Scalers vs. AF

Well I am not a "FLYER GUY" and I am not a "Scaler" either.

I'm a HIGHRAILER with no AC Gilbert rolling stock on the layout other than my MP-54.

I have many of the Lionel S, AM and SHS locos and rolling stock. I run on code .125 track. I am exclusively TMCC.

 

Carl

I am a Gilbert flyer collecter and operator (not the collection pieces) along with any Flyonel that catches my eye. (quite a lot) I also collect and run any SHS/AM/PHM that is appealing to me. (quite a lot) I consider myself a hi rail enthusiast, run AM .148 track, run Legacy and traditional operation and strive to make my layout as realistic as possible. Flyonel, AM, SHS in that order, seem to supply most of motive power on the layout. Rolling stock is a mix of all brands (even selected K line S) including some Pacific Rail and other assorted kits that catch my eye.

 

Rich

John,

I am a high rail/ toy train guy. I have AC Gilbert, Flyonel, S Helper, American Models, and even some Des Plaines Hobbies, and oh I forgot American Highrail. I enjoy it all and now am using the Legacy Cab 1L system for power. The scale guys have their way of enjoying this hobby, they attempt to model the prototype as closely as they possibly can, and that is great.  We have our way of enjoying the hobby also, I for one love to run trains, if they are not perfectly made to scale that is OK with me, I would rather they ran well than be made exactly as what they represent.

Ray

I forgot to mention I run AC Gilbert American Flyer track.

Scale, with gusts into Flyer and HiRail.

 

Rusty

I envision my future layout to be a double track "racetrack" to run anything I have. With a rather involved branch line where only scale equipment can operate. Code 100, industrial switching, off an interchange yard from the mainline. The switches to handle both scale and highrail is a big challenge. Got to buy a house and get the move overwith first. 

I have about 30% scale equipment.

John,

I'm a hi rail operator. I was hi rail in o gauge too. I use Lionel fastrack and Legacy cab1L. Hopefully, I will have fastrack switches soon. I'm using AM rolling stock. I like scale sized equipment with hi rail wheels. I just ordered the Legacy CSX es44ac.

 

Mike

Scale.  Hope to start a small Proto64 switching layout soon...

 

I am primarily scale. Both SHS and SHS/MTH flex track with closed frog turnouts to accommodate the Hirail flanges of the new equipment until I have time and money to convert to scale.  I do find, however SHS/MTH and some Lionel will run on code 100 (Tomalco) without hitting the spike heads.  The way I lay track, I really like AM code 126 scale wheel sets.  Run mostly AM and SHS scale locomotives with a smattering of new LAF.  Rolling stock AM, SHS/MTH, PRS, DPH and Lionel (replaced with scale trucks).

 

Roger 

High rail, I am moving away from the traditional flyer.  I have gotten into the legacy locos and have the ZW-L.  I have not decided on a permanent track system. I am currently using fastrack.  If lionel does not follow through on scaleish rolling stock I will just rely on MTH, AM and Des Plains.  I don't foresee leaving high rail wheels and flyer couplers.  

 

Ben. 

Hello Everyone,

 

I run some of all of it: Flyer and Hi-rail primarily with some scale that I used to use to test turnouts.  My trackage is a mix of Am Models code 148 flex and SHS code 138 flex track… Yes, SHS rail is code 138, not any of the other codes you might have heard.  I do try to use wider radii, 36” at a minimum, with easements.

 

For turnouts I use open frog Tom’s Turnouts (surprise, surprise) that allow for the operation of Flyer, Hi-rail and scale all in the same train.

 

I use Kadee #5s couplers on all new equipment and prefer Flyer link over Flyer knuckle.  But there still is a bunch of stuff with Flyer knuckles.  I tend to keep the original coupler that came with the equipment… except for transition cars.

 

Flyer engines are converted to DC or have been converted to a SnS can motors. There is also lots of SHS and AM engines with a couple of Flyonel thrown it plus one Putt 2-6-0 that Jerry P built for me.  Right now I use DC for track power, but most likely will take the DCC plunge sometime in the New Year.

 

Interesting thread,

 

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

I got back into model trains when I built my house with a basement and my wife was pregnant. She gave birth to a daughter, and she and her sister who followed do not care a whit about trains except when they run the Arttista figures in the gondola; put pigs, cows, horses, and deer in the woods (and check to make sure there is NO livestock in the catttle cars!); and make trees to plant in the woods.

