What does HO stand for in HO scale?

Half O
The designation HO stands for “Half O”. Of course if it was actually one-half of O scale it would be 1/96th, but because HO is actually a metric based scale and O is based on English units of measure the fractions become awkward. The model railroading industry says HO is “approximately half O”. N Scale – 1:160.

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How fast does an HO scale train go?

Most HO operators managed to keep their maximum speed in the 10 to 15 mph range when working in HO layout yards and industries, but traveled 40 to 50 HO-scale mph on mainlines with 30 mph limits and 50 to 60 HO mph in blocks with 45 mph limits.

Are HO trains popular?

Because of its small size, the HO Scale has become one of the most popular scales for model trains. This is the perfect scale for the hobbyist looking to build their own layouts in a small space. Many well-known manufacturers make HO scale trains, leaving you with endless possibilities for design, and themes.

What voltage do HO scale trains use?

14V
HO Scale trains are hugely popular the world over, especially on American model railroads, and while very similar to other scales they have a slightly different voltage requirement. While other smaller scales run at 10 to 12Volts, HO is designed for 14V.

What is the difference between HO scale and On30?

On30 is 1:48 scale, the same as O scale. It’s a subset of O scale. HO scale is 1:87 scale, about half the size. It turns out that HO scale track is about 30 inches wide in O scale, making it convenient for modeling narrow gauge trains.

What is the best brand of HO trains?

The best brands of HO scale locomotives are Athearn, Walthers, Atlas, Bachmann, KATO, OTOH, Lionel, and Bowser. Athearn’s premier locomotive, Genesis, has prototype accuracy, while Atlas and OTOH models have a great fit and finish, while Bowser has great engines.

Are HO trains AC or DC?

Model Train Current Flow Z, N, HO, OO, some O, and G scale locomotives for the most part use DC current and are able to reverse the locomotive direction by using a switch on the power supply to reverse the direction of the current flow on the rails like pictured here.