Model Railroad Exhibits

The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads will display eight to ten or more high quality model railroads most of which will be built by seasoned model railroaders belonging to the various model railroad groups in this area. At least one of the layouts will be built by student volunteers from local high schools who will be invited in to design, plan and build their own layout.

Visitors will be able to watch the building of these layouts. No admission fees will be charged until at least one of the layouts is completed and ready for showing. If you wish to become a volunteer during this construction period, please let us know.

The various scales of layouts that may be constructed include the following:

G scale: (1:22.5) commonly used for garden layouts. Also called LGB scale. If you like working outdoors, doing real landscaping and gardening, this is the most likely model train scale you'll want to use.

L Gauge: (1:40 ish) The unofficial standard of Lego Trains (the 9V Line), also known as Brick Model Railroading, uses a gauge of 37.5mm for track width. Extra track is now available from FX Bricks, called FX Track. Other brands include Trixbricks, Bricktracks and ME Models.

O Scale: (1:48) The locomotives are big and impressive and are a favorite of young and old "kids" alike. The 2-rail version runs on DC current. The O scale trains tend to dwarf the scenery unless you have a very large room for the layout, but they sure are fun to run!

O27 Scale: This is also 1:48 scale, but the difference is in the tighter curves. (O27 track sections will make a 27" circle compared to the standard O scale track sections which will form a 31" circle.) Also, O27 rail is a little shorter and thinner than standard O scale. Lionel is the primary, or at least the most famous, manufacturer of O27 these days - most, if not all, produced in the 3-rail version running on AC current. Lots of accessories are available with working parts (circuses, sawmills, etc).

S Scale: 1:64) Not as popular as some of the others but definitely growing as a home for a lot of followers and offspring from the American Flyer era. Many of the "baby boomer" model railroaders started with this gauge.

HO Scale: the most popular scale - 3.5mm=1 foot, or (1:87) or 1/87th the size of the real thing. The rails are 16.5mm apart. Not too big. Not too little. Fits on a 4x8 foot piece of plywood fairly well for a nice small layout. Also you'll find more supplies, equipment and accessories made for this model train scale than for any other.

N Scale: smaller than HO scale - (1:160) or 1/160th the size of the prototype. Also very popular because you can create a greater model railroad empire in a smaller space than with HO. If you like a lot of scenery with long trains curving around inside an interesting landscape, this is the model railroad scale for you.

Z Scale: even smaller than N Scale (1:220). This scale is great for coffee tables, a nice addition to your executive desk - good for any "large" layout in a very small space. Easy to transport if you like. At least one person I know created an entire Z scale model railroad empire inside a suitcase and displayed it at various train shows! This model train scale can also be used effectively in the background of an N scale or HO scale layout for forced perspective so that it looks like you have trains or structures way off in the distance when viewed from eye level. This makes your HO or N scale layout look even bigger than it really is.

Narrow Gauge:

HOn30, or HOe, or HOn2-1/2): a narrow gauge designation (with a scale of 1:87) indicating basically that you have HO equipment running on track that measures only 2-1/2 scale-feet (30") between the rails instead of the usual 4ft 8-1/2in. Track is 9mm wide in this scale. The prototypes for narrow gauge railways are usually logging railroads where sharp turns around rocky, mountainous terrain are required. It is often used to model railroads in Maine. The term HOe is used for European prototypes, whereas HOn30 is applied to American prototypes in the same gauge.

HOn3-1/2: 12mm (0.472") wide track. Basically, this involves running HO equipment on 12mm (3'6") scale track rather than the usual 16.5mm.

On30 (also called On2-1/2, and Oe) gauge: another narrow gauge (1/4"=1') designation, which for practical purposes allows O scale equipment to run on HO track. The scale ratio is 1:48 for American and Australian model railroaders, 1:43.5 for English and French, and 1:45 for the rest of Europe.

3 ft Gauge: HOn3 is the most popular of the narrow gauge model railroads in the U.S. often used to display railroads in Colorado and California (like the Denver and Rio Grande). This involves running HO scale equipment on 10.5mm (3ft scale) track instead of the usual 16.5mm (4' 8.5" scale). Other 3 ft scales include Nn3 (N scale equipment on Z scale track), Sn3 (S scale using 14.3mm track), On3 (O Scale using 19.05mm track), and F scale (G scale on 45mm track).

We will also provide space for youth groups (students) to build their own model railroad(s) in the scale of their choice from the ground up using STEAM criteria that will be taught in our classrooms and clinics.

There are other model railroad scales that have been used, but these are probably the most popular ones.

(Information used with permission from building-your-model-railroad.com)

Traveling Exhibit

We also intend to have a traveling exhibit, which will consist of modules that can be transported to local facilities, like special events, Holiday gatherings, nursing facilities, libraries, condominium lobbies, shopping malls, and wherever else there is an interest in displaying a model railroad as a community service.