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Model Railroading Trivia Quiz

For my 11th birthday I was given an HO model train set. My Mom planted the seed of doing a nice little layout. Unfortunately, school, sports and to some degree money put that off. The train eventually ended up in a box and followed me around the country

A multiple-choice quiz by nascarmad. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
nascarmad

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
409,321

Updated
Jun 19 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
140

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. First let's start with size. There are different sizes of model railroads. They are referred to by scale. Scale is simply a ratio of the difference from real size to toy size. If the scale is 1:50, what units of measure is represented? Hint

Inches to feet

It doesn't matter as long as they are the same. IE 1 inch equals 50 inches. Or 1 meter equals 50 meters.

Feet to inches

Centimeters to meters

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Question 2 of 10

2. The largest scale of train was only popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The scale varies from 1:22 to 1:32. What is this scale known as? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. The second largest scale was made popular by Lionel. The scale varies from 1:48 in the US to 1:43 or 1:45 in Europe. Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. Next is the 1:64 scale trains that dominated the 1950s by manufacturer, American Flyer. What letter are we looking for? Hint

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Question 5 of 10

5. Popular in the UK, what train had the scale of 1:76? Hint

O27

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Question 6 of 10

6. There is debate amongst the diehard model railroader about which scale is most popular. But which scale of 1:87 always makes the final cut? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. Now we get to the smaller scales. Also on the final cut for most popular is the 1:160 scale. What letter is represented here? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. The smallest of the common model train scales is this letter of the alphabet. If you think hard enough you should get this one. Hint

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Question 9 of 10

9. One basic layout style is an oval where the train goes around and returns to the same point without needing to stop and turn around. What is this layout called? Hint

There and Back

Any of these

Oval

Loop

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Question 10 of 10

10. The other basic layout style has the train going from one end of the layout to the other and then back the same way. What is the name of this layout? Hint

Linear

Back and Forth

Direct and Back

Point to Point

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: It doesn't matter as long as they are the same. IE 1 inch equals 50 inches. Or 1 meter equals 50 meters.

In the early days of model railroading, the scale varied before they became more standarized.

2. The largest scale of train was only popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The scale varies from 1:22 to 1:32. What is this scale known as?

Answer: G

One does still see this size as a seasonally themed train in stores around Christmas/Holiday time.

3. The second largest scale was made popular by Lionel. The scale varies from 1:48 in the US to 1:43 or 1:45 in Europe.

Answer: O

Lionel didn't really pay close attention to scale until the 1990s. Their trains were a little smaller to allow more cars on the tracks. These smaller pre '90s trains are often referred to as O27 and run on the same tracks.

4. Next is the 1:64 scale trains that dominated the 1950s by manufacturer, American Flyer. What letter are we looking for?

Answer: S

Many diecast cars are more or less S scale. American Flyer made their trains from 1946-1968. Lionel purchased the company in 1969 but didn't start up production until 1979. S scale trains are still available today but not very popular.

5. Popular in the UK, what train had the scale of 1:76?

Answer: OO

It never really caught on in the US, it was about halfway between S and HO.

6. There is debate amongst the diehard model railroader about which scale is most popular. But which scale of 1:87 always makes the final cut?

Answer: HO

HO This is what I have. It stands for 'Half O' which isn't quite mathematically correct but close enough. HO slot cars are 1:64 like S scale trains.

7. Now we get to the smaller scales. Also on the final cut for most popular is the 1:160 scale. What letter is represented here?

Answer: N

N scale is about half of HO. It's popular because it's size allows for a good sized layout using a small space. I was at a model railroading display where a modeler basically had an N scale train in a fold up table that was about � the size of a table tennis table.

8. The smallest of the common model train scales is this letter of the alphabet. If you think hard enough you should get this one.

Answer: Z

Z scale is an incredible 1:220. It allows one to put a LOT of train in a small space.

9. One basic layout style is an oval where the train goes around and returns to the same point without needing to stop and turn around. What is this layout called?

Answer: Loop

Yes, because it basically "loops" around the layout. Oval was just too basic and, in some instances do more than 'oval' sometimes going around an entire room with different backdrops and settings. Loop layouts fit almost perfectly on a 4x8 sheet of plywood so the loop is ideal for beginning layouts.

10. The other basic layout style has the train going from one end of the layout to the other and then back the same way. What is the name of this layout?

Answer: Point to Point

Some model railroaders like the realism of the point to point layout since very few trains actually do "loop" (scenic trains sometimes do like at Disneyland or Magic Kingdom). Train routes are designed for efficiency of getting cargo and/or people from point A to point B as quickly and economically as possible.

The more track the railroad had to lay, the more expensive it was and the more fuel was needed. However, in some situations, they would need to decide whether to go around or through mountains for instance.

Source: Author nascarmad

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
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