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All Gauge Model Railroading Page

Measurements of Common Things

in

1/48 Scale

Basic Distances for 1/48 Scale

110 feet   (1320 inches) = 1 mile

55 feet (660 inches) = 1/2 mile

 

Standard Lengths for Railroading

Scale Distance

Real-World Measurement

4 feet

1 inch

8 feet

2 inches

12 feet

3 inches

16 feet

4 inches

20 feet

5 inches

10 feet

2.5 inches

40 feet

10 inches

48 feet

12 inches

50 feet

12.5 inches

52 feet

13 inches

60 feet

15 inches

72 feet

18 inches

80 feet

20 inches

100 feet

25 inches

144 feet

1 yard / 3 feet

 

 

 

Small Measurements

1/48 Scale Lengths

Real-World Measurement

1/2 inch

1/96 inch

3/4 inch

1/64 inch

1 inch

1/48 inch

1.5 inches

1/32 inch

2 inch

1/24 inch

3 inch

1/16 inch

4 inch

1/12 inch

6 inches

1/8 inch

8 inch

1/6 inch

1 foot

1/4 inch

2 foot

1/2 inch

3 feet

3/4 inch

3 foot 6 inches

7/8 inch

4 foot

1 inch

4 feet 6 inches

1 1/8 inch

5 feet*

1 1/4 inches

6 feet

1 1/2 inch

7 feet

1 3/4 inches

8 feet

2 inches

12 feet

3 inches

16 feet

4 inches

20 feet

5 inches

24 feet

6 inches

 

 

 

 

 

Track Gauges

Gauge

Real-World Size

O / O27: 5 Foot* 

1 1/4 inches, or 31.75mm*

6 Foot Wide Gauge 

1 1/2 inches, or 38.1mm

 4 foot 8 1/2 inches*

1 17/96 inches or 29.89mm 

42 inch narrow gauge

7/8 inch or 22.22mm

3 foot narrow gauge

3/4 inch or19.05mm (Lionel OO)

30-inch narrow gauge**

5/8 inch or 15.87mm**

2 foot narrow gauge

1/2 inch or 12.7 mm

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Real-world standard gauge is 4 foot 8 1/2 inches. O gauge track has a gauge of 1 1/4 inches,which equals five feet. The difference is about 1/16 and is overlooked by most O gauge users.  The few who do not overlook it use a 17/64 inch, 7mm or 1/43.5 scale.

**In O scale, 30 inch Narrow gauge is called On30.  It uses H.O. track, which has a 16.5mm gauge.  The .63mm difference is conveniently overlooked..

 

Track Diameters

For various O / O27 and S Makers

Track Diameter

Measurement in 1/48 Scale

27 inches

108 feet (O27, Marx O27, Atlas)

31 inches

124 feet  (O, MTH RealTrax, Ross)

32 Inches

128 feet (Gargraves)

34 inches

136 feet (Marx O27)

36 inches

144 feet (Super O, Fastrack, Atlas)

40 inches

160 feet (Pre-1942 American Flyer)[AF]

42 inches

168 feet (O, O27, MTH RealTrax, Gargraves, Ross)

45 inches

180 feet (Atlas)

48 inches

192 feet (Fastrack)

54 inches

216 feet (O, O27, MTH RealTrax, Atlas, Gargraves, Ross)

60 inches

240 feet (Fastrack)

63 inches

252 feet (Atlas, Gargraves)

64 inches

256 feet (Ross)

72 inches

288 feet (O, O27, MTH RealTrax, Ross, Atlas, Gargraves, Fastrack)

80 inches

320 feet (Ross)

81 inches

324 feet (Atlas)

82 inches

328 (MTH RealTrax)

84 inches

336 feet (Fastrack, Rydin tubular)

88 inches

352 feet (Ross)

89 inches

356 feet (Gargraves)

90 inches

360 feet (Atlas) [S gauge: Am Classic]

96 inches

384 Feet (Rydin tubular, Gargraves, Ross)

99 inches

396 feet (Atlas)

104 inches

416 feet (Ross)

106 inches

424 feet (Gargraves)

112 inches

448 feet (Ross)

113 inches

452 feet (Gargraves)

120 inches

480 feet (Gargraves, Ross)

128 inches

512 feet (Gargraves, Ross)

138 inches

552 feet (Gargraves)

 

 

 

O Gauge Track Makers

O27 is standard in 27", 42", 54" and 72" diameter.  Marx added a 34" diameter.

