sense that there is a concern out in the G scale community that if the NMRA were to establish a set of G scale standards then a lot of existing equpiment might not be compatible with the standards; and, if the manufacturers were to start conforming to these standards then new products may not be compatible with old products. It wouldn’t surprise me if the the G scale manufacturers chose to ignore the NMRA since I’m sure a lot of these passonate G scale modelers made their feelings known.
I’m relatively new to this hobby; and, I’m not smart enough to know if these are valid concerns or not. However, I do think the NMRA did a poor job of selling the G scale community on the benefits of standards. In fact, their biggest mistake may have been going to the manufacturers in the first place. They need to sell the G scale community at large and then have them demand that the manufacturers conform to standards.
Whether or not some manufacturers told them to stuff it or not isn’t a concern.
The standards are accepted by the membership, and published.
Reviews have been written listing compliance with G1MRA/nmra standards.
At least one new offering meets those standards.
Throw the Kadee gauge away.
Throw the Sunset Valley gauge away.
No one is quite sure what dream they had about “standards” when they built those gauges, but they have never met any standard accepted and published.
I know more folks who set their wheels to a Kadee gauge and couldn’t run on properly scaled trackwork.
Basically, 1.575" back-to-back, + or - .010 will get you in the ballpark.