The name H0 comes from the fact that 1:87 scale is about half of zero scale, the H standing to "half" and the 0, of course, for the number zero. It is pronounced "H-oh" as opposed to "ho" or "H-zero".
H0 scale was originally established in the 1930s in the UK. It was created as an alternative to the then popular 00 gauge, but at the time it wasn't able to compete very well against the 00 gauge that was already so popular there.
The scale did become very popular in the United States in the large 1950s as the interest people had in model trains as toys began to decline. At this time, more people began to worry about realism because hobbyists were buying more trains than parents were for their children.
H0 is a bit smaller and more delicate than 0 scale, so it lets people fit more details and more scale miles into an area of comparable size. In the 60s, H0 scale finally began to overtake the popularity of 0 scale, and even the major train manufacturers such as Gilbert and Lionel began making H0 trains.
Although 00 gauge is still the dominant scale size in the United Kingdom, H0 is currently the predominant scale size in the rest of continental Europe, as well as all of North America. Even some modelers in the UK are using the H0 gauge as their standard.
H0 scale tracks were originally made with brass rails on plastic ties. Eventually, tracks made of nickel-silver alloy become more popular, because it is better able to resist corrosion than brass. Today, almost all tracks are made of this nickel-silver alloy, aside from Bachmann tracks which have been made with steel until the past few years.
Because of the popularity of HO model trains, they are currently very widely available in a broad range of models, kits, and accessories. The yearly catalog by Wm. K. Walthers lists more than 1,000 pages of H0 scale products!
H0 models are available as ready-to-run models which work right out of the box, shake-the-box which require some assembly, and craftsman kits which require a lot of individual parts and are more complex to assemble.
The major reason why this scale is so popular is because it is large enough to show plenty of detail, but it is also small enough to comfortably fit inside most homes. It is large enough to be easily handled by children, making it a popular choice for younger hobbyists, and it is also less expensive than smaller scales because the models are easier to manufacture that those made with smaller parts.
About this Author
Denis Gardner discusses HO Model Trains and enjoys helping others get started in the amazing, fun-filled hobby. His newest book, " The Ultimate Guide to Model Trains ", teaches hobbyists everything they need to know about model trains including setup, scale, layouts, benchwork, scenery and more.
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