Hi All,
This is about the challenge of switching to S scale. Actually not quite true in
my case as I have been modeling in Sn2 Free-mo since 2007. The challenge for me
is trying to model standard gauge in S scale. I've been dragging around a lot
of N scale equipment for almost 10 years and was going to dig it out for a
permanent layout. Nagging in the back of my head was the thought that the
larger S scale equipment would be more to my current tastes. With that thought
in mind I am giving S standard gauge a serious chance but getting started is
more of a challenge than I expected.
To start with I have a bundle of code 100 Tomalco flex track but I also want to
be able to hand lay track like I have done for the past 50 years in every scale
that I have modeled. I tried finding a 3-point track gauge but it seems that
they haven't been made for over 10 years in S scale. Tomalco makes a 2-point
track gauge and I have a couple on order. I don't have the 2-point gauges yet
so I can't really compare them to 3-point gauges but it just seems odd to me
that 3-point gauges aren't available. I have 3-point gauges in HO, HOn3 (Sn2)
and N.
Next is the challenge of finding equipment. Since I live in Maine there are no
local S scale hobby shops. Ordering S products online turned out to be more of
a challenge than I expected. Seems there must be a special language for
understanding how to buy S equipment online. Looking for a locomotive I cam
across this description on one website:
CODE DESCRIPTION PRICE $369.99
LNL648142 S AF U33C, EL
Let's see it is S and is a GE U33C lettered for the Eire Lackawanna. A Google
search shows me a Lionel #48142 loco with EL lettering. Well the AF obviously
stands for American Flyer which means wheels aren't scale. Not what I was
looking for but just an example of a site that is truly not user friendly.
My plan was to buy some NYC locos and cars. I grew up across the street from
the NYC so I thought it would be a logical choice and easy to find. So far I've
come up with one used NYC S-12. I want to have some steam so I checked out the
River Raisin site which has good pictures and descriptions for their steam and
while they list a NYC 0-6-0 it is hi rail. They have 6 other 0-6-0s listed that
are all scale. Must be a conspiracy. I called one shop and while he had many
NYC cars and locos listed he was sold out of just about all of them. Maybe the
NYC is not going to be an easy prototype to model after all.
Well I have managed to order the one used loco and a few cars so I have
something to run when I get some track down. My plan is to put together a
couple of modules as a switching layout to get started. I have leftover module
materials from my Sn2 layout and it will give me some fliexibility and
portability. I expect it will take another couple of weeks just to get most of
what I ordered.
In the meantime I converted a friend's American Models GP9 to DCC. After
working on the tiny Sn2 locos the ability to drop a TCS T1 decoder in that loco
was a snap and it cost less than $25. As a DC loco it would slow to about 7
scale mph but with DCC it would crawl about 1.5 sacle mph. Well at least not
everything in S is a challenge.
If anyone knows where the NYC equipment is hiding please let me know.
Frank Knight
Sn2 Master
S Rookie
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