Scale Trains
Scale Trains
O Scale Model Trains âTake Another Look
When Toy Trains were first introduced in the early part of the 20th century the 3 rail O Scale Model trains were king. Originally manufactured as toys for kids they were a staple around the Christmas tree in December and easily pulled out from under the bed and set up in the playroom or bed room the rest of the year. The original Model Train sets were simple ovals or circles, were large enough for kids to handle, and were sold as toys, not for scale modeling.
When adults started to take interest in trains as a hobby, big in England first, the O scale lent itself to easy model making but to have a large permanent layout was next to impossible. The O scale model trains were just too big. Most new houses in America at the time were Cape Cods, and unless you wanted to devote the entire basement or the 3rd floor to Model Railroading, the Large Scale layouts were impractical. Then along came the HO scale.
When the HO scale was introduced with its 2 rail track system, the hobby became a viable option again for large realistic layouts. Being only 1/187 in scale an entire HO town could be set up in miniature on a table or a 4 x 8 platform with plenty of room for detailed landscapes and buildings. The O scale was relegated back to being made for toy trains again, not model railroading.
Let's jump forward to the 90's when bigger houses were sprouting up every day and basements and spare rooms were now large enough to accommodate realistic O scale model trains and buildings. With Atlas and MTH supplying the parts, O scale, with it's blackened center rail or new 2 rail tracks, could be taken seriously as a viable option to Model Railroad with. If you haven't seen the new trains; you really should take a look as they are light years away from the toy trains you played with as a kid.
I think some of the current appeal for O scale trains is the memories we have from childhood of playing with those 3railed oval tracks, which were easy to replace after a derailment, something kid's hands just struggle with in HO scale, let alone N scale or Z scale. The appeal of O scale to me is partly that and partly something else.
When you're trying to build Scale Models for backgrounds in the smaller scales, it becomes difficult to provide a lot of detail on the pieces without muddying them up. It's also hard to maintain proper scale across your entire layout when you wish to hand make smaller detailed items like buckets, a stack of logs for the fire, or some outdoor furniture. The small detailed components for items that have handles or hinges, or knobs simply can't be made well in the smaller scales. This is why I love O scale modeling. With it's 1/4 inch equals 1 foot scale it becomes easy add all kinds of details and props to your layouts.
The most realistic building models I've seen have all been done in O scale. A multitude of intricate details added to them created scenes that when photographed can barely be distinguished from real life. That's what model railroading is really all about for most of us anyways. The trains become secondary to the scenery and buildings, and O scale allows you to have the best of both. Take another look at O scale model trains, you may be surprised at what you find.
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HO Scale Trains TycoDurango cattle car made in USA |  |
0 Bid | US $4.55 | 15m |
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Micro Trains 50 ft standard double door boxcar Louisville Nashville 34100 | |
1 Bid | US $11.00 | 15m |
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1955 GREY CHEVROLET CAMEO PICKUP W WOOD LADDER DIECAST FOR LIONEL O SCALE LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $14.75 | 15m |
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HO Scale Walthers Canadian Pacific Pullman 10 5 sleeper | |
0 Bid | US $21.99 | 15m |
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VTG MARX MARXVILLE DINER IN BOX | |
4 Bids | US $52.99 | 15m |
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SEVEN AMERICAN FLYER CURVED TRAIN TRACKS BY GILBERT | |
1 Bid | US $12.00 | 17m |
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50 N Z Model TREE RAILWAY FARM HOUSE STREET PARK Layout | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 17m |
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O 27 Canadian Pacific Boxcar 6464 399 w Sprung Trucks Lionel MTH K line | |
1 Bid | US $19.99 | 17m |
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10pc OO HO TT scale Palm Trees Model Train Layout Green | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 18m |
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Micro Trains 50 ft straight side flatcar Canadian Pacific 44040 | |
0 Bid | US $9.50 | 18m |
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69 sections O gauge scale train track curves and straights | |
7 Bids | US $36.00 | 19m |
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Micro Trains 50 ft fishbelly side flatcar elaware Hudson 45210 | |
1 Bid | US $9.50 | 20m |
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HO Scale Trains Vintage Tyco Old Time pashenger coatch made in USA | |
2 Bids | US $5.50 | 21m |
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VTG HO SCALE ATHEARN 40 SINGLE DOME TANK ATSF 100801 MODEL RR TRAIN CAR V GOOD | |
1 Bid | US $6.50 | 22m |
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10 N scale model train cars estate sale find | |
7 Bids | US $18.50 | 23m |
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LIONEL O SCALE TRAIN PLATFORM | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 23m |
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Vintage HO Scale AHM Rivarossi 4 8 4 Steam Engine Tender Parts or Repair | |
8 Bids | US $66.50 | 23m |
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VINTAGE TYCO HO40` CABOOSE CHATTANOOGA 328 15 IN ORIG BOX NO RESERVE | |
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US $5.00 | 23m |
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Micro Trains 50 ft fishbelly side gondola w drop ends SOO Line 46240 | |
0 Bid | US $11.00 | 23m |
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HO SCALE DIE CAST CARS COUNTY SHERIFF CAR FOR MODEL RAILROAD TRAIN LAYOUT M19402 | |
4 Bids | US $3.25 | 24m |
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MICROSCALE DECALS Chicago Burlington Quincy E Unit Deisels 1945 1970 | |
0 Bid | US $7.99 | 24m |
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Micro Trains 50 ft fishbelly side gondola w drop ends Penn Central 46060 | |
1 Bid | US $11.00 | 24m |
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7 various HOn3 DRGW Rio Grande freight car kits complete train | |
