I model in Bemo HOm and buy track specifically for that scale. My focus is on Bemo and HOm so others may have a better understanding but HOm is 12 mm gauge and HOe is 9mm gauge, so they are different track sizes. HOe is basically the N gauge as we know it in the US.

HOm Bemo Swiss locos and cars go great with Maerklin HO. You can model SBB 460s pulling double decker passenger cars coming to stations then the Bemo Glacier Express or Rhaetian Railways loks and cars take them on adventures through the Alps. The scale of the Maerklin HO and Bemo HOm are the same so they are realistic sizes in comparison. To me, this is European modeling at its best and I really like the 2 rail HOm track, despite it being nothing like C track to work with.

There is an excellent site on Yahoo if you'd like to know more about narrow gauge and Bemo in particular: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BEMO/

HOe is narrow gauge HO that runs on N-scale track, ie. 9mm. The locomotives and carriages are smaller than usual HO scale and larger than N-scale. I would say it is closer to modified HO scale!! Correct me if I am wrong Larry.

I did think about buying Bemo HOm (exceptional quality equipment) but since some TRIX N-scale track inadvertently "fell into my lap" I decided to try the HOe scale locomotives and rolling stock. I have Roco and Liliput HOe that I operate on TRIX N-scale track as a layout within my HO scale layout. Makes for a nice addition to hilly terrain and Bavarian, Swiss or Austrian Alp type layouts.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Regards (a Scot in Wisconsin)


If you are considering running gauge exclusively, I would as Larry suggests go with Bemo HOm (12 mm) scale. If you are running HO scale and want to have a "layout within a layout" then I would go with HOe, 9 mm, scale. Remembering that you will have to buy separate locomotives and rolling stock for these scales. Wheel sets are not that easily interchangeable.