Model trains
glosary
Glossary- Couplers: The knuckle-shaped devices at the ends of locomotives and cars. The “horn-hook” style was created many decades ago by the National Model Railroad Association to encourage mass-produced HO scale equipment. The Rapido-style coupler is the main standard for N scale. In recent years, however, more companies have been offering their regular equipment with more-prototypical looking knuckle-style couplers, similar to those first made popular by Kadee.
- Drivers: The big wheels on a steam locomotive connected by side rods.
- Flywheel: A turned, solid-metal cylinder mounted in line with a model locomotive’s motor that smooths out the motor’s rotating motion to the drive train.
- Rail joiner: A small metal clip that joins two sections of rail together.
- Rerailer: Section of track that guides wheels onto the rails.
- Scale: The proportion of a model in relation to its real-life counterpart. HO (“aitch-oh”) scale is the most popular model railroading scale, with a proportion of 1:87, or 1⁄87th of real size. The second-most popular scale is N (1:160). Large scale can range from 1:32 to 1:20.3, with 1:22.5 the most popular. All large scale trains use the same track gauge. Other common scales in North America are O (1:48), S (1:64), and Z (1:220).
- Tender: The car immediately behind a steam locomotive that carries fuel for the firebox and water for the boiler.
- Throttle: The speed control of the locomotive; in the model world, a potentiometer controlling a voltage regulator.
- Truck: The frame assembly beneath each end of a car or diesel locomotive that holds the wheelsets.
- Wheelset: The wheel-axle assembly that fits into the truck. Most trucks have two or three wheelsets, depending on the type of car.