The TT scale is a niche scale model railroading scale, the name stands for Table Top
TT gauge retains a comparatively small niche in the United States and in the UK, but growing popularity in the former East Germany. It is the second most known scale in Eastern Europe and Russia. Adherents to TT scale maintain it is the smallest practical gauge, especially for those who like to build scratch models.
The History
TT gauge was introduced in the U.S. by Hal Joyce.He founded a business, H. P. Products, in 1945, and first advertisement came in 1946. The stock included engine kits, freight and passenger car kits, track and detail parts.
By the early 50s it had a following, offering less detail than H0 scale, considered to be an advantage at the time, and a lower price than most other gauges. Numerous other companies began offering TT gauge model trains, track, and accessories as well. TT gauge became popular in Europe in addition to the USA.
By the early 60s, TTgauge had been eclipsed in popularity by N gauge, which is smaller. H. P. Products discontinued producing their TT scale line in 68, and the related tooling and kits have been passed through several hands. Rokal ended manufacturing in 1969.
The Companies of TT gauge model trains
Tillig is the largest producer to make TT gauge rolling stock. Most TT gauge track today is also made by Tillig, which offers both standard TT scale model train track and an integrated roadbed track using Kato's Unijoiner system. But the growing interest for the gauge has led to more businesses during the last few years. The gauge has also attracted some of the big actors within other scales. Roco launched their first TT gauge products in 98, and has a small but growing stock. Smaller businesses like Kuehn and Beckmann have widened their product lines in recent years, just like Hungarian Deak Modelsport and Czech Rubikon and KPA. Arnold and Fleischmann both created single TT gauge products, but have not continued to create any new series. Russian Peresvet is another business who produces TT gauge model trains, mostly Russian prototypes. German low-price manufacturer Piko has also started with a TT scale stock, focusing mainly on German stock.
There is a bigger variety in the accessories TT scale market, where some manufacturers have a long-time relationship with the scale TT and others recently started to support it as well. Engines are almost only German (with the focus on the former GDR) and some Eastern European model railroads. Auhagen is one major supplier of models of Continental buildings. Triang manufactured a French/Continental line in TT gauge but it was only made for a very short while.
One current manufacturer of UK TT scale is 3 mm scale model railways who supply updated GEM and BEC TT scale kits as well as a large stock of Brass Etch and Resin body kits.
USA companies include Possum Valley Models (kits), Sleepy Hollow/Gold Coast (ready to run and kits}, Costal Engineering (kits) DnS TT Track and others.
Some inexpensive battery toy train kits, most of the time with plastic track, are also be found in TT gauge.
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About the Author
from the model railroad site modelleisenbahn-figuren.com with a lot of articles about tt scale figures and ho gauge figures. Info Model Railroad - Railway modelling (UK, Australia, Ireland and Canada) or model railroading (Canada and US) is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced size. The scale layouts include locos, rolling stock, vehicles, signalling, highways, commercial buildings, tt gauge figures, lights and features such as lakes, mountains and forrests.
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