[Dennis David]

A train under the Christmas Tree is a long held tradition in the United States as are holiday display layouts. One such layout is The Station, a 700-square-foot multiscale model train display that will again be at the Citigroup Center in New York City for the holiday season. This animated layout, featuring 32 train and trolley lines, will be open to the public November 25 through December 30 in the Center's atrium, 153 E. 53rd St. at Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y.

Designed by Broadway set designer Clarke Dunham (Dunham Studios), The Station is set in the 1940s-50s in New York state. Designed as a feast for the senses rather than a prototypical representation of a real railroad the massive layout also features four seasons of rural and urban scenery; O, S, and HO scale trains; and 50s-style neon signs.

The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. It will be closed Christmas Day. Admission is free.

 

[Dennis David]

I would never tell you how wrong you are.

Illustration courtesy of Kalmnach Publishing

S scale (sometimes called S gauge) is modeling in 3/16th to the foot or a proportion of 1:64 to the real full size model.

The earliest recorded 1/64th models were in England before the turn of the century, a larger scale common at the time known as #1 (1/32nd) became too large for some modellers, so they decided to make locomotives and rolling stock 1/2 this model size. They called it H-1 which is one half of #1 scale trains. The designation "S" was not in use until "CD Models" marketed S scale train sets in the 1930s, naming it "American Flyer Trains." However, they ran on 3 rail track similar to Lionel trains. A.C. Gilbert bought and expanded the line to include die cast steam locomotives and tin sided rolling stock, also running on 3 rail track. Following World War II, the AC Gilbert Co. made and mass marketed American Flyer S scale trains with 2 rail S gauge track.

These trains (High Rail most often 3 rail) are still popular amongst a dedicated group of collectors. In addition there is a group of scratch builders who run exact scale S Scale trains, many of which are made of brass. These people scratch build pretty much everything and have a aura as the rivet counters of all rivet counters. Most RTRs do not meet their standards without additional modifications and detailing.