Model Railroading
Why a Model Railroading Museum in Florence
For model railroading enthusiasts in Florence and beyond, the HZERO museum is a must-visit destination. Finally, model railroading has a dedicated space that welcomes miniature train lovers and elevates this beloved pastime to an art form.
While model railroading is a widely popular hobby in Northern Europe, it has also generated significant enthusiasm in Italy, largely thanks to the influence of Italo Briano. A pioneer of model railroading in Italy, Briano’s passion led him to represent several companies specializing in model railroading equipment. He also championed the creation of special models for the Italian market and founded both the Italian Federation of Model Railroaders and Friends of Railways (FIMF) and the magazine Italmodel Ferrovie.
Italo Briano’s profound passion is echoed in the work of Giuseppe Paternò Castello di San Giuliano and his collaborators, who brought to life the 280-square-meter handcrafted and architectural masterpiece that is the centerpiece of the HZERO museum.
The Importance of Scale in Model Railroading
Model railroading involves the creation of scaled-down reproductions of railways, miniature trains, and everything associated with them. One of the first steps for anyone starting to build a model railway is choosing the scale to use—essentially the measurement standard that determines the proportion of the models compared to the real thing.
G Scale (1:22.5)
Primarily used for garden railways and larger models, G scale is characterized by a track gauge of 45 mm.
O Scale (1:43.5 or 1:48)
It is a historically significant scale and one of the first used in model railroading, featuring a track gauge of 32 mm.
H0 Scale (1:87)
The most popular scale among model railroading enthusiasts, it is no coincidence that the museum’s model railway was built using this scale, which even inspired its name. With a track gauge of 16.5 mm, it strikes a perfect balance between a high level of detail and manageable dimensions for layouts.
TT Scale (1:120)
Less common than H0, but favored in certain countries, particularly in Eastern Europe. In this scale, the track gauge is reduced to 12 mm.
N Scale (1:160)
One of the smallest and most popular scales, with a track gauge of 9 mm. It allows for the construction of more compact layouts while maintaining a good level of detail reproduction.
Z Scale (1:220)
Even smaller than N scale, it was introduced by Märklin for those interested in achieving an exceptional level of miniaturization. The track gauge is 6.5 mm.
T Scale (1:450)
One of the smallest scales ever created, launched by a Japanese manufacturer, featuring a track gauge of just 3 mm.
The H0 scale inspired the name of the miniature train museum
The H0 scale is likely the most widespread today in both Europe and North America. With its 1:87 reduction ratio and 16.5 mm track gauge, it gained popularity in the late 1950s as the demand for greater realism in detail reproduction grew.
This made it the perfect choice for the ambitious project of Giuseppe Paternò Castello di San Giuliano, who, after forty years of work alongside a group of passionate modelers, left us a gift: a place of gathering and sharing for model railroading enthusiasts in Florence and beyond.
Not just the model railway: a variety of activities for model railroading enthusiasts
For model railroading enthusiasts, visiting the HZERO museum is not just about marveling at the perfectly recreated details and watching miniature trains speed across the layout. It’s about gaining access to an entire world dedicated to model railroading.
From collections of miniature trains from various eras displayed in second-floor cases, to the test track, and the Workshop where visitors can watch our skilled staff at work—cleaning trains, performing maintenance, and crafting miniature reconstructions. But there’s more: for the first time, HZERO offers a series of model-making courses for adults, designed for enthusiasts or simply the curious. Participants can try their hand at building a small diorama under the guidance of HZERO’s layout maintenance team.
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