O Gauge Australian 0 gauge model railway0 scale (or 0 gauge) is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current 0 gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s. In Europe, its popularity declined before World War II due to the introduction of smaller scales. Britain stuck to a lower voltage direct current. Standards The differences in the various 0 gauge and 0 scale standards often confuse newcomers.