What is the standard track size for a HO Model Train?

Filed Under (HO Model Train) by admin on 10-01-2010

Tagged Under : 3 trees, decorative touches, diesel engine, electric train set, hobby lobby, local hobby shop, model, model train, model trees, road signs, scale train, size, standard, Track, train

Question by Brendan: What is the standard track size for a HO Model Train?
I have been given a size HO model train as a birthday present and I would like to build a model railroad in my garden. I am a newbie and I want to start buying materials but I have no idea what size track to buy. I would like to know what is the standard size track for a size HO model train?

Best answer:

Answer by Outlawcajun
The standard size of track is HO. If you go to your local hobby shop, like Hobby Lobby, you’ll find the track you need. There are three main scales of trains sold today, O, HO, and N scale.
The largest of the three is O, then HO, which stands for Half O, meaning HO is half the size of O, and N scale being the smallest. When you shop for your track, just make sure the package says HO.

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(2) Comments

2 Responses to “What is the standard track size for a HO Model Train?”

mariner31 on 14 May 2010 at 5:40 am #

Model Railroad TRACK has three primary measurements:

1) Scale – is the ratio of the model to the real thing: in HO scale, the model is 1:87 the model is 1/87th the size of the real thing
2) Gauge – Gauge is the distance between the rails, and the standard gauge in North America is 4′ 8 ½”. (that means in HO scale, the rails are 0.649 inches (16.5 mm).
3) Code – is the height of the rails. Mainline rails are taller than spur and yard rails. In HO, the two primary “code” sizes are 83 and 100.

HO railroading isn’t particularly given to outdoor use.

Here is a link to the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), the US standards group, which has great information: http://www.nmra.org/
Flash Gordon on 14 May 2010 at 5:43 am #

great answers… all I know is that HO stands for half of O

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