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Society of Proto-48 Enthusiasts


The Society of Proto:48 Enthusiasts promotes 1/4" Scale AAR prototype dimensions and gauge for modelers who wish to build, model and operate model railroads in accurate scale dimensions. The group focus is primarily on accurately dimensioned wheel profiles and track gauge (4' - 8 1/2" versus 5' gauge) in 1/4" scale. The NMRA nomenclature for such prototype modeling is designated as PROTO:48 (see NMRA RP3 and NMRA RP4), as opposed to "O gauge" which is 5' gauge and specifies wide wheel contours and corresponding oversize track components.

The Society, through the 1/4" Scale AAR Prototype Association , promotes the manufacture of prototype scale wheel and track components within the model railroading manufacturing and importing industry. For modelers, the Society will provide accurate dimensional information, and through its newsletter, The Proto Journal, provides both information on all current and new PROTO:48 products, how to use them, and features articles on what other PROTO:48 modelers are doing. It is the only publication devoted to PROTO:48.

For a list of some of the references/and or articles that have been published on PROTO:48 or related topics, see the PROTO:48 Bibliography.

For complete information contact:

Norm Buckhart, Managing Editor and Publisher
The Proto Journal Subscription Dept.
3165 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94115-2412
Voicemail: 415-563-1771
Facsimile: 415-563-1798
Paul Martineau, Editor
The Proto Journal
13020 Broili Drive
Reno, NV 89511
775-852-2290
pmart@ibm.net