If you thought all OO was British and 16.5mm gauge, you were incorrect! Welcome to model railroading in American OO, 1/76 scale (4mm: 1 foot), 19mm (3/4 inch) gauge. While primarily produced between 1934 and 1954, these unique models sized about half way between HO (1/87) and S (1/64) scales by Lionel, Scale-Craft, Nason, Famoco, Schorr, Graceline, J-C, Kemtron, Picard, and many others still fascinate collectors and a few dedicated modelers ("retro-modelers") today.
This scale is also sometimes referred to in print as American 00 with two zeros, but most sources back in the day and today call it American OO (pronounced "double oh").
Please note that while the much more popular British OO (or 00) is built to 1/76 scale (4mm: 1 foot), it is most commonly operated on HO gauge (16.5mm) track. Check "more links" below for further information on these hybrid HO/OO models and on the related approaches to 1/76 of EM and S4/P4 (noting that American OO was and is always built to run on 19mm track).
American OO is not an early type of HO; it is a completely unique scale and gauge. Also, OO is not another name for O-27! O-27 is a toy train scale; models are O gauge but with bodies that are noticeably under scale (generally closer to S scale than O), built for operation on 27" diameter toy train curves.
Even though highly collectible pre-war Lionel OO has achieved "honorary toy train" status, especially the three-rail version of this line, products in American OO are scale models and were always aimed at model railroaders. American OO gauge is one of the most affordable of collectible model train scales today and is easier to find for sale than you might think thanks to eBay. Explore the links below for more information.
"Never pick a gauge because the others are doing it. Use the gauge you like best." Louis Hertz
John Ericson has been active in American OO for over 30 years, is a university music professor by profession, and firmly believes everyone needs a hobby.
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