G Scale
G Scale (or G gauge) refers to a larger scale train size that is usually 1:24 in scale, and the actual track gauge measurement is 45mm (or about 1 3/4 inches).
G Scale (or G gauge) refers to a larger scale train size that is usually 1:24 in scale, and the actual track gauge measurement is 45mm (or about 1 3/4 inches).
We currently have two G Scale train layouts running at the museum.
An “Outside G Scale,” sometimes referred to as a “Garden Railroad,” operates in front of the museum’s visitor entrance.
It provides kid’s of ALL ages the opportunity to learn about the craft of modeling toy trains, landscapes and the use of technology to enjoy operating model trains.
The theme of the layout is to highlight southern Arizona and the railroads that are a part of its history. The featured railroads include Union Pacific, Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe.
In addition to railroads, the layout features Arizona scenes and famous structures such as Tucson Old Town, San Xavier Mission and the Clifton, Arizona depot. While admiring the detail, see if you can find a man fishing along our flowing stream and/or the modeled campers, hikers, bikers and automobile enthusiasts.
Almost all of the scenery is set in place by our dedicated volunteers before each Open House and removed and stored immediately after. Tucson’s outdoor temperatures and weather conditions can pose a challenge for operating trains outside. On very hot, windy or rainy days, you may find this exhibit closed.
The five railroad tracks on the layout are elevated, enabling visitors to view the operating trains. Two metal viewing stands on each end of the layout allow younger children aided by an adult, to watch the trains.
Educational signage located on the storage shed will enrich your museum experience by illustrating Arizona railroad history.
The layout is accessible and welcomes all visitors.
Inside the museum our overhead G scale trains circle and cross above the museum floor. The indoor G scale layout has three trains lines and two trolley lines. The trolleys and three trains are always moving above and around visitors throughout their visit.
Volunteer operators can change trains ultimately running as many as a dozen trains overhead.
Click on one of the images below to get a larger view!
G scale was introduced by Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk under the brand name LGB and was intended for indoor and outdoor use. Lehman Patentwerk, founded in 1881, started producing LGB in 1968. The remains of the company were bought by Märklin and production of certain items continues.
The G name comes from the German word groß meaning “big”. More recently some people have come to interpret it as standing for “garden scale”.
G gauge track has a spacing of 45 mm between the railheads (tracks) (c.f. 44.45 mm for 1 gauge , but that does not determine the scale to which the models are built because, to maintain a constant track width when real-life counterparts have a variety of railroad gauges, the scale has to vary. The most common full-scale practice uses a spacing of 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge, whereas some narrow-gauge railways (serving mines, etc.) have rails only 3 ft (914 mm) apart. Although often built with standard-sized doors, a narrow-gauge train is in most other respects smaller than its standard-gauge counterpart: its cars are generally narrower and shorter, allowing them to navigate more sharply curved and lighter built tracks.
Model trains are built to represent a real train of standard or narrow gauge. For example HO scale (3.5 mm to 1 foot) (and also, although inaccurately, double-O/OO at 4 mm to 1 foot) models all use 16.5 mm gauge track to represent standard gauge trains while a narrower-gauge track such as 9 mm N gauge is used to represent real narrow gauge.
G model railways depart from this and always use the same gauge with the trains instead built in different sizes depending on whether they are intended to represent standard-gauge or narrow-gauge trains. Because of this it might be more correct to speak of “G gauge” rather than “G scale” since the consistent aspect is the gauge, 45 mm (1.772 in), but the term “G scale” (or “scale IIm”) is used when 1:22.5 is used.