Scale 3.5 mm to 1 foot Model gauge 12 mm (0.472 in) | Scale ratio 1:87 | |
 | ||
Prototype gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ⁄8 in)
(meter gauge) | ||
H0m gauge is used to represent metre gauge trains in H0 scale. It runs on 12 mm (0.472 in) TT scale tracks. Modern H0m trains run on realistic-looking two-rail track, which is powered by direct current (varying the voltage applied to the rails to change the speed, and polarity to change direction), or by Digital Command Control (sending commands to a decoder in each locomotive). It is a popular scale in Europe, particularly for trains of Swiss outline.
Ready to run models are widely available from companies like Bemo and D+R Modellbahn, a number of companies including, Lemaco and Ferro-suisse, also produced more detailed handmade brass models.
H0m track is also used in Australia to model the narrow gauge lines in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia where trains run on 3'6" track. Likewise it has a following in South Africa, Japan and to a small extent Taiwan and New Zealand which also use 3'6" tracks. See HOn3-1/2 scale.
Related scales
In the same scale standard gauge trains are modelled on 16.5 mm (0.65 in) gauge track, known as H0. Narrow gauge trains are usually modelled on 9 mm (0.354 in) gauge track which is known as H0e and industrial minimum gauge lines are modelled on 6.5 mm (0.256 in) gauge track known as H0i or H0f. HOn3 is used to model 3 ft (914 mm) gauge railroads in the United States and uses a track gauge of 10.5 mm (0.413 in).