T-Scale

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

T-Scale or T-Gauge is the smallest commercially-available model train scale in the world. The “T” in “T Scale” stands for “Three Millimeters,” which is the track gauge, or distance between the rails. This translates to a scale of 1:450.

T-Scale trains are make by K. K. Eishindo of Japan. Eishindo introduced T-Scale in 2006. It first went on sale in Japan in 2007.

The following pictures show a T-Scale train car on my HO-Scale layout, illustrating the small size of the models.

The train is a model of a Japanese Series 103 Electric Multiple Unit set. There are a total of four cars in the set. This particular train is decorated for the East Japan Railway Company’s Chuo Line, which runs from Tokyo to Shiojiri, a distance of 222 kilometers (138 miles).

The train runs on 4.5V DC and can be powered by 3 AA batteries or via a wall adapter. The middle two cars are motorized, while the end cars feature directional lighting circuits: the leading car displays a white headlight while the trailing car displays red marker lights.

Here is a video of the train running, set up on a TV tray.

 

T-Scale Model Train

Here is a table that compares T Scale to some other model train scales.

 

Name	Track Gauge	Ratio	Scale
T Scale	3mm	1:450
ZZ Scale	4.8mm	1:300
Z Scale	6.5mm	1:220
N Scale	9mm	1:160
TT Scale	12mm	1:120	1/10”=1’
HO Scale	16.5mm	1:87.1	3.5mm=1’
OO Scale	16.5mm	1:76.2	4mm=1’
S Scale “American Flyer”	22.42mm .882”	1:64	3/16”=1’
O Scale “Lionel”	32mm 1-1/4”	1:48	1/4”=1’
#1 Gauge	45mm 1-3/4”	1:32	3/8”=1’
“Aristo-Craft” “USA Trains”	45mm	1:29	10.5mm=1’
H Scale (3’-6” narrow gauge)	45mm	1:24	½”=1’
G Scale, “LGB” (meter gauge)	45mm	1:22.5	17/32”=1’
Fn3 Scale (3’ narrow gauge)	45mm	1:20.3	15mm=1’
SE Scale (2’ narrow gauge)	45mm	1:13.7	7/8”=1’
#2 Gauge	50.8mm 2”	1:27.4	7/16=1’
#3 Gauge	63.5mm 2.5”	1:22.5	17/32”=1’
#4 Gauge	88.9mm 3.5”	1:16	3/4”=1’
#5 Gauge	127mm 5”	1:11.3	11mm=1’
#6 Gauge	184mm 7.25”	1:8	1.5”=1’

Related Links:
K. K. Eishindo
TGauge.com
More T Please