O gauge is standard 31", 42", 54", and 72" diameters.

MTH RealTrax is standard 31", 42", 54" and 72" diameter curves.  It also has an 82" curve.

Atlas O makes 27", 36", 45", 63", 72", 81:, 90" and 99"diameter curves.

Super O was made in 36" diameter curves.

Fastrack O by Lionel comes in 36", 48", 60", 72" and 84" diameter curves.

Gargraves makes O sectional track in 32", 42", 54", 63", 72", 80", 89", 96", 106", 113", 120", 128" and 138" diameter curves

Ross makes 31", 42", 54", 64", 72", 80", 88",  96", 104", 112", 120", and 128" diameter curves. 

Rydin makes 84" and 96" diameter curves that are compatible with standard O track.

***

 

Measurements of Common Objects

he height, width and depth of objects, roadways and structural components. Measurements are given for average examples

 

Item

1/48 - 1/4" feet and inches

 Real-World Measurement

Small road's width

10 feet

2 1/2"

City Street width (blacktop)

15 to 20 feet

3 3/4" to 5"

One lane narrow sidewalk

2 feet

1/2"

Average Sidewalk

6 foot

1 1/2""

Sidewalk with dirt edges

5 foot

1 1/4""

Slate Sidewalk Slabs

18" by 24" to 36" by 42"

3/8" by 1/2" to 3/4"" by 7/8"

Sidewalk squares (lines etched in concrete)

3'by 3' to 4' by 4', 3' by 4' is also common

3/4" by 3/4" to 1" by 1"; 3/4" by 1" is also common

Cobblestones

8" long and 4" wide

1/6" by 1/12"

Curbs

4" to 6" wide, height nomally from 4" to 8", but can be up to 12" 

1/12 to 1/8" wide, height normally 1/12" to 1/6", but can be up to 1/4"

Sewer Grates on street corners

16" by 20" to 20" by 30"

5/16" by 3/8" to 3/8" by "5/8"

Manhole covers

20" to 36" diameter

3/8" to 3/4" diameter

Driveway (average)

7' to 10' wide

1 3/4" to 2 1/2"

Low fence or railing

24" to 32"

1/2" to 11/16"

Fence around yard

3' to 4'

3/4" to 1"

Barrier fence (to keep people out)

6' to 8'

1 1/2" to 2"

Height of porch floor over ground

32" to 48"

1 1/16" to 1"

Height of Modern Door

76" to 80" / 6'4 to 6'8" 

1 9/16" to 1 5/8"

Height of Doors in old buildings

72" to 76" / 6'0 to 6'4

1 1/8" to 1 3/16"

Door width for single door

28" to 36"

7/16" to 9/16"

Transom Over Door (average)

8" to 12"

1/6" to 1/4"

Bucket

12" high, 8"circumference at top

 1/4 tall, 1/6" circumference at top

Broom

Straw bristles, 12"; total height 4' 4" to 5" 

straw part is 1/4"; total length 1 1/16" to 1 1/4" 

Rakes, hoes, long-handled shovels, mops, other pole tools.

4' to 5' tall

1" to 1 1/4" tall

Short shovel, pickaxe, maul, axe

30" to 36" long

5/8" to 3/4""

Railings alongside steps

30" to 36"

5/8" to 3/4" high

Porch steps

2' to 4' wide, 4" to 8" high riser

1/2" to 1" wide, height between steps is 1/12 for 4", 1/8 for 6" and 1/6" for 8 inches

House staircases and fire escapes

16" to 24" wide, height between steps is 4" to 8"

5/16 to " to 1/2" wide, height between steps is 1/12 for 4", 1/8 for 6" and 1/6" for 8 inches

Kitchen counter

36" high, 18" to 24" deep

3/4" high, 3/8" to 1/2" deep

Store counter (average)

42" to 48" inches high

7/8" to 1" high

Height of Average Man

5'6 to 6"

1 3/8 to 1 1/2"

Height of Average Woman

5'4 to 5'8

1 1/3" to 1 1/6"

 

 

 

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