Frank.....there is a lot of history and information about "S" scale and "S" scale products/manufacturers/layouts/modelers etc. on the S SIG Website if you haven't seen it. Here is a link to the history of Pacific Rail Shops on the SIG if I'm allowed to post this here.
http://sscale.org/426/volume-1-no-2-the-prs-story/
The "S" SIG site has an incredible amount of information about "S" scale and is a must read for anyone thinking about taking the plunge into "S" scale. I think you would enjoy "S" as it allows just enough more modeling in a given space over "O" that it makes a difference. You can pretty much find whatever you want if you look (or ask) and with MTH and Lionel jumping in it will only get better.
Butch