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What is the difference between..

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  • Member since
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  • From: Midtown Sacramento
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Posted by Jetrock on Monday, September 20, 2004 9:51 PM
It's pretty simple if you split them up.

The first letter--S, HO, O, N, G, Z, etcetera--is ALWAYS the scale. That is the proportion between the model and the real world: anything in HO scale is always 1:87 (1 foot in the real world equals 87 feet in the HO world.)

The "n" indicates narrow gauge. If there is no "n" after the scale, it is standard gauge. There is als wide gauge (for things like BART and some early logging railroads) but it is really rare--that would be indicated by a "w" in place of the "n." However, so far as I can tell almost nobody does wide-gauge modeling.

The number at the end is the width of the track. For standard-gauge equipment in any scale, there is no number, since it is assumed to be standard gauge (4'8-1/2".) A 2 after the N means it is two-foot gauge, 3 means three-foot gauge, 2-1/2 (or sometimes 30) is 30-inch gauge. Sometimes you will see "m"--as indicated above, that is for meter-gauge track, common in Europe. There were a few American lines in 3'6", and plenty of other obscure gauges.

So back to your original question:

Sn3= S scale, three-foot narrow gauge
On3=O scale, three-foot narrow gauge
On30=O scale, 30-inch narrow gauge
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Thank you for the information..
Posted by jacon12 on Sunday, September 19, 2004 7:10 PM
now I'll just have to remember them all[%-)]
I appreciate it!
Jarrell
 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.
  • Member since
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  • From: Culpeper, Va
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, September 19, 2004 4:29 PM
The "n" after the scale means narrow gauge for that scale. Narrow gauge is less than 4' 8 1/2". The number after the "n" is the prototype gauge in feet (2, 3, 3 1/2, etc) or inches(30, 42, etc). While several gauges were used in this country the most common narrow gauge was 3 feet. 2 feet was popular in Maine. 42 inches was very popular in other parts of the world. A "w" means wide gauge, some were 5 foot (South until late 1800's), 6 foot (Erie originally), and 7 foot (Great Western originally, in Britain).

Scale narrow gauges with commercial support - track and rolling stock - are:
Nn3 - uses Z track
HOn30 uses N track
HOn3
Sn2 uses HOn3 track
Sn3
Sn3 1/2 uses HO track
On2
On30 uses HO track
On3
Gnm meter gauge in large scale - the LGB size using G track
1/20.3n3 uses G track
7/8n2 uses G track

I'm not sure about HOn2. There may be others.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
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Posted by DSchmitt on Sunday, September 19, 2004 3:36 PM
On30 is O scale (1/4" + 1') 30" gauge. It is also known as On2-1/2.
On3 is O scale 36" gauge (as Don Gibson said 3ft between the rails)

The distance between the rails of HO gauge track is very close to 30" in O scale so HO track can be used on HOn30 layouts. (This is a compromise because the ties are too small and close together for accurate O scale, but suitable track is available nearly everywhere. Very nice layouts have been done using HO track) Track specifically made for On30 is available from several manufactures but harder to find than HO track..

On30 allows modelers to have a narrow gauge layout in O scale with less expense and hassel than trying to model 3 ft gauge or 2 ft gauge. In addition to the commercial locomotives available, many HO locos are suitable for conversion to On30 following 2ft gauge, 3ft gauge or 30 inch gauge prototypes or can be freelanced. This is how On30 started. The entry of Bachmann into the scale/gauge latter gave On30 a real boost.

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by EL PARRo on Sunday, September 19, 2004 3:30 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson
I am not familiar with any On30 unless some manufacturer has decided to use it


Bachmann makes some On30 equipment, and I think BLI also makes a couple On30 locos.

On30 is O scale trains that run on HO gauge track.
huh?
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 19, 2004 3:20 PM
On3= O scale trains running on 3 foot guage track.
On30= O scale trains running on 30 inch (2 1/2 foot) guage track.

At least that's what I heard :|
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Posted by Don Gibson on Sunday, September 19, 2004 3:10 PM
On3: means O narrow gauge -3ft between rails. On2 would be 2 ft,
So we have On3, Sn3, HOn3. To date I haven't seen any N narrow gauge (Nn3).

I am not familiar with any On30 unless some manufacturer has decided to use it - as Lionel did with their 0-27 and 0-72 with the number calling out something special - (such as 'radius') .
Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
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What is the difference between..
Posted by jacon12 on Sunday, September 19, 2004 3:01 PM
Sn3, On3 and On30? Especially the difference between On3 and On30.
N, HO, S, O and G I'm familiar with, but not these.
Jarrell
 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.

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