What Is an H0 Scale Train?
Model railroaders quickly learn that not every train is built to the same scale. There are large trains (the 0 Scale) and tiny trains (N Scale), but the most popular model train scale in production is the H0 Scale train.
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Terminology
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H0 originally meant "half-zero," as in half the size of a 0-gauge train. The name is correctly spelled with a zero although it is commonly spelled with the letter O (i.e. "HO").
Definition
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An H0 model train is a train crafted to approximately 1:87 scale, or approximately one real foot per tenth of an inch of model size.
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Origin
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H0 model trains were introduced in Europe in the 1930s by German manufacturers looking to compete against the similarly-sized 00 scale model trains.
History
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H0-scale trains became popular in the 1950s, due in part to the rise of model railroading as a hobby. The small size allowed for easier, more elaborate modeling and layout.
Fun Fact
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H0's 1:87 scale is popular with model hobbyists of all stripes, including those who build model trains, planes, automobiles and military craft.
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