H0 Models from the USA
The USA is the largest HO market in the world — the American scale is "HO" (1:87.1) and is essentially identical to European H0. Characteristic are the Class I diesel locomotives (BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern), Amtrak passenger service, and legendary steam such as the Big Boy.
American railroads are dominated by the seven Class I railroads (BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Kansas City Southern) in freight, and Amtrak in long-distance passenger. Most lines are non-electrified — diesel locomotives dominate. Voltage systems: 25 kV 60 Hz (Northeast Corridor: Boston–Washington), 12 kV 25 Hz (former Pennsylvania Railroad routes).
US railroad operators (Class I)
- BNSF Railway — Burlington Northern Santa Fe, largest Class I freight railroad.
- Union Pacific — UP, traditional western railroad with yellow-grey livery.
- CSX Transportation — the eastern Class I.
- Norfolk Southern — the south-eastern Class I.
- Amtrak — the national long-distance passenger carrier since 1971.
Historic Class I predecessors
- BN – Burlington Northern — predecessor of BNSF.
- AT&SF – Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway — the famous "Santa Fe" with iconic red-silver "Warbonnet" livery.
- SP – Southern Pacific — California's traditional railroad.
- NYC – New York Central and PRR – Pennsylvania Railroad — pre-war east-coast giants, merged 1968 to form Penn Central, later Conrail.
- B&O – Baltimore and Ohio — oldest US railroad.
US model manufacturers
- Athearn — market leader for US HO models, focus on diesels and rolling stock.
- Walthers — largest US model railroad distributor with own brand (Walthers Mainline, Proto, Trainline).
- Bachmann — well-known for starter sets and Spectrum premium models.
- Atlas — known for trackwork and Master Line locomotives.
- Kato (USA) — Japanese brand with US range, high-precision models.
- Rapido Trains — Canadian, premium models for US and Canadian markets.
- MTH, Bowser, Kadee — other key manufacturers.
International manufacturers with US range
- Märklin — historically with a US range for European markets (Big Boy, F7, Mikado).
- Roco and Trix also offer US locomotives.
Famous US locomotives
- Big Boy (Union Pacific 4000 class) — the largest steam locomotives ever built (1941–1962).
- Challenger (UP 3900 class) — the fast Mallet sister design of the Big Boy.
- EMD F7 — the iconic 1950s diesel, used by many Class I railroads.
- EMD GP38 / GP40 — the universal diesel generation of the 1970s and 1980s.
- EMD SD40 / SD40-2 — the heavy universal diesel, standard equipment for Class I railroads.
- EMD F40PH — the iconic Amtrak diesel of the 1970s and 1980s.
- GE AC4400CW / ES44AC — the modern GE universal diesel generation.
- GG1 (Pennsylvania Railroad) — the elegant electric of the Northeast Corridor from 1934.
- Acela Express — Amtrak's high-speed train on the Northeast Corridor.
Eras
US HO models cover all railroad eras — from classic 1920s steam to modern Tier-4 diesels of today.