Q: In the September 2022 issue of Model Railroader, Mike Tylick wrote “Add a gated crossing to your layout.” On page 36, there is an image of a gate that he built for the F scale Chester & Beckett RR. What is F scale? — via email
A: The Chester & Beckett RR, featured in Great Model Railroads 2018, is actually Fn3. The 16 x 20-foot sectional model railroad was built by Steve Morrill, John Sacerdote, Doug Scott, and Mike Tylick.
Model Railroader contributor Jim Providenza added, “F scale, Fn3, and other large scale standards were developed by the National Model Railroad Association in cooperation with many stakeholders in the early 2000s. F scale and Fn3 are both 1:20.32 proportion. This proportion is used almost entirely by those modeling 3-foot gauge railroads like the Chester & Beckett.
“Fn3 track is commonly referred to as 45mm, or 1-¾” gauge. The NMRA standard for Fn3 track gauge is 1.766” (minimum) and 1.793” (maximum). For F standard gauge, the track gauge is 2.783” (minimum) and 2.845” (maximum).”
Updated July 22, 2025. Thanks to Dale Reisfield for bringing to our attention that the original answer needed clarification.
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Thanks for running my question! I bet I wasn’t the only one with that question. You should have explained F scale in the article, since that is a pretty new scale. While I model in Lionel O, I like knowing about other scales. It’s good to know what else is out there in trains.