This post is long. It discusses in specific terms issues we will all face if we live long enough. If you have no interest, or I am tedious to you, then move along. You have been warned.
S Scale In View Of The Inevitable:
As some of you may recall, I was pursuing an urban switching layout in S scale for a few years. (2006-2010 or so?) The layout was to be scale, not Hi-rail.
Also, as you S scale proponents well know, S scale truly is a wonderful size.
Unfortunately, my dissatisfaction with S scale came about because of product variety and other elements that detracted to the point I jumped ship and went back to HO.
With the advent of having an out building constructed in 2016, that opened up new horizons for me in regards to layout options. I debated whether to stay with my HO Kansas City Lines urban industrial theme, but merely expanding upon it, or jumping ship to modeling an HO freelanced Colorado theme via 19th century steam.
As I debated my options, my railroad career drew a close and I retired in April of 2018. Now it was time to "poop or get off the pot". After a bit more debate, I crap canned the 19th century idea and returned to my roots: Diesel railroading in the Ozarks. I revived my "Kansas City & Gulf" theme in HO and began to plan in the direction.
By July of 2019 I had a 15' x 19' layout up and 100% operational. Since then I've been enjoying my KC&G "Ozark Sub" layout and modeling projects, including hosting friends for op sessions/etc.
HOWEVER, there's that inevitable part...
I am aging. In about three weeks I'll be 73.
I notice my hands aren't as easily accomplishing working with .012" drills, 0000 paint brushes, etc, etc, as they did just a few short years ago.
Thus, I intend to continue enjoying my HO as long as I can, but I am aware that I am not getting younger.
THEREFORE...
Let's say I live to a ripe old age. As I do, there is the very real possibility that eventually my hands will not be steady enough to do the exacting work that's required for "fine art type" modeling, thus it becomes too challenging to work with smaller-by-the-year HO sized trains. (Such as the simple act of re-railing them after you knock some over thru less dexterity.)
That so... What then?
Well, seems that the most logical path for me to undertake sellubg off the HO equipment, dismantle the Ozark Sub (the layout in the out building), then sell the portable building that housed it. Gone. (This way, I'VE been the one to take on the challenge instead of leaving it for my wife to deal with.)
At that point, it will be time to live out my remaining time in this life doing something else.
And "something else" is where I'm headed with this drivelogue.
The other night, as I pondered the future (I am a compulsive "life planner" type personality) it hit me that I still have this around-the-wall-and-through-the-closet bench work still in place. It's already built. It already has Homasote in place, and with the re-installation of the drop bridge (which would only require less than a dozen dry wall screws), it can even have continuous run capability.
So, my life plan is...
When HO becomes too frustrating, instead of letting it languish, I will liquidate it, and move on.
How so?
Think: Bigger, more robust, and much simpler trains. Simpler to work on (maintain), simpler to re-rail, more robust features to survive inadvertently being knocked over, etc.
Sure, they won't be exacting little scale beauties as can be found in HO or high fidelity S scale modeling, and therefore, no, they won't have all the finer details that I currently add, etc.
BUT... they WILL be miniature trains moving about and working the magic that only moving miniature trains can work.
Now, what type of "bigger and more robust" trains would go onto the existing bench work? Well, there's 3 rail... OR...
There's S Hi-rail.
With S Hi-rail, I would get the ability to run nice looking 2 rail trains on very acceptable looking track. They would be trains that are big enough to handle easier, AND some of the vintage (and newer) American Flyer S stuff is quite nice in a simplistic way.
What opened my eyes to S Hi-Rail as viable "Geezer Sized" trains for me are some photos that have appeared here at this OGR S scale forum. Take this photo for example. (My apologies, I can't recall who originally posted it here):
That's a pure AF switcher sitting on code .138" rail among sincere scenery. Not bad at all. Surprisingly good, in fact. Why, if I was energetic enough, re-lettered appropriately, it would super nice indeed. OR, just leave it lettered as is and run it in a generic sense.
Plus, there are other AF examples that have very pleasing lines, such as these models (I think these were posted by OGR member "c.sam"?)
The above photos, along with further investigation and help from some of you S scalers here, indicates to me that there ARE viable options so I can continue to enjoy larger model trains until I'm simply unable to.
SO, I now have a plan: This computer room bench work isn't going anywhere.
Instead, I now view this existing bench work as more of a safety net for me now.
This computer room bench work can very likely be the place that I can fall back to, and without requiring anything NEAR the exacting labor and fine motor skills and eyesight that scale modeling in HO requires... I can still enjoy the immense pleasure to found in creating something visually impressionistic, yet interesting, within the hobby of model railroading.
After all, this small room would again lend itself well to urban railroading using a mixture of American Flyer, American Models, and possibly some SHS engines and equipment running upon code 138 or 148 rail. As for couplers, I could either stay with the oversized AF knuckles, or if my dexterity and eyesight allow, switch them over to Kadee 802's.
With the above approach, I could easily model a late 1940s/early 1950s Kansas City area look using BIGGER and more ROBUST trains, and by doing so, I can continue to enjoy the simple pleasure of watching miniature trains move about in my little miniature world.
After all, when you really deduce it down to the essentials, isn't that the essence of model railroading?
Yes, there will come a time that exacting modeling is going to be difficult. I can plainly see that now. How many years from now that will be... who knows?
At that point, I will seriously consider S Hi Rail here in this computer room upon the existing bench work already in place and waiting.
Further, if I'm going to do Hi Rail, I would go with either 138 or 148 and be done with it. (As opposed to tinplate track.) Once the .138 or 148 rail is painted and weathered it looks great. To me 138 or 148 track would be essential for the visual impact I would want.
Plus, I truly think some of the AF/Gilbert steam engines are very visually appealing. That Hudson in the above pic looks great. For diesels, I would prefer to stay with AM offerings, but the AF/Gilbert PA's are attractive, too.
IF this happens, it will be at the point in my life that my enjoyment of model trains will not be about scale fidelity and exacting detail, it will be about impressionistic modeling and the fun of playing with trains.
Frankly, the idea of transitioning to S Hi Rail gives me something to look forward to about aging instead of dreading what's ahead.
Andre
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