OO Gauge - Origin

Origin

Double-0 scale model railways were launched by Bing in 1921 as 'The Table Railway', running on 16.5 mm (0.650 in) track and scaled at 4mm to the foot. In 1922, the first models of British prototypes appeared. Initially all locomotives were powered by clockwork, but the first electric power appeared in autumn 1923.

OO describes models with a scale of 4mm = 1 foot (1:76) running on HO scale 1:87 (3.5mm = 1 foot) track (16.5mm/0.650"). This combination came about as early clockwork mechanisms and electric motors were difficult to fit within HO scale models of British prototypes which are smaller than equivalent European and US locomotives. A quick and cheap solution was to enlarge the scale of the model to 4mm to the foot but keep the 3.5mm to the foot gauge track. This also allowed more space to model the external valve gear. The resulting HO track gauge of 16.5mm represents 4 feet 1.5 inches at 4mm to the foot scale, this is 7 inches under scale or is approximately 2.33mm too narrow.

In 1932 the Bing company collapsed, but the Table Railway continued to be manufactured by the new Trix company. Trix decided to use the new HO standard, being approximately half of European O gauge (1:43 scale).

In 1938, the Meccano Company launched a new range of OO models under the trade name of Hornby Dublo, OO gauge has remained the UK's most popular scale/gauge ever since.

In the United States, Lionel Corporation introduced a range of OO models in 1938. Soon other companies followed but it did not prove popular and remained on the market only until 1942. OO gauge was quickly eclipsed by HO scale. The Lionel range of OO used 19mm/¾" track gauge, a scale 57", a track width that was more to scale. There is a small following of American OO scale/gauge today.

One suggestion which has been presented for a more accurate American 00 Gauge / Scale would be to continue to use the 19mm - 3/4" Gauge, that is ubiquitous among American 00 model railroaders, but increase the 1/76 scale to 1/75. 3/4" gauge is consistent with 1/75 scale.

(Actual gauge for 1/75 scale is .7533333" or 19.1333333 mm .)

While new rolling stock and engines built to 1/75 scale might appear very slightly larger than the current 1/76 scale rolling stock, there already exists discrepancies in size among stock because of many kit bashed constructions, different companies having produced differently sized pieces, intermingled use of smaller vintage and larger modern rolling stock and the general scarcity of American 00 stock. Minimally enlarging the 1/76 scale to 1/75 and using the existing 3/4" gauge track would allow use of existing stock, but would bring the modelling scale and track gauge of American 00 into conformity. The short term effect of the change would not impact existing models, but would set a standard for the future growth of American 00 and establish it as a true scale; in between HO and S, both of which have track gauges scaled to the modelling scale. HO Scale is 1/87. S Scale is 1/64. O Scale is 1/48. This perspective has not been widely accepted by those currently running American 00.