By	Author  Bio I have been involved with miniature trains for 40 years or so starting with toy trains, then with several scales of model railroading, and since the mid 1980's with Large Scale.  I especially enjoy kit bashing.

I have been involved with miniature trains for 40 years or so starting with toy trains, then with several scales of model railroading, and since the mid 1980's with Large Scale. I especially enjoy kit bashing.

It is rare for any model I purchase not to be messed with or kit bashed in one way or another. I am building the Mount Savage RR, an indoor layout inspired by the Cumberland and Pennsylvania RR near Cumberland, MD. The Mount Savage RR uses 45mm gauge and a scale of roughly 1:22.5, although much of the equipment started out in other scales.

In the mid 1980's when I started in Large Scale, gauge and scale were easy to understand. Almost all U.S. large scalers used 45mm gauge, and there were three practical scales ( 1:32 for modeling standard gauge and 1:22.5 & 1:24 for modeling narrow gauge).

As time went on other scales became more practical (1:29, 1:20.3, and 1:13.7), and we large scalers became more aware of all the other scales our compatriots were working in. By the early 1990's there were a dozen or so. That situation led to confusion and frustration.

The thing that first got me interested in how we large scalers use gauge and scale was the rash of complaints about "all these confusing scales." I felt I had a workable understanding of the topic, but when I tried to explain it to others, it became clear that my understanding was far from sufficient.

So I set out to learn more by talking to other large scalers and by reading back issues of various hobby magazines (especially Garden Railways and the Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette). Even though the most confusing aspects seemed to center around the scales, I eventually came to see that how we large scalers use gauge was (and is) the key to understanding the situation.

I find the topic quite fascinating and feel strongly that over the years we large scalers have made some incredibly creative decisions about gauge and scale -- decisions which have helped to shape our unique and wonderful part of the hobby and to give it its special character.

scale/guage

My wife and I started in the hobby in 1994 in HO but have picked up on G scale as well. I still find the scale/guage issue confusing in the large scale arena. However it hasn't detered us from enjoying garden railroading.

Ben jackson - 10/05/2008 - 14:29

scale/gauge

Ben, I have done HO for 40 years and G for about 10 years. I love them both. I love the detail work I can do in HO (1:87). But I love the big trains too and I don't get caught up in the scale/gauge issue 1:20 thru 1:32. I just want to run my trains.

Peter D De Keles - 10/05/2008 - 14:38

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