OOO or Treble O scale?

[Anonymous]

(Your going to have to be 45 to 50 years old, or older to recall this). When I was a kid, building HO trains, I remember a smaller scale than HO or even TT called OOO or Treble O. I don't think this scale ever made it commercially, however there was a short push, maybe in the late 50, early 60s for it. I don't recall seeing any mention of it in the later 60s. When I was in Germany in the ARMY in the early 70s, the Germans were selling N-Scale. I assumed (incorrectly) that this was the German equivalent of Treble O. Did any of you ever get involved in this scale, and what ever happened to it? I would guess it was supplanted by N.

[nfmisso]

OOO kind morphed into N; OOO was 1/152 - one half of 1/76 which is OO.

[dknelson]

I think the gauge was the same as N, and N's ratio was more accurate for the gauge. Some OOO stuff dated before the 1960s, maybe even into the 1930s
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

The one main manufacturer of OOO scale trains was Lone Star. This was a British company. The trains they made, which were of both British and North American prototypes, were manily free-wheeling and had no motors (but still had track). There were some, however, some that were electric, called "Treble-O-Lectric". The non-powered ones are much easier to find. There was a complete line of track, switches and accessories. Many of the trains are very simmilar to Tri-ang. They are valuable collectors items now and sell quite high on ebay. Unfortunately, the only Lone Star piece I own right now is a KCS caboose with the roof missing that I found at a flea market. Anyway, I did a search and came up with this very excellent site that will tell you just about anything you could ever want to know about Lone Star OOO.
http://members.aol.com/dgosha/TrebleO.html

[jrbarney]

Deschane,
Thought I remembered an article about OOO. Went to the Index of Magazines and found it. Those that are interested can order copies either through Customer Service or from the NMRA's Kalmbach Memorial Library. Maybe someone could contribute some cars to the NMRA for display.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

OOO Gauge, the smallest of the small, Model Railroader, February 1964, page 48 Article also published in Classic Articles from Model Railroader, page 77 ( "BRANDON, TED", GAUGE, OOO, MR )

OOO Gauge, the smallest of the small, Classic Articles from Model Railroader, page 77. Article also published in Model Railroader, February 1964, page 48 ( "BRANDON, TED", GAUGE, OOO )