S scale

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S scale
Scale3⁄16 inch to 1 foot
standard gauge

S scale (or S gauge) is a

model railroad scale modeled at 1:64 scale, S scale track gauge (space between the rails) is 0.883–0.905 in (22.4–23.0 mm).[1][2][3] S gauge trains are manufactured in both DC and AC powered varieties. S gauge is not to be confused with toy train standard gauge
, a large-scale standard for toy trains in the early part of the 20th century.

History

S scale is one of the oldest model railroading scales. The earliest known 1:64 scale train was constructed from card stock in 1896.[4] The first working models appeared in England in the early 20th century.[4] Modeling in S scale increased in the 1930s and 1940s when CD Models marketed 3⁄16-inch model trains.

American Flyer was a manufacturer of standard gauge and O gauge "tinplate" trains, based in Chicago, Illinois. It never produced S scale trains as an independent company. Chicago Flyer was purchased by A.C. Gilbert Co. in the late 1930s. Gilbert began manufacturing S scale trains around 1939 that ran on three rail "O" gauge track. This was known as 3⁄16-inch O gauge. Gilbert stopped producing trains during WWII. When the war ended, Gilbert began producing true S scale S gauge trains in 1946 under the American Flyer mark.

The term "S scale" was adopted by the National Model Railroading Association (

NMRA) in 1943 to represent that scale that was half of 1 gauge
which was built to 1:32 scale. A.C. Gilbert's improvements in 1:64 modeling and promotions of S gauge largely shaped the world of 1:64 modeling today.

As early as 1948, an industrially produced narrow-gauge railway on tracks with a model gauge of 16.5 mm was available from the French company Allard. The vehicles in the scale of 1:60 to be assigned to today's Sm gauge ran with direct current on commercially available H0 gauge centre conductor tracks from the same manufacturer or from competitors, which also has a model gauge of 16.5 mm and centre conductor. The traction units, a steam locomotive and a rail bus (autorail), were also available with a clockwork drive.[5]

S gauge entered what many consider its heyday in the 1950s (although there is more available in S scale today than was available during this period). However, during that period, Lionel outsold American Flyer nearly two-to-one. American Flyer's parent company went out of business and the brand was sold to a holding company that also owned Lionel in 1967.

Lionel re-introduced S gauge trains and accessories under the American Flyer name in 1979. Another S manufacturer, American Models, entered the marketplace in 1981 and is now also one of the major S suppliers. S-Helper Service, another major S gauge manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, track and other products, began operations in 1989 and delivered their first S products in 1990. In 2013, S-Helper Service was sold to MTH Electric Trains. And while the S scale market has seen a number of brass model manufacturers, today the major brass model supplier in S scale and S gauge is River Raisin Models. Today's S gauge and S scale modelers have a greater selection and higher quality products, from a wide range of manufacturers, than at any time in the past. In addition to the basics of locomotives, rolling stock, and track, various manufacturers now offer S scale structures, detail parts, figures, other scenic items, bridges, and more.

Terminology

The terms "scale" and "gauge" are often confused. Strictly speaking, scale is the ratio of the size of a model to that of its prototype and gauge is the distance between the track railheads. In the case of S scale, the proportion is 1:64 or 3⁄16 inch modeling 1 foot. Standard S gauge track has a spacing of 0.883–0.905 in (22.4–23.0 mm). Three-foot gauge in S scale (Sn3 gauge) is 0.563–0.585 in (14.3–14.9 mm).[6]

Narrow gauge

Associations

The S scale SIG is an NMRA-affiliated special interest group dedicated to promoting and providing information on scale model railroading at 1:64. The National Association of S Gaugers serves as an organization to promote all forms of S gauge model railroading. The S Scale Model Railway Society also works to promote the scale in the UK.

Notable layouts

The largest S scale layout in the United States is the Cincinnati in Motion exhibit at the

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
. A large Sn3.5 or Sn42 scale layout of Swan View belongs to the Australian Model Railway Association in Bayswater, Western Australia

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to S scale.

References

  1. ^ "What is S scale?". National Association of S Gaugers. 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  2. ^ "S-1.2 General Standard Scales" (PDF). NMRA. July 2009. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  3. ^ "S-3.2 Trackwork Standard Scales" (PDF). NMRA. February 2010. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  4. ^ a b S Scale MRS Standards: History
  5. ^ François Robein: 50 ans de trains miniatures H0 en France 1950 - 2000. LR Presse, chapter 4: Les productions françaises Antal, VB, PMP, Allard, TAB et les autres, page 80 ff.
  6. ^ "S-3.2 Standard Scale Trackwork". National Model Railroad Association. 2014-06-09. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  7. ^ "Normen Europäischer Modellbahnen Maßstäbe, Nenngrößen, Spurweiten" (PDF) (in German). NEM. 2011. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
  8. ^ Sn2 Trains, Standards, S-scale Two-foot gauge modeling railroading. Retrieved 22. November 2021
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