What is the "HONGZ" forum for?

Brad,

HONGZ= HO gauge, N gauge, G gauge and Z gauge.

Erol

Thank you Erol. Makes total sense now.

Brad

@locolawyer posted:

Brad,

HONGZ= HO gauge, N gauge, G gauge and Z gauge.

Erol

I had no idea, Erol - thanks

I thought it was some pre-war German train manufacturer that I never heard of.

LOL

One correction.

It is HO, N, G, and Z  SCALE, not “gauge.”

Gauge refers only to the distance between the rails. Only 3-rail O scale uses the word “gauge” where the word “scale” should be used. The other scales get it right.

@Rich Melvin posted:

One correction.

It is HO, N, G, and Z  SCALE, not “gauge.”

Gauge refers only to the distance between the rails. Only 3-rail O scale uses the word “gauge” where the word “scale” should be used. The other scales get it right.

Which begs the question......How did "O" get it so wrong........

The HONGZ forum is where only the best looking, most intelligent, most highly skilled, and debonair (loaded with "cool") of us hang out. You should be so lucky.

Rich said:

"Only 3-rail O scale uses the word “gauge” where the word “scale” should be used."

However, it's a bit late in regards to the name of "O Gauge Model Railroading" magazine!

(Sorry Rich, couldn't resist!    )

erdnA

@laming posted:

The HONGZ forum is where only the best looking, most intelligent, most highly skilled, and debonair (loaded with "cool") of us hang out. You should be so lucky.

Hard to argue that point!

@laming posted:

...However, it's a bit late in regards to the name of "O Gauge Model Railroading" magazine!

 

(Sorry Rich, couldn't resist!    )

No problem, and I completely agree!  3-rail O has used the wrong word from day one.

Rich,

Sorry, but I disagree. Not all O gauge trains are true O scale-think 027 and traditional size. Besides, if you disagree, I may sue you . Now be sure to hook up two or more engines in a LASH UP on our layout. The term lash up comes as a tribute to Tony LASH since he had so many engines and garbage trucks. 

I think it is fair to say that both of us are correct.

Erol

@Rich Melvin posted:

It is HO, N, G, and Z  SCALE, not “gauge.”

Wouldn't be be useful to stick a description here?  I've personally been asked several times what that means, so it's probably not super obvious to everyone.

Note that most of the other forums have a description, even though the titles are probably more understandable than the one in question.

While O gauge and O scale play in the same ballpark, we are different teams.  I, for one, am glad that early on somebody coined the "O gauge" term to differentiate those of us who play/model in the 3-rail world.

Chuck

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Wouldn't be be useful to stick a description here?  I've personally been asked several times what that means, so it's probably not super obvious to everyone.

An EXCELLENT idea! And...DONE!

Cool, and one more source of questions answered.

Thanks everyone for the clarification.

I really thought I was going to look like a complete idiot right as I was hitting the "Publish" icon to submit this post.

Glad I wasn't the only one that wasnt clear on HONGZ.

Brad

@laming posted:

However, it's a bit late in regards to the name of "O Gauge Model Railroading" magazine!

 

(Sorry Rich, couldn't resist!    )

erdnA

I have OGR issues from way back - they were called "O Scale Railroading" at that time. I can't believe that I've been a subscriber for over 40 years - IS THAT A RECORD??

The name changed to O Gauge Railroading with Run 109, February 1990, as more and more 3 rail trains started to be included

And let us not forget an inconvenient truth that original sizes (gauges) of toy trains were NUMBERED. There was, at least, #1 Gauge, #2 Gauge, etc. When trains got smaller, the next obvious and logical step was to name them "zero" gauge, which looks like this: 0.  Not like this: O. 

@RSJB18 posted:

Which begs the question......How did "O" get it so wrong........

Simplified measurements. 

Mitch

The HONGZ Tag was not obvious to me either.

I always wondered if it was a subset of SamHONGZa trains !!!

😆😀😄🚂🚝🚄🚈🚅🚊🚉🚇

@CBQ_Bill posted:

The HONGZ Tag was not obvious to me either.

It's obvious once you know what it stands for, but for many or us the meaning doesn't immediately spring to mind.

To think I always thought it was a forum member thread for his use and interests.

@Rich Melvin posted:

One correction.

It is HO, N, G, and Z  SCALE, not “gauge.”

Gauge refers only to the distance between the rails. Only 3-rail O scale uses the word “gauge” where the word “scale” should be used. The other scales get it right.

What scale is "G" ?

@BobbyD posted:

What scale is "G" ?

This is G or 1/20.3 !

It's big !

@Ron H posted:

This is G or 1/20.3 !

Thanks.

So the 1/24 and 1/29 USA Trains models plus the 1/32 MTH Gauge 1 use this same track, which ones aren't correct? Or are all 3 wrong?

The 'gauge' of all of these is the same but the scale of the models depends upon what size prototype is being depicted - some are Narrow gauge equipment, some are 3' scale locomotives and I believe MTH chose 1:32 scale as the usual G gauge track is the proper width for American prototype equipment albeit too 'large' in other dimensions. Please feel free to correct me here to clarify this as I'm working from memory!  Lol.

I display my USA Trains Hudson on 2 rail Gargraves as it appears somewhat prototypical for the American equipment. I cringe when I see a big steamer running on LGB type track!

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

And let us not forget an inconvenient truth that original sizes (gauges) of toy trains were NUMBERED. There was, at least, #1 Gauge, #2 Gauge, etc. When trains got smaller, the next obvious and logical step was to name them "zero" gauge, which looks like this: 0.  Not like this: O.

And “double-aught” 00 or OO in Britain.  Although don’t say that O was originally “zero” too loudly in the other forums as a few folks might yell at you and say “IT’S OH, NOT ZERO!”

Even HO was originally H with a zero (H0) or “ha nul” in Germany… where it was invented.