 

I run highrail because the priority has always been to run the American Flyer set my mother earned for me for Christmas years ago. (With five kids at the time, she could not afford such an expensive gift for just one of us; so after I went to school, she bundled up two little ones and went out to sell newspaper subscriptions. She won second prize in a contest and traded whatever she won with the third prize winner--for a Santa Fe PA-PB set with freight cars.) That set runs around the track every Christmas in her honor.

 

Everything else has to run on the American Models track and switches, so the wheels are all high-rail; but couplers are Kadee #808 for everything except the original Flyer set. I run DC for American Models engines with extra detailing, SHS engines, and some of the latest Lionel engines. Only the Challenger requires AC, so I invested in the Legacy system for that engine, a Y-3, and two SD70ACe locomotives for the extra features. It would almost be a scale layout except for the track, turnouts, and wheels because all rolling stock and engines get detailing added to them.  

Really interesting stuff!
Matt, if I could see, I'd consider proto scale.  Heck, I'd drive myself more insane trying to go there.
Did you order a SMMW 44 tonner?  I know you were working on one.
I could live with rail slightly larger.
Gotta admit, I drool over the Y3s and Lionel mikados.  Too much $$ to "scalify" them, as Rusty would say.  Too late to go there since all my rail is laid.
And I don't need another divorce.
��

John,

I have one of each phase, 44 and 70 tonner, unbuilt.  Also an AM Baldwin S12, which will be repowered and include NWSL P64 wheelsets...and scratchbuilding a powered GE 25 ton loco in styrene.  Using Fasttracks custom cut P64 turnout assembly fixtures....which are a BIG help!

 

Hope to be back at the hobby bench in earlier 2015.

 

"how many "scalers" do we have here and how many Flyer guys?"

 

   Hi John, Since my childhood trains were HO scale and I never had toy trains I'm an S scaler. Not too interested in counting rivets or prototypically  correct details but like to make my cars look as realistic as possible in a generic sense. If I ever get flyer or hi-rail stuff it's with the objective of making it look more realistic. Toy train collecting or loop running does not interest me but railroad operations in a realistic manner in plausible scene can hold my interest for an hour or so. I guess that makes me more of a model builder than an operator but if I had a finished layout I'd probably enjoy operations more  .....DaveB 

I have some of everything but consider myself a high railer. All new Desplaines  hobbies cars, S-helper, Pacific rail, AM all have kadee couplers. All traditional Flyer has been restored to the couplers they were made with either link or knuckle. I will convert some newer Flyonel to kadee but will leave older units Gilbert compatible. I have numerous transition cars. The layout I am designing will have an area with traditional flyer track but I will probably be using AM track and switches for the rest.

I decided to move from S highrail to S scale back in 1990. Since then highrail has evolved to new and better standards and I probably would have remained with it if the decision was made today. I love everything S, but we do have to make the ultimate decision on what flavor of S we want to model. I would be happy no matter what aspect as long as it was S. I received a 4904T set back in 1952 and have been in S ever since. I also model the East Broad Top in Sn3 so you could say that I've covered all the main bases in my lifetime.

 

Since I love all of S, I enjoy this forum very much because of the diversity, not in spite of it.

 

You can visit my layout at royhoffman.com/pwrr

 

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

 

Roy Hoffman

　

I am a High Rail guy with lots of Gilbert Flyer, but I run Flyonel from 1981 to current.  I also have American Models stuff.  No SHS at all.

I'm a HIGHRAILER running on SHS S-Trax using TMCC/Legacy on a two loop layout with a point to point option.  I'm currently using AM, SHS, and Lionel S. Still run the Gilbert Flyer set my grandfather gave me for Christmas in 1953 and probably the reason I've switched to S.  Not real picky about rivets or minor details as long as the locomotive or rolling stock looks good and operates well.  I've converted all my non Legacy locomotives to TMCC with Railsounds or Dallee sound (if there was limited space).  Had to modify some Lionel S locos and passenger cars so they would sit a little lower, otherwise they are great products and very robust.

"Since then highrail has evolved to new and better standards and I probably would have remained with it if the decision was made today"

 

   Hi Roy, I'm curious about what you don't like about scale modeling that would make you think of returning to hi-rail? .........DaveB