Model Railway Roads – The Correct Size

Creating realistic model railways doesn’t just involve modelling the railway track but everything surrounding it. An important feature is the road network for moving goods and passengers once the have left the rail service on your layout. Check out our guide below to ensure the correct size of roads for the most popular scales of model railways.

Model railway scales are represented in the following way 1:76, 1:148 etc. These numbers mean that 1 inch represents the number after the colon. For OO scale, 1 inch represents 76 inches. N scale, 1 inch represents 148 inches and so on.

OO Scale Road Width

• Single lane roads – Around 2 inches wide
• Double lane roads – Around 4 inches wide

HO Scale Road Width

• Single lane roads – Around 1.5 inches wide
• Double lane roads – Around 3 inches wide

N Scale Road Width

• Single lane roads – Around 1 inch wide
• Double lane roads – Around 2 inch wide

It is important to note that these are just rough estimates and the actual width of the roads on your layout may vary depending on your specific modelling needs and the space you have available. It is always a good idea to research the prototype you are modelling and measure the roads on your layout to ensure that they are the correct size and fit the rest of your scenery. By paying attention to the size and scale of the roads on your model railway layout, you can create more realistic scenery.