1 gauge

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1 gauge is a toy train and model railroading standard, popular in the early 20th century, particularly with European manufacturers. Its track measured 1.75 inches (44.45 mm), making it larger than O gauge but slightly smaller than wide gauge, which came to be the dominant U.S. standard during the 1920s.

1 gauge survives today as the modern G scale, a popular standard for outdoor model railroads.

Although initially popular in the United States, 1 gauge lost popularity due to World War I, which dramatically decreased foreign imports, allowing the U.S. wide gauge standard to gain traction. After the war, most surviving U.S. manufacturers switched to wide gauge.

Although vintage 1 gauge trains use the same track standard as modern G scale, scale modeling was not a primary design consideration in 1 gauge's heyday, so the actual size and scale of the locomotives and cars varied. Generally, 1 gauge equipment worked out to approximately 1:32 scale, whereas G scale is 1:22.5 scale, making traditional 1 gauge equipment slightly smaller in size.

By comparison, 1 gauge's 1:32 scale makes it nearly three times the size of modern HO scale, the most popular size of today.

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