Garden Railroad Scales

There are five main scales that fit within the "G-Scale" umbrella. They are (from smallest to largest)

• 1:32
  1:32 scale is the smallest of the G-Scale range and is used to represent mainline trains. American Standard Gauge converts to 44.8mm wide, which is almost exactly the same as the 45mm Gauge 1 track used. MTH's Railking line and AMS trains are two manufacturers that market 1:32 scale models.
  


• 1:29
  1:29 scale is used mostly for mainline trains and represents a compromise between the size of other garden trains and the accuracy of its smaller counterpart, 1:32. Its to scale gauge of 49mm is still very close to the 45mm track that it runs on. Aristocraft and USA Trains use this scale for their models.
  


• 1:24
  1:24 scale or 1/2 inch scale is a scale in between those commonly used for mainline and narrow gauge trains. It provides an easy way to convert measurements as each 1/2 inch on the model reflects 1 foot on the prototype.


• 1:22.5
  1:22.5 scale is the scale that is accurately termed "G-Scale." It is usually used for models of narrow gauge, as the 45mm track gives a scale gauge very close to that of the 3.5 ft gauge lines. The scale is used for models by Bachmann Trains and LGB.


• 1:20.3
  1:20.3 scale also known as "F-Scale," is somewhat larger than 1:22.5 scale and the 45mm track that it runs on almost exactly matches the 3 foot gauge railroads commonly found on mountain and logging railroads. Bachmann's Spectrum line and Accucraft use this scale.

In addition to the scales mentioned above, some modelers choose to run O-Scale or even HO-Scale trains, however garden railroads in these scales are relatively rare.

Using scales smaller than G in the garden presents several challenges to the modeler. A train running through the garden must be able to handle small amounts of garden waste on the tracks, uneven track work, damage due to animals and plants and encountering moisture and dirt. Most G-Scale trains have the size and heft to be able to handle these things and are often built with sealed powering mechanisms to prevent contamination from dirt. However, trains of the smaller scales are designed to be run indoors in much more controlled environments and cannot overcome these obstacles nearly as easily.

There are also scales that are larger than G. These scales are known as "Live Steam" and "Grand Scales" and encompass trains that are big enough to ride on or in. Railroads such as these are generally not referred to as garden railroads as they are rather large to be incorporated into a garden. However the are designed for outdoor running and all that it entails.