Why are there so many G Gauge sizes? Who makes WHAT? Gauge vs. Scale

We have recently added some interesting G gauge items to our inventory...more coming daily.

One question we often get is why is G usually called GAUGE (true for O as well) while other sizes such as HO are referred to as SCALE? That is because there is no true single ratio or scale for items manufactured in G. It can vary by manufacturer anywhere from 1:20.3 to 1:32. Narrow Gauge (narrower rails such as we find in mining or Colorado Rails) is popular with G gaugers. That is usually 1:20.3. Garden trains are often larger. Add to that the discrepancies in European G and American, and you get the variety. Really the main commanality is the width of the rail, which is the GAUGE. Thus we have G GAUGE versus a SCALE.

The same is prevalent in O by the way, as there is traditional 027 sized Lionel all the way up to 1/48 prototypically scale trains. The commonality? You guessed it: the width of the track rail. Thus O GAUGE versus O SCALE. Usually when we hear about O SCALE, we are referring to 1/48.

But back to G gauge. Below you will find a relative breakdown of G sizes by manufacturer. Hope it is helpful in your TrainQuest. And you might browse our selection of G every few days this summer as we will be adding quite a bit to the online inventory.

Manufacturers in G scale use one of five different scales: 1:32, 1:29, 1:22.5, 1:24, and 1:20.3, even though they all run on the same width track:

1:22.5 is most often associated with LGB layouts and Bachmann Narrow Gauge.

1:29 is the most common G scale, with the most equipment available, and is accepted as a compromise to standard gauge.

**ARISTOCRAFT and USA Trains use 1:29. LGB uses 1:22.5.