S Scale Model Trains

							Title:
S Scale Model Trains

Word Count:
671

Summary:
The S-scale, known also as the S-ga
uge, for model trains is designed o
n the ratio of 1:64 [that is, 3/16
inches = 1 foot] and fits between t
he popular HO and O model train sca
les. It met the demands for a scale
 which was larger than HO [which wa
s considered too small by many mode
l railroaders] but smaller than the
 popular O scale thus allowing trac
k layouts to be constructed in smal
ler spaces.

Although S-gauge model trains had b
een around since the early part of
the centur...


Keywords:
model trains, model train, s scale,
 american flyer, s gauge, lionel, t
rack layout, Gilbert
Article Body:
The S-scale, known also as the S-ga
uge, for model trains is designed o
n the ratio of 1:64 [that is, 3/16
inches = 1 foot] and fits between t
he popular HO and O model train sca
les. It met the demands for a scale
 which was larger than HO [which wa
s considered too small by many mode
l railroaders] but smaller than the
 popular O scale thus allowing trac
k layouts to be constructed in smal
ler spaces.

Although S-gauge model trains had b
een around since the early part of
the century, it began to boom with
the advent of the re-designed Ameri
can Flyer model trains first produc
ed by The A.C.Gilbert Company in Co
nnecticut, USA, during the late 193
0s. The famous American Flyer model
 trains, which had been produced si
nce the early part of the century i
nitially as clockwork model trains,
 then later, as electric trains, we
re radically re-designed by Gilbert
 when he bought the original compan
y. These trains were built to S-sca
le but ran on standard O-gauge tracks.
Some years later Gilbert introduced
 another of his radical modificatio
ns - he re-designed the tracks for
the S-scale trains, moving away fro
m the traditional three track rail
used in model electric trains to th
at date.

The three track rail then in genera
l use had the two outer tracks for
the wheels to run on with the third
, centre track, carrying the electr
ic current to drive the model train
 motor. The new two track rails mad
e the layouts seem more realistic a
s they now looked like 'real train
tracks'. The development of these t
racks to suit the smaller S-scale m
odel trains also allowed track layo
uts to have curves of a different r
adius, more appropriate to the re-d
esigned American Flyer locomotives
and rolling stock.

Many, if not most, of today's S-sca
le enthusiasts had their first intr
oduction to that scale with the Ame
rican Flyer when, as a youngster in
 the 1950s, they received a set as
a Christmas present. During that pe
riod, the Flyer competed directly w
ith the Lionel model trains of that
 time and these two companies were
the market leaders.

Today the S-scale model trains, inc
luding the long-lived American Flye
r are rising rapidly in popularity
again.

This is the result of the Lionel Co
rporation, the predecessor of the p
resent manufacturer of Lionel train
s, Lionel LLC, having purchased the
 rights to the American Flyer from
the company which had bought the ri
ghts from A C Gilbert when his comp
any became bankrupt in 1967.

Lionel Corporation was itself in fi
nancial difficulties at that time,
and went through the hands of sever
al owners before reaching its prese
nt incarnation as Lionel LLC in 199
6. But for some time that new compa
ny initially concentrated on produc
ing and marketing its own HO and HO
27 models and did little to inspire
 the devotees of S-scale. Since 200
2 however, Lionel LLC has been intr
oducing new models of S-scale model
 trains - and heartening those enth
usiasts.

There is a range of organizations a
nd associations to cater for the in
terests of S-scale model railroader
s. A peak body, the National Associ
ation of S-Gaugers, which is also a
ssociated with the National Model R
ailroad Association, has a very act
ive membership. Their website which
 provides information on activities
, events, suppliers, and archived r
eference material, also has links t
o S-Gauge clubs in 29 US states as
well as Canada and the UK. There ar
e even two Yahoo Groups - S-Trains
and S-Scale.

S-Scale model trains, and all the a
ppropriately scaled accessories, ar
e now produced by a number of manuf
acturers and cater for several diff
erent segments within that scale -
mainly the American Flyer, the stan
dard S-gauge and Proto:64 being the
 major ones.

After a long and checkered history
S-scale model trains are certainly
back in vogue again.
To quote Craig O'Connell from his "
S" Scale Model Railroading Homepage
 website:

"S scale is one of the fastest grow
ing scales within model railroading
 today and is growing in leaps and
bounds. Why? Because you need only
10% more space than HO to operate,
our products are proliferating in t
he market place and S scale product
s run reliably, track better and ar
e easily modeled to prototypical ac
curacy."