HO Scale

HO scale is the most popular model railroad scale in North America and one of the most popular in the world.  HO scale was derived from O scale and named for the fact that the 1:87 scale of HO is about half of that of O scale.  This scale was developed after the First World War to find a size that would be more appropriate for home layouts than O scale.  The first version of the HO scale was developed in Germany in the 1920’s, and became popular in the United States in the 1950’s as model trains and train layouts become viewed less as toys and more as serious hobbies.  HO scale continues to be the most widely used scale in North America and most of Europe.

The advantages of the HO scale lie in its size compared to other gauges.  Its size is in the middle of other model railroad scales, which allows HO scale train layouts to have more details within a given space than larger scales. Also, it allows HO model trains and structures to be manufactured in finer detail than smaller scales.  HO structures and trains are also generally less expensive than other scales because they require less material than larger scales and the manufacturing process is easier than that of smaller scales.  At Structures and Trains, we have HO train tracks, model trains, and structures for your layout from every major manufacturer.  Browse through our online catalogue to find models and kits for your HO scale train layout.