Well, you guys finally got me to put in my 2 cents worth. Because I'm older than dirt I remember the Lionel Model Builder books of WW 2 vintage. I believe the term started out as HIGH Rail. It literally meant you were running trains that were "scale" except for tinplate wheels, trucks and couplers. Therefore your rail was taller (higher). No other meaning was "expressed or implied" at that time. We all knew that high railers were using the good running tinplate mechanisms in O gauge. Scale model cars were usually in kits primarily of wood w/o running gear. HO was considered "scale" and included lead cast trucks with shiny brass wheels. HO couplers were the Mantua sheet metal affairs. There was essentially no S scale yet. The definitions I'm hearing now go way beyond the level of definition that ever was intended by the original terms. The arguments over scale vs. operating accessories have no answers. I think everyone should let their dollars speak for them. The market will tell us what people wants by what sells. The old timers running high rail in the late thirties and forties would laugh at this discussion today.
Chuck Smith, http://www.trainweb.org/chucksmith On matters of style swim with the current. On matters of substance stand like a rock. Thos. Jefferson (may be paraphrased) ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward Loizeaux To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; 'Roy Inman' Cc: 'List, S scale' Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 5:36 PM Subject: RE: {S-Scale List} Re: Flyer, Hi-rail or scale? Bob...... Right or wrong, the desire to own and operate trains made only by the ACGilbertCo is alive and well in 2006 -- although by fewer folks than in 1956. I do agree that the plywood was probably from Weyerhaeuser, the paint from Sears Roebuck, the glue from Titebond, the wire from Anaconda Copper, the sheet rock screws from China, some structures from P-ville, etc., etc. In spite of all that, everything on the tracks and the tracks themselves and the operating accessories and transformers were made by ACG. That's what these guys want and that is what they have. If ACG made it, they have it. In their minds, they have an AF layout. Admittedly, a strict AF-only interest is a small percentage of the S gauge universe, but it still does exist even today. It is not something that disappeared back in the '50s. It makes no difference to them what we think they should call their layout. That concept is simply not within their universe. But is this terminology discussion really holding back the scale aspect of S? That's a tough one to prove -- I think. Cheers......Ed L. -----Original Message----- From: Bob Werre [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Friends, all this discussion brings up my point exactly. It is again: if your operating AF, Flyonel, SHS with big flanges you are a hi-railer! If you decide that your only going to own AF from 1952 fine--but your still operating on hi-rail track with big flanges! Now if your layout consists of three engines one AF, one SHS and one from AM and your rolling stock is of similar vein running on hand laid code 172 track, Kadee couplers, beautiful scenery and sound equipped DCC --you still are a hi-railer (but with a nicer layout). I doubt if the hard core guys are really operating a total AF layout--my guess is that there is some Plasticville and maybe some LifeLike trees on that layout--just like the display people at the Gilbert factory who built those hi-rail layouts used in stores to sell AF trains. I think it's important to get rid of 50 years of confusion that is holding back our scale! Bob Werre [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
