00 gauge or 00 scale model railways are the most popular standard-gauge model railroad tracks in the U.K. This track gauge is one of several 4mm-scale standards (4mm:foot (304.8mm) or 1:76.2) used — the only one served by manufacturers; 00 gauge track is 16.5mm gauge, which is inaccurate for 4mm scale. The name is also often written OO scale with the letter instead of the number, not recognising that the name is a progression from the earlier 0 gauge, 1 gauge, 2 gauge and 3 gauge.
 
1978 UK trade ad ~ LIMA TRAIN SETS Devon Belle,  etc

1978 UK trade ad ~ LIMA TRAIN SETS Devon Belle, etc

$5.99
Hornby OO Scale B17-4 LNER Norwich City 4-6-0 Steam Locomotive

Hornby OO Scale B17-4 LNER Norwich City 4-6-0 Steam Locomotive

$79.95
Bachmann Branch-Line OO Presflo 20t Bulk Tunnel Cement

Bachmann Branch-Line OO Presflo 20t Bulk Tunnel Cement

$16.50
BRITISH RAILWAYS R2713X Br Late Class T9 30310 DCC Fitted HORNBY OO SCALE 1 76

BRITISH RAILWAYS R2713X Br Late Class T9 30310 DCC Fitted HORNBY OO SCALE 1 76

$139.97
Hornby R2685 4-6-2 West Country BR #34006 Bude  HORNBY OO SCALE 1 76 DCC READY

Hornby R2685 4-6-2 West Country BR #34006 Bude HORNBY OO SCALE 1 76 DCC READY

$139.97
HORNBY R.602 POWER CONNECTING CLIPS - LOT OF 2

HORNBY R.602 POWER CONNECTING CLIPS - LOT OF 2

$3.80
TRI-ANG RAILWAYS OO GAUGE TRANSCONTINENTAL SERIES ELECTRIC MODEL TRAIN BOX SET

TRI-ANG RAILWAYS OO GAUGE TRANSCONTINENTAL SERIES ELECTRIC MODEL TRAIN BOX SET

$89.99
100 PAINTED FIGURES Seated+Stand 1:75 Model People OO

100 PAINTED FIGURES Seated+Stand 1:75 Model People OO

$7.15
OO Scale FEET & METERS -  6" transparent ruler - NEW!

OO Scale FEET & METERS - 6" transparent ruler - NEW!

$3.94
20 x Green LED Lamp Light Set 20cm Pre Wired 5mm 12V DC

20 x Green LED Lamp Light Set 20cm Pre Wired 5mm 12V DC

$8.99
HORNBY GWR MIXED TRAFFIC TRAIN SET AND EXTRAS

HORNBY GWR MIXED TRAFFIC TRAIN SET AND EXTRAS

$100.00
WINSTON CHURCHILL (WEST COUNTRY CLASS) BR 4-6-2 R2385 SPECIAL EDITION OO SCALE

WINSTON CHURCHILL (WEST COUNTRY CLASS) BR 4-6-2 R2385 SPECIAL EDITION OO SCALE

$190.00
BACHMANN 32-137 4575 PRAIRIE TANK 5500 PLAIN BLACK EARLY EMBLEM

BACHMANN 32-137 4575 PRAIRIE TANK 5500 PLAIN BLACK EARLY EMBLEM

$20.54
Vintage OO HO Scale Wood Boxcar Shell #2 LOOK

Vintage OO HO Scale Wood Boxcar Shell #2 LOOK

$19.00
Vintage OO O Scale Cardboard Station Building LOOK

Vintage OO O Scale Cardboard Station Building LOOK

$24.00
Vintage OO HO Scale Wood Boxcar Shell LOOK

Vintage OO HO Scale Wood Boxcar Shell LOOK

$19.00
Vintage OO O Scale Cardboard House Building LOOK

Vintage OO O Scale Cardboard House Building LOOK

$23.00
OO SCALE  HORNBY  EX-LMS 0-4-0T ?PUG? STEAM LO0COMOTIVE - WEATHERED

OO SCALE HORNBY EX-LMS 0-4-0T ?PUG? STEAM LO0COMOTIVE - WEATHERED

$49.99
10 X Model Poplar Trees Train Scenery Railway Scale OO

10 X Model Poplar Trees Train Scenery Railway Scale OO

$15.99
Vintage OO Scale Boxcar Cardboard Sides Kahn's Beef

Vintage OO Scale Boxcar Cardboard Sides Kahn's Beef

$15.00

Scaling

16.5mm gauge at 4mm:1 foot means that the scale gauge represents 4ft 1½in, seven inches narrower than the prototype 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm). These noticeable differences are aggravated by the over-scale rail section, over-scale wheel width and deep wheel flanges used on many models. These departures from scale require much larger clearances on pointwork and are particularly noticeable when looking along the track. This scale gauge more accurately represents the narrow gauge railways built to 4 ft (1,219 mm) gauge, for example the Padarn Railway and Saundersfoot Railway in Wales and the Glasgow Subway in Scotland.

Though they run on the same track, 00 gauge and H0 gauge models do not sit well together since the British models are larger than their European or American counterparts, when the reverse ought to be the case.

00 is also used to represent the 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Irish gauge, where it is a scale 13½ inches too narrow.

These differences have led to the development of the finescale standards EM gauge and P4 scale.

 

00 today

To this day 00 remains the most popular scale for railway modelling in the United Kingdom; this is most likely attributable to a ready availability of ready-to-run stock and starter sets. This particular area in itself is dominated by Hornby Railways, and Bachmann Branchline. Other sources of ready-to-run rolling stock or locomotives include the Dapol, Heljan, Peco, ViTrains. Other scales, with the possible exception of N gauge, lack the variety of ready-to-run products, and it is likely this that deters British modellers and leads to the prevailance of 00.

Good results in 00 can be achieved despite the scale inaccuracies if one uses more modern ready-to-run equipment on ballasted Code 75 trackwork (e.g. Peco Streamline), with realistic track spacing (the "6 foot"), and try to minimise or hide curves where necessary. Most finescale modellers began in 00, developed their skills and advanced to finescale.

 

4 mm Finescale Standards

Many experienced modellers find the 00 standard produces a "narrow gauge" appearance when the model is viewed from head on. Greater accuracy is possible using either EM gauge or the closer to exact scale P4 gauge track.

Whilst flextrack is available for both EM and P4 gauges (from manufacturers such as C&L Finescale, SMP and The P4 Track Company), ready-to-run (RTR) point and crossing (P&C) work is not available, so P&C trackwork must be constructed by the modeller. Kits for doing this are also available from the aforementioned sources amongst others. Several of these kits are also available for the 00 modeller who aims for more realistic track, since most RTR track does not represent any British prototype and the sleeper spacing is too close together for scale. EM gauge has slightly overscale flanges and flangeways on point and crossing work; P4 is closer to scale but the smaller flanges and flangeways on P&C work expose poor track construction.
 

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Monday , February 6th , 2012
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