| O gauge trains are one of the most popular sizes of | | | | buy any accessories which you don't want to - you |
| model trains, second only to HO trains. O scale trains | | | | could buy a basic starter set and add to it piece by |
| are one of the larger sizes, but many hobbyists prefer | | | | piece or even make your own layouts from scratch if |
| this scale precisely because of their size. These larger | | | | you have a knack for handicrafts. |
| model trains are easy for young children to handle; and | | | | The Lionel O Gauge B&O Ready To Run Set is a |
| adults who have visual impairments or difficulty | | | | popular choice for those just getting started with O |
| working with smaller trains may also find O scale to be | | | | gauge trains. This is a high quality set including a die |
| the right choice. | | | | cast 4-4-0 steam locomotive with very realistic |
| O gauge trains have been available for over a century | | | | simulated smoke and a fully functional headlamp, as |
| now, having first been introduced by the German | | | | well as a tender car, a gondola car, a Lionel Lines |
| manufacturer Marklin. It took some time for these | | | | boxcar and a red caboose to bring up the rear. A |
| trains to catch on with serious hobbyists and were | | | | Sentinel boxcar is also included in the set, as are 10 |
| long considered to be just children's toys. Due to their | | | | telephone poles, an extension bridge, FasTrack |
| larger size, these trains once used a triple rail system in | | | | sufficient to make a 40" by 60" oval and a PowerMax |
| order to support their weight. The exact ratio of O | | | | transformer (featuring forward and reverse |
| scale trains depends on where the trains were | | | | movement) - all for less than $200! |
| manufactured; in the US, O scale trains are 1:48 | | | | There are a lot of online resources and retailers which |
| compared to real trains, trains made in the UK are at a | | | | offer accessories and supplies as well as cars and |
| 1:43.5 ratio and in the rest of Europe, the ratio is 1:45. | | | | tracks for O gauge trains. You should also have a look |
| Before you purchase an O scale train, make sure it's | | | | at your local hobby shops, most of which will carry a |
| the same size as you currently use, since it won't run | | | | variety of trains and accessories in this scale. |
| on your rails otherwise. | | | | The staff at local shops are also an excellent source |
| One thing about O gauge trains is that they are a little | | | | of information if you have any questions about model |
| more expensive than some of the smaller sizes of | | | | trains. These shops will also carry books on model |
| model trains, though the cost is still more than | | | | railroad layouts, including plans and lists of the materials |
| reasonable. However, hobbyists should be aware that | | | | you'll need to build them as well as a wealth of other |
| the scenery and other accessories for this size is a | | | | information to get you off to a good start in your new |
| little more costly as well. Of course, there's no need to | | | | hobby. |