1 Bid | US $100.00 | 25m |
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Pacific Fast Mail CATALOG 12 1967 w Price List | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 25m |
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JL MODELS HO HOn3 SUBURBAN VILLAGE STATION KIT | |
0 Bid | US $5.99 | 26m |
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MASTER CREATIONS FANNY SCHWAHNS CONFECTIONARY CO | |
0 Bid | US $275.00 | 26m |
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HO Scale Lot of small track pieces track controllers switchers | |
0 Bid | US $12.95 | 27m |
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MASTER CREATIONS MULDOONES DISTILLERY w WORKING WATER WHEEL | |
0 Bid | US $329.00 | 27m |
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FINE SCALE MINIATURES WEARY WILLYS TRUCK TERMINAL KIT 55 NEW IN BOX NIB | |
0 Bid | US $149.99 | 28m |
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Vintage HO Scale Athearn 01801 SL Pro Santa Fe Streamlined RPO Train Car Kit | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 28m |
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MICRO SCALE MODELS TWO STALL ENGINE HOUSE 142 of 1000 | |
0 Bid | US $145.00 | 28m |
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1999 LIONEL TRAIN TENDER CLASSIC SERIES WESTERN ATLANTIC GENERAL NEW | |
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US $35.00 | 28m |
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VINTAGE TYCO HOTRIPLE DOME TANK CAR GULF 357 B IN ORIG BOX NO RESERVE | |
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US $7.00 | 29m |
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DIECAST 1955 BLACK FORD THUNDERBIRD LIONEL 0 SCALE LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $7.49 | 29m |
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Lionel new 799720 Harry Potter Hogwarts Express G Gauge | |
0 Bid | US $24.99 | 29m |
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RARE N SCALE KADEE MICRO TRAINS CBQ 40 BOX CAR WOOD SHEATHED WEATHERED TOP | |
5 Bids | US $11.50 | 29m |
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DIECAST 1934 RED FORD GAS TANKER AND PERSON 143 LIONEL 0 SCALE LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $14.25 | 30m |
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DIECAST GM 1953 CADILLAC SERIES 62 COUPE 143 LIONEL 0 SCALE LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $7.99 | 31m |
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BLACK BLUE DIE CAST ANTIQUE CAR GREAT FOR 0 SCALE LIONEL TRAIN LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $6.25 | 31m |
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9500 Digital Photos for all scales Roco Trix Piko Lima LGB Fleischmann Arnold et | |
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US $29.99 | 31m |
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1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR DIE CAST 143 0 SCALE LIONEL TRAIN LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $9.75 | 31m |
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GOLD BLACK DIE CAST ANTIQUE CAR GREAT FOR 0 SCALE LIONEL TRAIN LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $6.25 | 32m |
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Over 3000 Digital Photos Catalog for Marklin products HO Miniclub Z Spur0 Spur1 | |
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US $19.99 | 32m |
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20PCS HO Gauge Model Train Layout Lamppost 433 inch 6V Street Park Layout Light | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 33m |
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Life Like HO Scale Train Station 1347 | |
0 Bid | US $2.99 | 33m |
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Nine 9 Sections Full Circle Gargraves 54 Inch Diameter Track | |
10 Bids | US $24.82 | 33m |
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VINTAGE TYCO HOCENTER FLOW HOPPER OLD DUTCH CLEANSER 358 F IN ORIG BOX N R | |
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US $7.00 | 34m |
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Reading Gondolas 2 car lot MTL N Scale | |
0 Bid | US $20.00 | 36m |
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ATHEARN HO 50 FT PLUG DOOR ROHM AND HAAS BOX CAR 42879 | |
1 Bid | US $6.50 | 36m |
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Delton Locomotive Works Redman Tobacco Box Car 4255R | |
15 Bids | US $41.00 | 37m |
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Lionel HO Tropicana Refer HO Scale Model Train Car 5 8742 New in Box | |
1 Bid | US $5.99 | 37m |
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LARGE LOT OF ATLAS N SCALE TRAIN TRACK ACCESSORIES | |
4 Bids | US $18.00 | 37m |
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Lot OF 100 Figure Painted Train Model N 1150 Scale NEW | |
2 Bids | US $3.49 | 38m |
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VINTAGE TYCO HO OPERATING CRANE CAR WITH BOOM TENDER 932 IN ORIG BOX N R | |
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US $17.95 | 38m |
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Delton Locomotive Works Colorado Southern Combination Car 3281 | |
9 Bids | US $41.00 | 39m |
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Delton Locomotive Works Pennsylvania Combination Car | |
13 Bids | US $31.00 | 41m |
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LIONEL 17128 CHESAPEAKE OHIO STANDARD O 3 BAY HOPPER | |
0 Bid | US $29.99 | 42m |
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LIONEL 17107 SCLAIR ACF STANDARD O 3 BAY HOPPER NEW IN THE BOX | |
0 Bid | US $32.95 | 42m |
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Delton Locomotive Works Colorado Southern Box Car 8327 | |
10 Bids | US $31.05 | 42m |
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Delton Locomotive Works Busch Box Car 4255A4 | |
11 Bids | US $42.00 | 44m |
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Athern HO Scale Model Kit 227 Pacific Fruit Express | |
1 Bid | US $.99 | 45m |
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Life Like 5 6 | |
0 Bid | US $10.81 | 45m |
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Delton Locomotive Works Denver Rio Grande Western Long Caboose 4275 | |
8 Bids | US $22.77 | 46m |
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HO SCALE WESTERN MARYLAND 40 HOPPER CAR WEATHERED | |
0 Bid | US $7.50 | 47m |
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Durango Silverton RR set | |
1 Bid | US $89.00 | 47m |
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Bachmann Pennsylvania Train N Scale w Silhouettes 6901 Vintage | |
0 Bid | US $15.00 | 47m |
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