Talk:Rail transport modelling

There's now articles for both G-scale and G Gauge, I assume they're in need of merging? Bryan 02:25, 27 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Besides, 'G Gauge' is wrong; in its original conception, G Scale was modelling metre gauge equipment on 45mm (Gauge 1 compatible) track, with a definite, associated scale. Use of 'G Gauge' is wrong. Yes, other manufacturers have used 45mm track to model all kinds of narrow gauge equipment, but the name for the track gauge is 'Gauge 1'. —Morven 06:31, 27 Jan 2004 (UTC)

I've now added a bit more to G scale (and removed the dash) and redirected G Gauge to it. —Morven 06:55, 27 Jan 2004 (UTC)

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I've started a new WikiProject: WikiProject Trains. I'm inviting all Wikipedians who are interested in trains and railways to take a look and decide if they want to get this going. Thanks, —Morven 23:39, 29 Mar 2004 (UTC)

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Why is that page at Rail transport modelling while that is not even listed as a possible term for this at the top of the page? Rmhermen 15:44, Apr 7, 2004 (UTC)

The term is a neutral alternative to the American and British names, and consistent with rail transport instead of [railway]] and railroad.Duncharris 09:56, May 10, 2004 (UTC)

But Wikipedia is not in the business of making new terms - if no one uses this term we shoudln't either. So, is this term in use anywhere? Rmhermen 13:28, May 10, 2004 (UTC)

see wikiproject trains there's a disuccsion somewhere. Duncharris 21:44, May 16, 2004 (UTC)

Three-rail, plus a category?

Two things: One, can someone clarify the comment about Trix Express in the first paragraph? Here in the States, there are plenty of three-rail systems that can run multiple trains independently on one loop of track. People have been doing it with Lionel setups since the 1950s using block systems. Blocks aren't even necessary when using modern (since the mid-1990s) Lionel, MTH, and other contemporary O scale 3-rail trains. Three-railers argue that it's easier to do multiple trains on one loop with three rails than with two.

Secondly, is there a Wikipedia category for model railroading/railways/whatever we want to call it? There are now articles for all of the common scales/gauges and numerous manufacturers, and I plan to write up even more of the manufacturers as I locate information about them. I'd like to pull them together in some way but don't want to unilaterally create a category. I don't want to step on anyone's toes. (I don't think I would, but I want to make sure doing so wouldn't interfere with someone else's project.) --Dave Farquhar 18:56, 31 May 2004 (UTC)

"Märklin is the only brand using AC." WTF? My Lionels and American Flyer (3-rail) were all AC. 142.177.24.141 20:40, 25 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Correct you are. 2-rail S scale American Flyer is also AC. Maybe Märklin is the only European brand using AC, but plenty of American brands do. They're all larger scale (S or O, for the most part). Some of them fall more in the "toy trains" category and would be looked down upon by serious model railroaders, but some of the S scale stuff is incredibly detailed, and there are several manufacturers.

It almost seems like we may need an article from the European perspective and one from the North American perspective. Dave Farquhar 15:05, 26 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Magazines?

Should "Model Railroader" magazine and others like it be added to this page as links? -- siliconwafer

Bogus?

"Gauge 2 using track of gauge 2" (50.8mm) was one of the standard model gauges in 1909." This edit is from the ISP of a consistent, sometimes furtive vangal. Is this fact bogus? --Wetman 04:26, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)

It's true that Gauge 2 was in use in 1909, yes, but it was in fairly widespread use from 1891 into the 1920s. I can't think of anything special about 1909, unless that was the year Lionel introduced Standard Gauge. Also, Gauge 2 is *not* Wide Gauge, although the two are related. Lionel created a gauge that was 1/8" wider than Gauge 2--whether this was deliberate or accidental has never been proven conclusively--and called it Standard Gauge and trademarked the name. When Ives and American Flyer introduced Standard Gauge trains, they called it Wide Gauge to avoid infringing on the trademark.

While it's a true fact, I don't think it adds anything, especially in the context it has been placed. Discussion of Gauge 2 vs. Standard/Wide Gauge belongs in the Wide Gauge and/or Toy train articles. It's been more than 70 years since either one was widely used. --Dave Farquhar