My favourite subject

My daughters always advise anybody who will listen not to get me started talking about 'Scale and Gauge' as they relate to model trains, knowing that once I get going on the subject it's hard to stop me!  Probably true.  But with commencement of construction of the Trainbarn imminent, I thought I had better get serious about the details of some of the displays that I plan to build for it.  Probably the first display to be built will be- you guessed it- my Scale and Gauge display!!

Most, if not all, of the trains displayed in the Trainbarn will be what I call Toy Trains, that is they are representative of real trains, rather than being accurate models of them.  So the Scale and Gauge display, relating as it does to Model Railway sizes, will be a little bit out of place amongst the Toys, but hopefully will fit in reasonably well.  It'll certainly be an attractive and hopefully informative display.  As a reminder I'll show a picture of all the actual models that will be in the display, which are all based on the same type of locomotive- a Santa Fe GM-EMD F-7A in Warbonnet colours.

The display cabinet will be slightly smaller than this table.  What I've been working on today is all the labels that I need to make in order for the display to be meaningful.  Since I am useless with computers, or perhaps I don't have the right program, (my excuse) I have drawn the labels out on paper the 'old' way, hoping that I can entice someone capable to put them onto a computer and then print them out neatly!

Here's an example of a label for the TT scale locomotive.  I'll place them just in front of the relevant loco so comparisons can be made.

There will also be small labels defining 'Scale' and 'Gauge', which hopefully will clear up any confusion visitors may have about these terms.  If in fact anyone apart from me really cares!!

Defining the track gauge of each different size is very easy, they're almost literally set in concrete!!  The scale however is another matter indeed!  There are many variations from country to country, or dependant on exactly what sort of railway someone is representing.  I have chosen the scale that is perhaps the most widely used for each size, or that best applies to the locomotive that I've chosen, which obviously is American.

So, if you visit the Trainbarn in a few years time and wish to come to grips with the different model railway scales and gauges, you can spend as much time as you like studying the display.  If I start heading your way perhaps a quick exit somewhere- anywhere- might be advised!!