G Narrow Gauge

[Fil]

I have been looking at the G Scale Spectrum Consolidations and noted that they refer to narrow gauge.  What track width in G scale would this be?

[Nathan]

At the  current time all the Bachmann large scale units use the same 45 mm track gauge no matter what 'scale' they are.

There are some people trying to help with better 'what scale is that?' that are defining 1:20.32 scale narrow gauge on 45 mm track as Fn3.

[Fil]

Thanks Nathan!

I was afraid I would buy the Connie, then go nuts trying to find, or worse, lay track for it.

[scottychaos]

The bachmann spectrum consolidation is:

Fn3 scale.
runs on 45mm track.
narrow gauge (3-foot gauge)
large scale.

It is *not* G scale.

"large scale" is the generic term that describes "all model trains that run on 45mm track"
Large Scale trains include:
1/32 scale
1/29 scale
1/24 scale
G scale (G scale is also 1/22.5 scale)
Fn3 scale (Fn3 scale is also 1/20.3 scale)
7/8n2 scale.

"G scale" is *not* the same thing as "large scale"..
and the term "G scale" should not be used as a generic term to describe all trains that run on 45mm track..(although it is used that way, incorrectly, all the time.)

G scale is 1/22.5 scale only.
it represents meter gauge on 45mm track.
G scale is nothing else except meter-gauge trains on 45mm track.

Large scale Standard gauge models are in 1/32 and 1/29 scale.
the rest:

1/24 scale
G scale (G scale is also 1/22.5 scale)
Fn3 scale (Fn3 scale is also 1/20.3 scale)
7/8n2 scale.

are all various narrow gauges.

Scot

[altterrain]

Scot hit the nail on the head but to further confuse the issue Bachmann also makes "G scale" 1:22.5 locomotives and rolling stock. All their ten wheelers (4-6-0's - Annie's and Big Haulers) , early versions of the Porter, the "Indy" 2-6-0 and a few other early locos and most of their cars are 1:22.5. They have a new offering of 1:20.3 rolling stock but its only a few cars right now.

-Brian

[StanAmes]

Its always an interesting topic when scales and guages are discussed.

Just to correct some minor problems above.  1:22.5 is actually II scale.  IIm is 1:22.5 meter guage railroads and happens to run on 45mm track.

So Fn3 is 36" between the rails which are 45mm apart and IIm is 39" between the rails which are 45 mm apart. 

Several years back the manufacturers of large Scale met and decided to use the term G to refer to large scale models intended to work together on the same track with larger flanges and loop and hook couplers. 

Stan
Former chair of the NMRA Large Scale working Group

[altterrain]

Just to correct some minor problems above.  1:22.5 is actually II scale.  IIm is 1:22.5 meter guage railroads and happens to run on 45mm track.

So Fn3 is 36" between the rails which are 45mm apart and IIm is 39" between the rails which are 45 mm apart. 

Stan
Former chair of the NMRA Large Scale working Group

Is that the Roman numeral 2 or eye-eye m scale? and what does the "m" stand for?

-Brian

[StanAmes]

Is that the Roman numeral 2 or eye-eye m scale? and what does the "m" stand for?

Roman numeral 2.

I scale is 1:32
II scale is 1:22.5

m refers to meter guage

Standard guage II has a much larger distance between the rails then IIm does because II used 4'81/2 as the distance between the rails.

IIm and Fn3 both are narrow guage scales which happen to share the same track guage.  As you might expect 1:22.5 on 45mm track is very popular in Europe because it represents an accurate scale/guage combination for meter guage which is common in Europe.  Likewise Fn3 is gaining in popularity in the US because we have 3 foot guage railroads.

The size difference the two scales is greater then the scale difference might infer in part because US prototypes tend to be wider then European prototypes.
Stan Ames

[zubi]

The bachmann spectrum consolidation is:

Fn3 scale.
runs on 45mm track.
narrow gauge (3-foot gauge)
large scale.

It is *not* G scale.

Scot, it is as G as it can be in Goofy scale '!!
Bachmann's Consolidation is a 30inch gauge proototype and
should be in 18mm to the foot scale (1:16.7) to run on 45 mm
track not in 15mm scale as it is was produced.
Best wishes from Tokyo, Zubi

[zubi]

I have been looking at the G Scale Spectrum Consolidations and noted that they refer to narrow gauge.  What track width in G scale would this be?

Fil, strictly speaking this Consolidation should be running on 27.5mm gauge
track because it is a model of a 30inch prototype, however, Bachmann made
it to run on 45mm standard gauge 1 track which is rather convenient for all
people who do not want to waste time on handlaying track. In narrow gauge
regauging locomotives is a common practice in real life in various parts of the
world and now in model world this is why you will see a  lot of equipment
where scale does not fit gauge - so the manufacturer addapts teh gauge to the
most commonly used one - in this case 45mm gauge 1 or sometimes 23mm
that is gauge 0. Welcome to narrow gauge! Best wishes from Tokyo, Zubi

[zubi]

As you might expect 1:22.5 on 45mm track is very popular in Europe because it represents an accurate scale/guage combination for meter guage which is common in Europe. [..]

Stan, good to 'see' you. Actually, meter gauge is not that common in Europe. 750/760mm is much more common! The same gauge as Bachmann's Consolidation... 1:22.5 is popular because it used to be a standard - unfortunately it was set by a manufacturer who almost never actually used the standard producing models to many different scales. Fortunately, there are now a few companies which start producing finescale models in 1:22.5 and who knows perhaps the LGBoA will raise from the ashes and join the 1:22.5 scale movement succesfully set by Brawa and Kiss, Best wishes from Tokyo, Zubi