| The name H0 comes from the fact that 1:87 scale is | | | | using the H0 gauge as their standard. |
| about half of zero scale, the H standing to "half" and | | | | H0 scale tracks were originally made with brass rails |
| the 0, of course, for the number zero. It is pronounced | | | | on plastic ties. Eventually, tracks made of nickel-silver |
| "H-oh" as opposed to "ho" or "H-zero". | | | | alloy become more popular, because it is better able to |
| H0 scale was originally established in the 1930s in the | | | | resist corrosion than brass. Today, almost all tracks |
| UK. It was created as an alternative to the then | | | | are made of this nickel-silver alloy, aside from |
| popular 00 gauge, but at the time it wasn't able to | | | | Bachmann tracks which have been made with steel |
| compete very well against the 00 gauge that was | | | | until the past few years. |
| already so popular there. | | | | Because of the popularity of HO model trains, they are |
| The scale did become very popular in the United | | | | currently very widely available in a broad range of |
| States in the large 1950s as the interest people had in | | | | models, kits, and accessories. The yearly catalog by |
| model trains as toys began to decline. At this time, | | | | Wm. K. Walthers lists more than 1,000 pages of H0 |
| more people began to worry about realism because | | | | scale products! |
| hobbyists were buying more trains than parents were | | | | H0 models are available as ready-to-run models which |
| for their children. | | | | work right out of the box, shake-the-box which require |
| H0 is a bit smaller and more delicate than 0 scale, so it | | | | some assembly, and craftsman kits which require a lot |
| lets people fit more details and more scale miles into | | | | of individual parts and are more complex to assemble. |
| an area of comparable size. In the 60s, H0 scale finally | | | | The major reason why this scale is so popular is |
| began to overtake the popularity of 0 scale, and even | | | | because it is large enough to show plenty of detail, but |
| the major train manufacturers such as Gilbert and | | | | it is also small enough to comfortably fit inside most |
| Lionel began making H0 trains. | | | | homes. It is large enough to be easily handled by |
| Although 00 gauge is still the dominant scale size in the | | | | children, making it a popular choice for younger |
| United Kingdom, H0 is currently the predominant scale | | | | hobbyists, and it is also less expensive than smaller |
| size in the rest of continental Europe, as well as all of | | | | scales because the models are easier to manufacture |
| North America. Even some modelers in the UK are | | | | that those made with smaller parts. |