G Scale Model Trains That Live In Your Garden – Sewing Machines Los Angeles

G scale model trains are among the most fun and unique available in the model railroad universe. The G scale model trains were launched on to the scene in the late nineteenth century by Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk. This German company was more frequently referred to as Lehmann Gross Bahn (LGB), which is Lehmann Big Train, literally, in the English language. The American arm of the enterprise was known as LGB of America.

Enough of the history, here’s the reason for excitement over G scale model trains. G scale model trains are basically the biggest model railroad cars you’ll come across. The size of a model railroad car is spoken of in terms of “scale.” The scale for these large cars is 1:22. What this basically means is that the G scale model trains are just one twenty-second the size of real trains. Put the other way, a life-size rail car is just twenty-two times the size of these giant models.

More specifically, these model rail cars are over two feet long! In fact, they are nearly 27 inches long. Accordingly, they are half a foot tall. To put this in perspective, keep in mind that the popular O scale model trains are only approximately 16 inches long. And they are about half the size of G scale model trains, measuring just 3.5 inches. Compare the 1:22 ratio to the O scale of 1:48. Now you can see why the “G” stands for German groß, or “big.” They utilize a No. 1 gauge track. This means there are a full 45 mm between the rails.

Interestingly, the “G” has been commandeered by some aficionados and used to refer to “garden.” If that strikes you a bit odd at first, stay tuned. They are referring to “garden railroading.” Since the G scale model trains are so large, they’ve been inadvertently made in such a way that people have adapted them for outdoor use on patios or sunrooms. However, they are built well enough that they can be outside for some time and hold up just fine.

In fact the tracks are generally made out of brass, if that tells you anything. The nice thing about brass is that it wears well and holds up fine over time. This translates into less need for ongoing maintenance from the hobbyist. If you just occasionally wipe the tracks down, generally that’s about all the maintenance you’ll need. Any glitches that you might encounter are typically solved after that.

While some have taken these trains outdoors and created amazing displays, they are obviously used extensively indoors as well. The only catch is, of course, the size. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. To have a nice display inside your home, you’ll need to have plenty of room. I know someone who dedicated an entire room of their house to their trains. If you are not in a position to do that, one of the smaller scales is perhaps better because you can roll out a thorough arrangement in a smaller area.

Nevertheless, the G scale model trains are great fun and an attention getter you can count on! If you want to look into this size train further, try a couple of main manufacturers. Arisotocraft is one. The other is Bachman. Aside from the durability I mentioned earlier, parents really like the G scale model trains because the children can be actively involved without fear of breaking the trains. There is also less concern about tiny pieces that could post a choking hazard.