HO Scale Trains

Shop HO scale trains for building a first model railroad, expanding an established layout, or finding a specific locomotive, car, track system, or discontinued release. Trainz carries new, pre-owned, vintage, collectible, discontinued, and hard-to-find HO model trains, with inventory spanning locomotives, rolling stock, train sets, track, parts, accessories, scenery, and equipment from many railroad eras and manufacturers.

HO Locomotives & Powered Equipment

Shop all HO engines and rolling stock together or narrow the selection to diesel, steam, electric, and other powered equipment.

Locos & Rolling Stock All engines & rolling stock Diesel Locomotives Road, freight & switching power Steam Locomotives Classic steam-era engines Electric Locomotives Electric prototype power Motorized Units Powered specialty rail vehicles Brass HO Scale Trains Collectible brass models

HO Rolling Stock & Train Sets

Build complete HO trains with freight cars, passenger equipment, specialty rolling stock, and train sets.

Freight Cars Boxcars, hoppers, tank cars & more Passenger Cars Coaches, sleepers & diners Operating Cars Interactive action-equipped cars Rail Transit Cars Trolleys, subway & transit equipment Train Sets Complete & starter train sets Thomas Trains Thomas & Friends HO trains

HO Track, Parts & Layout

Find the track, replacement parts, accessories, and scenery needed to build, repair, expand, and detail an HO railroad.

HO Scale Track Track, switches & turnouts HO Train Parts Repair & replacement parts HO Accessories Buildings, figures, vehicles & more HO Scenery Landscape & layout scenery

Shop HO Scale by Brand

Browse dedicated HO Scale collections from popular model train manufacturers.

Athearn Atlas Bachmann Broadway Limited Marklin

HO scale is approximately 1:87 and offers a popular balance between realistic detail and manageable layout size. The scale is large enough to show locomotive, rolling stock, structure, and scenery details clearly while remaining compact enough for home layouts, shelf railroads, modular setups, and larger basement railroads. If you're comparing HO with other sizes, our Model Train Scales Explained guide explains the major model train scales and their differences.

The broad selection available in HO also makes it easier to shop around a specific railroad, era, manufacturer, or operating style. Buyers can build anything from a compact switching railroad to a large freight mainline, passenger operation, steam-era scene, or modern railroad using equipment from current and past production runs.

HO locomotives and rolling stock form the operating core of the railroad. Available equipment may include diesel, steam, and electric locomotives along with freight cars, passenger cars, motorized units, operating equipment, and other specialty rolling stock representing railroads and eras from across the hobby.

Trainz inventory may include factory-new models alongside pre-owned, vintage, discontinued, collectible, and hard-to-find releases. Road name, locomotive type, car style, control system, condition, and operating era can all help narrow the selection when building or expanding a train.

HO train sets can be a practical starting point for a new model railroad and can also appeal to experienced hobbyists looking for coordinated freight or passenger equipment. Depending on the release, a set may include a locomotive, cars, track, and a power pack or controller, while other packages focus primarily on the train itself.

Inventory may include beginner starter sets, ready-to-run packages, freight and passenger sets, gift options, current releases, and pre-owned or discontinued sets from earlier production eras. Check each listing to confirm included track, controls, cars, and operating features before purchasing.

HO track is available in sectional, flex, and integrated-roadbed systems, with different rail codes, turnout styles, curve radii, and connection methods. When expanding an existing railroad, matching the manufacturer and track system already in use is usually the simplest way to maintain compatible geometry and connections.

New layouts may be planned around temporary sectional track, integrated-roadbed systems, or more permanent flex-track construction. Modelers developing a new railroad can also explore our Track Plans & Layout Ideas for layout inspiration.

Once the trains and track are selected, HO accessories and scenery help turn the railroad into a complete environment. Available products may include buildings, building kits, figures, vehicles, signals, bridges, lighting, freight loads, roads, trees, terrain materials, tunnel portals, signs, and other layout details.

Replacement parts are also an important part of maintaining older and pre-owned equipment. Depending on inventory, shoppers may find locomotive components, rolling stock parts, couplers, wheels, trucks, electrical pieces, body details, and other items used to repair or restore HO trains.

HO locomotives may be designed for conventional DC operation, offered as DCC-ready models, or equipped with factory-installed DCC decoders. DCC allows individual control of equipped locomotives on the same railroad and may also support sound, lighting, and other digital functions.

When shopping for an HO locomotive, review the listing for its control system, decoder status, sound features, minimum curve requirements, and other operating specifications. Older and pre-owned models may use different electrical or control arrangements than current releases.

HO model trains have been produced for decades, so the market includes far more than current catalog releases. Trainz regularly carries new and pre-owned HO trains alongside vintage models, new old stock, limited releases, discontinued road names, estate finds, and collectible equipment.

Changing inventory can be especially useful when searching for a specific locomotive number, matching passenger car, discontinued freight car, older track component, or model needed to complete an existing train. Availability changes as collections and new inventory arrive.

Trainz buys HO scale model train collections that may include locomotives, rolling stock, train sets, track, structures, accessories, scenery, parts, boxed equipment, loose trains, and complete layouts.

Whether you're downsizing, selling a long-time collection, or helping with an estate, visit Sell My Trains – How It Works to learn about the process and request a collection evaluation.

What does HO scale mean?

HO scale is approximately 1:87, meaning the model is about 1/87th the size of its full-size prototype.

What types of HO trains can I buy?

HO model trains include diesel, steam, and electric locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, motorized units, operating cars, rail transit equipment, and complete train sets. HO railroads can also use scale-specific track, structures, accessories, scenery, and replacement parts.

Are HO trains good for beginners?

Yes. HO offers a broad selection of starter train sets, track systems, locomotives, rolling stock, replacement parts, structures, scenery, and accessories, making it practical for a first railroad while still offering substantial options for experienced modelers.

Can HO trains from different manufacturers run together?

Often, yes, but compatibility can depend on the track and electrical system, coupler type, wheelsets, minimum curve requirements, and the age or design of the equipment. Review individual product specifications when combining models from different manufacturers.

What should I consider when choosing HO track?

Consider whether you are building a new railroad or matching an existing track system, along with rail code, curve radius, connection style, roadbed design, turnout geometry, and the type of layout you plan to build.

What is the difference between DC and DCC?

DC generally controls locomotive speed by varying power supplied through the track. DCC sends digital commands to equipped locomotives and can provide independent locomotive control along with features such as sound and lighting.

Can standard HO trains run on HOn3 or HOn30 track?

No. HO, HOn3, and HOn30 models may share approximately 1:87 scale proportions, but they use different track gauges and are not directly interchangeable on the same track.

Does Trainz sell vintage and discontinued HO trains?

Yes. Depending on current inventory, Trainz may offer vintage, pre-owned, discontinued, collectible, estate-find, and hard-to-find HO locomotives, cars, train sets, track, and other model railroad equipment.