What is narrow gauge ?
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(In Topic #2609)
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Some explainations
What is narrow gauge :question We probably all know this, but to recap, narrow gauge describes any track width that is narrower than the standard. There are many differing narrow gauges, as even the "Great little Trains of Wales" use 3 different gauges. The Ffestiniog Railway uses 1ft 115/8" for example, whilst the Welshpool uses 2'6". So any tracks narrower than the standard 4ft 81/2" can be termed "narrow gauge" (including tramways)Just as an introduction to this section, I'll explain the most widely used narrow gauges.
N - 6.5 uses Z gauge tracks (6.5mm wide) with N scale models (2mm to the foot).
OO-9 uses N gauge tracks (9mm wide) with 4mm (OOgauge) models
O - 16.5 uses OO gauge tracks (16.5mm wide) with 7mm (O gauge) models
On - 30 uses HO track (same width as OO) with American O scale (1/ 48) models
This is probably the most widespread O gauge used, the models are to US
O scale 1/48 and therefore slightly smaller that the UK O - 16.5 (1 to 45)
SM - 32 uses O gauge tracks (32mm wide) with 16mm models
There are others, but the above covers most of what we are likely to see in "Railway Modelling"
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For a bit more information on 00-9 for members to grasp it.
If your existing layout is 00 or 4mm if you decided you wanted to add a same scale narrow gauge section to your layout you would use 00-9 as the locomotives are the same as 00 or 4mm scale size as its narrow gauge you use the 00-9 track which is 9 mm across which is the same size as N gauge track.
The 00-9 means 00 engines and rolling stock on 9 mm wide track 00-9
Ho-e is the continental or american equivalant Ho engines and rolling stock on 9mm track but i dont know what the e means:oops::oops:
cheers Brian
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HOe is European outline
mikey
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Phill
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A friend who does not have internet access is considering building a small industrial layout that will have one or more narrowgauge feeders. He does not want to build the track but rather buy readymade and as most of it will be inset and buried the sleeper spacing being wrong shouldnt be a problem.
He has asked me which narrowgauges are represented in 4mm by the smaller gauge trackwork .
My answers so far are:
Standard TT (3mm) - 12mm gauge - equates to 3 foot gauge
Finescale TT (3mm) - 14.2mm gauge - equates to Metre Gauge
N - 9mm gauge - equates to 2 foot 3 inch gauge
Z - 5mm (?) gauge - equates to 15 inch gauge
T - 3mm(?) gauge - equates (as near as ) to 10 1/4 inch gauge
Not having had any experience of Z or the new T scale I am unsure of these two , can anyone advise ?
Richard. A sorely missed member who lost a brave battle in 2012.
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For 4mm narrow gauge it is 009 for british stuff track gauge same as N gauge
its Hoe for continental as i believe the US is the same
You can buy 009 track over the counter Peco make it they do flexitrack and points for it there are now 2 types the original is called a nickname crazy track as it has wonky sleepers and the new one has perfect sleepers
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Narrow gauge covers a multitude of different rail widths . For example Isle of Man Railway is 3ft gauge , Romney Hythe and Dymchurch is 15 inch gauge , Fairborne Railway is 12 inch gauge , Dinorwic Quarries were 1 foot 11 1/2 inch gauge but all are known as Narrow Gauge Railways ie less than 4ft 8 1/2 inches . Mind you if Brunel had had his way with Broad Gauge even that would have been known as Narrow.
Last edit: by Wheeltapper
Richard. A sorely missed member who lost a brave battle in 2012.
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Well i know T gauge is 3mm track width
and Z is 6.5mm you will need to get the calculator out to see which ones come nearest to the varying narrow gauge widths mind you as with many things a compromise is probably needed.
Mind you i must say having dealt with 009 itself i really wouldnt fancy Z or even consider the T myself i dont think my eyes could even condsider the T
cheers Brian
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I totally agree with you - I would struggle to even see T gauge let alone work in it.
Richard. A sorely missed member who lost a brave battle in 2012.
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The loco I built was a Tralee and Dingle Kerr Stuart - later ran on th Cavan and Leitrim. I also did one of the bogie coaches.
However, ref your listing Jeff ……………… 10mm on 0 gauge …………………….. haven't a clue!!!
Talking of which ……………. following is OFF TOPIC, sorry ………………… the other morning on the car radio they were talking about good crossword clues. One mentioned was "simply": 1, 6, 1, 4 - cracker!!
Apologies about the diversion - back to the more obscure scale/gauge combinations
Best
Adrian
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The below is OO9 on a footprint of just 3ft x 2ft! The gravel works is an H0 Walthers Cornerstone kit (Glacier Gravel) and the wooden building on the left an Amercian Model Builders lazer-cut mill kit. Alot of fun can be had adapting stock too - the loco is a modified Bachmann Zillertal Bahn loco.
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David
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