What are some of the most common model gauges?
There have been a great many toy train gauges that have been used over the years around the world. Some have faded into history, some have found a niche among dedicated modelers and collectors and others have become long time standards. Following are some of the most well know. 2-7/8 Gauge: Some of the earliest toy trains used a track of this gauge. Lionel used it from about 1900 to 1905. Standard Gauge 2-1/8: Lionel introduced this 2-1/8 Gauge in 1906. It was only Standard because Joshua Lionel Cowen said it was. There was no standardization in American-made trains at the time and Cowen wanted to set the standards. It was a great marketing ploy. When an enthusiast visited the toy or hardware store to hopefully buy more track, all he had to do was ask for the Standard kind. It worked. Lionel used Standard Gauge for their more expensive premium train lines but soon other manufacturers started making their trains to fit Lionels Standard Gauge line. Standard Gauge was discontinued by 1939
