00n3 is the description given to modelling

narrow gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...

s in

4 mm scale 4 mm scale is the most popular model railway scale used in the United Kingdom. The term refers to the use of 4 millimeters on the model equating to a distance of 1 foot (305 mm) on the prototype (1:76.2). It is also used for military m ...

with gauge track. prototypes were common in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

and the

Isle of Man The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...

, but the scale is not generally used outside the

British Isles The British Isles are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner Hebrides, Inner and Outer Hebr ...

. gauge track is the same as that used in

TT scale TT scale (from "table top") is a Rail transport modelling, model railroading scale at 1:120 scale with a track gauge of 12mm between the rails. It is placed between HO scale (1:87) and N scale (1:160). Its original purpose, as the name suggests ...

and HOm, so some components used for those scales can be used. There is no ready-to-run support, so everything must be either built from

scratch Scratch or scratching may refer to: Science and technology * Scratch (programming language), an educational programming language developed by the MIT Media Lab * Scratch space, space on the hard disk drive that is dedicated for only temporary ...

or made from kits from

Worsley Works Worsley Works, is a manufacturer of kits for model railway carriages and locomotives, owned and run from Worsley, near Manchester, England UK, by Allen Doherty. Worsley Works is well known in the finescale modelling world, especially in less-po ...

(C&LR, T&DLR, WCR & others), Branchlines (IoMR, CVR, T&DLR), Backwoods Miniatures* (CDJR, CVR, L&BER, C&LR), Dundas Models (T&DLR & WCR], Model Engine Works (CVR & CDJR), Ninelines (CDJR & SR) and Alphagraphix (CDJR, L&LSR, L&BER) amongst others. *The Backwoods kits are slowly being reintroduced by N-Drive Productions. Kits are available in etched brass and nickel-silver (locos, railcars and some rolling stock), plastic, resin, white metal and card (rolling stock). There are now some 3D printed items of stock available, for example from Model Engine Works, CWRailways & TeBee Models. 00n3 modellers have close relations with other 4 mm narrow gauge modellers, especially 00-9, 009 modelling.

Exhibition layouts

00n3 layouts that are occasionally exhibited in Britain and Ireland (2019) include Annascaul (

Tralee and Dingle Light Railway __NOTOC__ The Tralee and Dingle Light Railway and Tramway was a , narrow gauge railway running between Tralee and Dingle, with a branch from Castlegregory Junction to Castlegregory, in County Kerry on the west coast of Ireland. It operated bet ...

), Castlederg (

Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway The Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was a Narrow gauge railway, narrow gauge railway operating in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It opened in 1883 and closed in 1933. Route This long line was situated entirely within County Tyrone, l ...

), Letterkenny (

County Donegal Railways Joint Committee The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee operated an extensive narrow gauge railway system serving County Donegal, Ireland, from 1906 until 1960. The committee was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1906, which authorised the joint pur ...

), Castlefinn

), Crosby (

Isle of Man Railway The Isle of Man Railway (IMR) is a narrow gauge steam locomotive, steam-operated railway connecting Douglas, Isle of Man, Douglas with Castletown, Isle of Man, Castletown and Port Erin in the Isle of Man. The line is Narrow gauge railway, ...

), Strabane (

), Southwold (

Southwold Railway The Southwold Railway was a narrow gauge railway line between Halesworth and Southwold in the English county of Suffolk. long, it was narrow gauge. It opened in 1879 and closed in 1929. Intermediate stations were at Wenhaston, Blythburgh a ...

) and Mannin Middle (Isle of Man Railway inspired layout). Burtonport (Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway) is on permanent display in the Burtonport Railway Walk Museum situated in the St Columba's Community Centre in Burtonport, County Donegal. Dingle (

) is permanently based at the Windmill Museum, Blennerville, County Kerry. Donegal (

) is on permanent display at the County Donegal Railway Heritage Centre, Donegal. There is an 00n3 diorama of Boot station at the

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a minimum-gauge railway, minimum-gauge heritage railway in Cumbria, England. The line runs from Ravenglass to Dalegarth for Boot railway station, Dalegarth Station near Boot, Cumbria, Boot in the valley o ...

museum at Ravenglass, Cumbria and a diorama of Douglas engine shed (

) at the Port Erin Museum, Port Erin.

Books published

A few books have been published to help the 00n3 modeller. Modelling the Irish Narrow Gauge (Peco Publications ) is a compilation of articles in the Railway Modeller written by David Lloyd and include his Augher and Coolcalaghta layouts. The County Donegal Railway Companion (Midland Publishing ) looks in depth at modelling all aspects of the popular County Donegal. The Isle of Man Railway - A modellers inspiration (Peco Publications ) helps those who want to model the Isle of Man Railway, again in all its aspects. Modelling Irish Railways (Midland Publishing ) looks at modelling the Irish railway scene with a chapter of information on the Irish 3'. The books are currently out of print but will be available pre-owned from reputable second hand book shops specialising in railway transport.

Magazine Articles

A number of 00n3 layouts have been featured in the Railway Modeller magazine. Abhainn an Scail/Annascaul (T&DLR) March 2014; Burtonport (LSR) February 2017, March 2017 & April 2017; Castleton (IMR) September 1993 & December 1993; Dingle (T&DLR) December 2002, January 2003 & February 2003; Donegal (CDJR) September 2006 & October 2006; Ramsey (IMR) October 2006. November 2006 & December 2006; Schull (S&SR) January 2012, February 2012, December 2012; Southwold (1922) (SR) November 2013. 'Freelance' layouts inspired by the Isle of Man Railway that have featured include Bradda West February 1995; Mannin Middle April 2009 & Port Foxdale September 2002. 'Historic' 00n3 layouts in the model railway press include Aire Valley by Derek Naylor (Railway Modeller April 1961); Llanfair Valley Railway by Rev P. Heath (Railway Modeller 1962, month t.b.c.); Uptha Valley Light Railway (Model Railway Constructor January 1963 t.b.c.); Vale of Fawrcarnedd Railway by Alan Brackenborough (Model Railway News 1965, month t.b.c.).

Related scales

Outside the

the slightly smaller 1:87 H0 is used. For European (

metre gauge Metre-gauge railways ( US: meter-gauge railways) are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of or 1 metre. Metre gauge is used in around of tracks around the world. It was used by several European colonial powers including France, Britain and ...

) and African / Australian gauge railways H0m is used. In America gauge railroads are modelled on gauge track as HOn3.

External links

009 Society
- caters for those interested in narrow gauge railways in 3.5mm & 4mm scale

- "historic" site, no longer producing kits for 3' gauge * Peco - HOm track & points suitable for 00n3
Model Engine Works
- CVR Sharp Stewart, Hudswell style diesel, CVR Atkinson Walker steam tractor, CDR Phoenix
Dundas Models
- T&DLR vans and WCR wagon. They also list kits from other manufacturers e.g. Golden Arrow (SR)
N-Drive Productions
- reintroducing Backwoods Miniatures kits
Ninelines
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229230026/http://www.nine-lines.co.uk/ , date=2018-12-29 - for CDJR van and wagon and Southwold Railway open wagons.
Worsley Works
- Rolling stock and locomotive kits for Irish 3' and IoM railways 4 mm scale Model railroad scales Narrow-gauge railway modelling