Track Choices

I too have always wondered why S-scale was not more popular? It seems like the best of HO and O all in one scale. Big enough to handle, small enough to still have room for a fair sized layout. I don't get it either?

When re-entering the hobby a few years ago I considered S-scale, but the selection was so limited, and it was so much improved in O that I was overwhelmed with the O selections, and I still am. O is all I have ever had anyway, so that's it for me, but S-scale does seem like a great size.

You are not wasting your breath, i started with American Flyer as a kid and I am still using tubular track on a what I would call a good size layout. 

Cheers from Michigan

Original American Flyer was/is a 21" inch radius. The "pikemaster" style of American Flyer was 19" (too small). There is a company called American models, that makes 21", 24" and 27" radius. K-line made a Wide radius S scale track for a time and it was 27" i believe. Any thing larger than that and you can use Gar Graves flex track. The main problem is the switches/turnouts. Most S gaugers that I know, use vintage American Flyer 720 switches witch are 21" radius only. Hope this helps.

Gargraves also makes 42",54",63",72" diameter rigid curves with wood ties according to their website. Switches available also. American Models also makes switches, flex track and various crosstracks. Lionel offers their Fastrack brand which is expanding to include switches and other specialty tracks. MTH is reproducing the old S Helper Service track line which also include switches. There is also another manufacturer which produces a track and turnout line which I cannot remember the name of. Hi rail S gauge track is available and the choice depends on whether the user prefers tubular or solid rail, attached raodbed or track that requires ballast.

Good Day,

Has anyone seen or ordered the new S-Gauge # 4 Ross Switch?

Regards,

Frank

Frank,

These were announced over a year ago.  Back in September of 2013 I emailed them to see when they would be available and their response was that the switches were put on hold.  I don't know if there has been any change since then.  I looked on the website today and there seems to be no pricing or ordering info for them so I'm not hopeful.

The email address I sent to was tom@rossswitches.com. 

Mike A.

Good Day Spence, 

Thanks for the information about Tom. I sent an email to Steve this morning.

Regards, 

Frank

Frank,

I was able to find your posted info about Ross S Gauge switches in their “News Worthy Items”, however it is dated 10/19/04 – ten years old:

10/19/04

NEW!!! Ross has released a new #4 S-gauge switch. For use with scale or tinplate wheels we are also working on an 038 and 4-way in the s-gauge line.

Call and order one today! Prices are $29.95 Manual....$49.95 with Dz1000 motor and push button controller....and $59.95 with DZ1000 push button controller and Dz1008 relay to control power to the center swivel.

Pictures will be up soon

Unless you know otherwise, I would think this is a bit out of date.

For track and turnouts I would think waiting for the MTH flex would be the best approach.  If it is anything like the former SHS flex, it will be very easy to work with and it will be nickel-silver rail – a big plus.

Depending on what you want for turnouts, they are not very hard to make.  Anybody that can do even modest modeling should be able to breeze through making a turnout.  There is a ton of info out there on how to do it.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

Good Day Tom, 

Thank you for the information. 

Regards, 

Frank

Spence, Thanks for the update.

Frank, Sorry, I wasn't clear about the pricing.  I was referring to their price list where there is an extensive selection of "O" stuff and even some Standard Gauge, but no "S" at all unless I somehow missed it.

That listing you posted from their website was the there in September of 2013.  That's why I sent the email to them and they said it was on hold.  At this point, until I see where I can actually order one, I'm not going to get too excited.

Please report back what you find out.  It would be interesting to see one of these if they actually become available.

Tom, I asked this before.  Are you still building turnouts for people?

Thanks,

Mike A.

Hi Mike,

No, I am not.  It got to be too much for me.  I'm not sure why on one has stepped in though, because I can tell you there is a market for them... way more than can be built by hand.  With the 'big two' making mostly Flyer and Hi-rail, that market is only going to grow.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

Tom,

Thanks for letting me know.

Frank,

FYI, I also sent Steve at Ross Switches an email and he emailed me back today to say that the S Gauge turnout is not available.  I called him and he said that the biggest holdup was that they have not found a suitably sized switch machine.  He also said that if they ever do start making them, they will be high rail and able to be used with Gargraves, but not the SHS/MTH track or AF Lionel FasTrack.

Thanks, Mike A.

Paul, my answer to your question would be that years ago the cars and engines may have been smaller than O-gauge, but no track diameter goes as low as 027 or even 031.  So you really couldn't save any space by setting up S.  And now, even though so many have really large layouts and could make a huge S-gauge layout, the choices of equipment aren't nearly as extensive as O.

I agree with you, however, in that it is a really appealing size.  I have a loop of American Flyer running on GarGraves track around the outside of my otherwise O-gauge layout.