I agree with Brooks, in that AF isn't baggage, (but not something we
want to push as being the latest and greatest either). I have a series
of AF engines on display that get some attention from the older
generations.
Also I do find that many HO guys also have similar shelves stashed
with paper-sided reefers, Varney docksides and Mantua this and that. As
a matter of fact, I spent much of Labor Day at a good friends where
three of us made up 30 crossbucks for our club. During a cooling down
period we dug out a collection of HO items that had been stored since
the early 50's--what a hoot! Metal sides, paper sides, crumbing metal
trucks, roller-coaster running boards...
Yes the early HO manufacturers had to stick/blend together
(standards-wise) to some degree because they were smaller than Lionel
and AF. The biggest proof might be that most 'trainsets' used Atlas
track additionally AF bought Varney F units for their sets.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
On 9/2/12 11:06 AM, bcgsteam wrote:
Bill,
I think using the term "baggage" when referring to our heritage misses
my point. There is a whole community of us for whom those trains ARE
the hobby. Admittedly, they have their own Yahoo chat site. Heck, I
keep some AF on display to show modelers and non-modelers who are
interested 'where S came from'...and where my interest in model
railroading started. There is a whole community of car buffs who
collect old(er) vehicles and the guys who like new ones don't think of
the old cars as baggage. They might not want to own them, drive them,
or work on them but for the most part they appreciate them. It it
weren't for the 'old' trains/cars, we wouldn't have 'new' trains/cars.
As I suggested, in the case of S, amazingly the 'old' trains are still
in production, even after all these years, and they have a strong
following.
Brooks
>
> In terms of comparing S to O as a whole I think S is ever so
slightly better
> off because we don't have the 3 rail legacy to contend with, but we both
> have lots of old school toy train "baggage" very much in common. In
my mind
> HO got the jump over all because there were some early investors
that made
> INEXPENSIVE easier to assemble plastic kits. T
>
>
>
> Thank You,
> Bill Lane
>
.
