Richard,
I do have 2 S Helper Steam engines,, one SHS switcher and one Lionel AF Diesel
that was DCC’d and one AF Hudson that was DCC’d.
I think the attraction to AF engines is due to what we had a child, and what ,
at least, me, remember very well. Yes while crude in comparison to the SHS
detail, they are interesting relics. I converted the diesel since S Helper did
not have the road name I wanted for it.
I am actually glad I waited 15 years to do this layout as I was going to use
old AF type track, but while in waiting, Classic Trains came out with their
track.
I started this layout without much knowledge on scale things, as I did not
realize Classic Trains track is not scale, but for me it works.
Mike
From: Richard Karnes
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 2:18 AM
To: S-Scale
Subject: {S-Scale List} I get it...
All --
I have to admit that I am dumbfounded by what I’ve learned from the chat about
Mike Marmer’s layout. But before you think I am going to rant about Mike’s
track and wheels, I am not. What astounds me is that I never seriously thought
about the impact of people’s love of AF’s steam locomotives.
At first I wondered what’s so special about them. By today’s standards, they’re
kind of crude. All of them have been done in brass except the Atlantic. Anyone
who wanted one could have had one. But hey, not every one of us was in S scale
before these were all gone, and they were pricey besides. So I’m thinking to
myself: What else can guys do to get the steam locos they want? The answer,
regrettably, is not much.
We in S scale are really weak regarding RTR steam locos at reasonable prices.
We have the SHS 2-8-0, which is fairly generic. We also have AM’s USRA-like
Pacific. Other than these, we have some steamers very specific to particular
roads: ATSF 4-8-4, NYC streamlined Hudson, PRR streamlined Pacific.
And then there’s the Lionel/AF USRA Mikado, which I’ve seen, a really excellent
model. And the Lionel/AF USRA Pacific, which I haven’t seen but is probably as
good as the Mike. But there are no scale versions of these.
So I have to conclude that we’re forcing some serious S steam lovers to go
hirail simply because there are no equivalent scale locos. We don’t even have
kits for the equivalent locos anymore. So if you want Reading Atlantics, NYC
Hudsons, PRR K5s, UP FEFs, USRA Mikes and Pacifics, and/or USRA 0-8-0s, AF is
where it’s at. Given that, the best one can do is code 125 or 148 track and
either SHS, AM, or Tom’s turnouts. No other brands will work with hirail
wheelsets.
The diesels are another story. AM’s Geep, Alco PA, and Baldwin switcher are so
much better executed than the AF versions. And of course there are the many AM
and SHS diesels never done by AF. If you prefer diesels, there’s no reason to
go hirail. But steam? I get it.
Dick Karnes
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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