Gauge Dilemma - Revision history

Dnevil at 01:21, 24 March 2014

2014-03-24T01:21:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:21, 23 March 2014
Line 5:		Line 5:
	by [[Steve Booth\|Stephen F. Booth]]		by [[Steve Booth\|Stephen F. Booth]]

	<i>[[The Miniature Locomotive]]</i>		<i>[[The Miniature Locomotive]]</i>, November-December 1952

	Increasing interest in 1-1/2 inch scale for outdoor miniature railroads has brought to the forefront the distressing fact that a fraction of an inch in gauge is preventing any interchangeability of rolling stock and motive power.		Increasing interest in 1-1/2 inch scale for outdoor miniature railroads has brought to the forefront the distressing fact that a fraction of an inch in gauge is preventing any interchangeability of rolling stock and motive power.

Dnevil at 01:20, 24 March 2014

2014-03-24T01:20:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:20, 23 March 2014
Line 33:		Line 33:
	Answers to these and other questions are lacking.		Answers to these and other questions are lacking.

	Sometime in the future, after a few live steamers tear their hair in frustration, a standardized gauge will probably be decided upon. But even after the decision has been made it will take a long time for the confusion to subside. The hobby will have ~~benefitted~~, though.		Sometime in the future, after a few live steamers tear their hair in frustration, a standardized gauge will probably be decided upon. But even after the decision has been made it will take a long time for the confusion to subside. The hobby will have benefited, though.

	== References ==		== References ==

Dnevil at 01:20, 24 March 2014

2014-03-24T01:20:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:20, 23 March 2014
Line 3:		Line 3:
	Gauge Dilemma		Gauge Dilemma

	by [[Stephen F. Booth]]		by [[Steve Booth\|Stephen F. Booth]]

	<i>[[The Miniature Locomotive]]</i>		<i>[[The Miniature Locomotive]]</i>

Dnevil: Created page with "Category:History Category:Standards Gauge Dilemma by Stephen F. Booth The Miniature Locomotive Increasing interest in 1-1/2 inch scale for outdoor mi..."

2014-03-24T01:19:41Z

Created page with "Category:History Category:Standards Gauge Dilemma by Stephen F. Booth <i>The Miniature Locomotive</i> Increasing interest in 1-1/2 inch scale for outdoor mi..."

New page

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Standards]]
Gauge Dilemma

by [[Stephen F. Booth]]

<i>[[The Miniature Locomotive]]</i>

Increasing interest in 1-1/2 inch scale for outdoor miniature railroads has brought to the forefront the distressing fact that a fraction of an inch in gauge is preventing any interchangeability of rolling stock and motive power.

Live steamers across the country are faced with the problems of deciding between 7-1/2 inch and 7-1/2 inch gauges before they can start construction. Those who already have locomotives, cars and track are in a worse situation.

Just what is the "correct" gauge for this popular scale?

Those interested only in super-accurate models should scale down 4 feet 8-1/2 inch and put the rails exactly 7-1/16 inch apart. but such a dimension is too minute to be adhered to easily in track laying.

For this reason, many years ago in England, where the live steam railroad hobby got its start, 7-1/4 inch was chosen as standard. All 1-1/2 inch scale railroads in that country are still built to this gauge.

Slightly wider than scale to give more stability, and certainly an easier distance to measure, 7-1/4 inch was later adopted by early 1-1/2 inch scale live steamers in the eastern part of the United States.

Evidence of this is the fact that in New England, location of one-third of the steam locomotives in this scale, virtually 100 percent are being built for or are in operation on 7-1/4 inch pikes.

According to a recent survey, gauges of 1-1/2 inch scale steam locomotives in the entire nation are divided as follows:

* 7-1/4 inch - 52.5%
* 7-1/2 inch - 40%
* Other and unreported - 7.5%

Within recent years, a number of conscientious live steamers and several parts and castings suppliers have turned to 7-1/2 inch gauge. No one seems to be able to explain the reason.

Seven and one-half inches is, admittedly, a nice round figure even though it does veer far away (3-1/2 inch in prototype) from the correct gauge. But what are its advantages over the long established 7-1/4 inch? Is stability further improved to a large degree? Is track easier to lay?

Answers to these and other questions are lacking.

Sometime in the future, after a few live steamers tear their hair in frustration, a standardized gauge will probably be decided upon. But even after the decision has been made it will take a long time for the confusion to subside. The hobby will have benefitted, though.

== References ==

* [[Gauge Dilemma Another Answer]]
* [[7-1/4 vs 7-1/2 Gauge]]