OO gauge

OO gauge is the most popular standard gauge for model railways in the United Kingdom.

OO gauge model railways were launched by Bing in 1921 as ‘The Table Railway’. In 1922, the first models of British prototypes appeared. Initially all locomotives were powered by clockwork, but the first electric models appeared in autumn 1923.

In 1932 the Bing company collapsed, but the Table Railway continued to be manufactured by the new Trix company. Trix decided to use the new H0 standard, being approximately half of 0 gauge.

In 1938, the Meccano Company launched a new range of 00 models under the trade name of Hornby Dublo, and 00 gauge has remained the UK's most popular ever since.

In the United States, Lionel Corporation introduced a range of 00 models in 1938 as well. Soon other companies followed but it did not prove popular and remained on the market only until 1942. 00 gauge was quickly eclipsed by H0 scale.