| O scale trains are one of more popular scale | | | | O scale trains are available in various numeric |
| categories of model trains; only the HO scales are | | | | scales; O-27, O-31, O-42, O54, and O-72. O-31 is |
| more popular. They were originally manufactured | | | | the standard, representing a diameter of 31 |
| by Marklin, a German toy making company in | | | | inches. They have an extremely detailed design |
| 1900. O scale trains are preferred by many due | | | | and, as a result, many hobbyists worldwide find |
| to the fact that they are easier to handle for | | | | these trains more attractive than their smaller |
| younger children as well as adults that have issues | | | | scale counterparts. In addition, there is a large |
| with poor vision. Originally, they were designed for | | | | assortment of quality accessories made for the O |
| children but, later, caught on to the community of | | | | scale trains, including everything from logs of |
| the more serious model train hobbyists due to | | | | wood, buckets, telephone polls, buildings, bridges, |
| their realism and abundance of accessories. | | | | and scenes, all of which give the O scale trains a |
| O scale trains are generally 1/48th the size of a | | | | very large degree of realism. |
| real train and run on two-rail tracks that are 1.25 | | | | Of course, with the more quality detailed and |
| inches apart. The letter "O" came from the original | | | | realistic designs, the O scale trains are a little |
| designation which was initially conceived to identify | | | | more expensive than their smaller counterparts. If |
| trains that were smaller in scale than 1, which was | | | | cost is an issue but you do not wish to sacrifice |
| the standard. 0 being the only whole number | | | | quality, Ready to Run sets are available. However, |
| smaller than 1 was given to first identify the O | | | | you would not have as much flexibility in the |
| scale trains and gauge tracks. Along the same | | | | designing and customization of your own scenes. |
| lines, the HO scales were originally intended to | | | | If one is serious about this hobby and has the |
| describe a scale that was half of zero. However, | | | | larger space required than the popular HO scales, |
| in the world of model train collecting, the letter O | | | | the O scales are most highly recommended and |
| became has become the common way to | | | | worth the extra cost. |
| describe these types of trains. | | | | |