Hello and welcome to another showcase of the ‘Quick Hits’ here at Trainz.com where I present my weekly gems that roll into our inventory every week! Last week’s edition was a special feature for Rail King products, and this week I’ve gone down the same route. Over the last couple of weeks, our shelves have been stuffed with modern S Gauge products, and I just couldn’t resist showing off a few of them. The list of potential candidates was incredibly long, with plenty of awesome S Gauge locomotives fighting for their place on the showcase. So without further ado, it’s time to fire up those transformers for a very special S Gauge line up!
Union Pacific’s Legendary Challenger Takes Center Stage
American Flyer 6-48092 S Scale Great Northern 4-6-6-4 Challenger
So without wasting any time, I’m just going to kick things off with a bang and roll out one of the big boys. Ok, not THE ‘Big ‘Boy – but this is the locomotive that inspired the iconic goliath. You’ve probably already guessed it, but I’m referring to Union Pacific’s legendary 4-6-6-4 Challenger! One of the top S Gauge locomotives on our shelves, American Flyer’s S Gauge replica of this beast is a can’t miss, and more than deserving of a spot in my weekly feature.
Built by Alco in 1936, the Challenger enjoyed a brief but dominant run in the western United States during the mid-nineteenth century, running on Union Pacific railways. Weighing in at just over a massive one million pounds, the Challenger was the first of Union Pacific’s obsession with truly massive articulated locomotives. Naturally, ALCO was more than happy to indulge that obsession – manufacturing and delivering two classes (Light Class: SA-1, SA-2, and Heavy Class: 4664-3, 4664-4, 4664-5) of Challenger locomotives during an eight-year stretch. Great Northern couldn’t resist the urge themselves, and would submit their own order for the Challenger.
By 1941, the Challenger had cemented its place on Union Pacific’s and Great Northern's rosters, and plans for an even bigger locomotive (the Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy) would eventually come to fruition – with the Challenger providing the foundation for the project. It wouldn’t be long before Union Pacific would have both King Kong and Godzilla on their roster!
The S-Gauge replica you’re seeing above was originally released in Lionel’s catalog in 2011 and took a long time to make its way onto our shelves. I’m not surprised, to be honest, being able to run this thing first hand – I can totally understand why collectors hold on to these Challenger models. Each one of American Flyer’s modern S Gauge Challengers are beautifully detailed, and leave very little of the shell and chassis untouched. I’m not kidding, you can see some kind of special attention given to this locomotive, no matter what part of the body you look at.
Packing in some great operating features with LEGACY Control and the TrainMaster Command Control mode, you're easily looking at one of the top model engines produced during the 2010s. There’s also a conventional mode built in if you're wanting to use your standard transformer. LEGACY Railsounds tops off the list of great features, ensuring a fully immersive experience. I’ve got a bunch more S Gauge locomotives looking for a layout of their own on our website!
- Manufacturer: American Flyer
- Model Number: 6-48092
- Road Name: Great Northern (GN)
- Scale/Era: S Modern
Must-Have S Gauge Passenger Set
American Flyer 6-48991 S New York Central Heavyweight Passenger Car (Set of 2)
If you’re going to run some S Gauge locomotives, then chances are you’re probably going to want and need some S Gauge rolling stock. The variety of freight and passenger cars that arrived is wide-ranging, and picking just one item was not an easy task. So what do you do in such a tough situation? You stick with tradition, and that’s what you get with this American Flyer New York Central Passenger set (model # 6-48991) , in 1:64 scale of course.
This set came in two versions – one sporting the New York Central road name you see pictured above, and the other with the Pennsylvania Railroad road name. These 15-inch passenger cars are incredibly aesthetically pleasing, with their vintage design and interior illumination that bring a bit of fun to these heavyweight passenger cars. Ever wonder why they call them ‘heavyweight’? It all comes down to the materials used to make rolling stock – early passenger and freight cars mainly used steel and wood to build their car, the material was heavy, hence the name ‘heavyweight’. Lighter materials would be used for future versions of rolling stock – officially ditching the heavyweight moniker.
- Manufacturer: American Flyer
- Model Number: 6-48991
- Road Name: New York Central (NYC)
- Scale/Era: S Modern
A Freight Set Worth Loading Up
American Flyer 6-48613 S Bessemer & Lake Erie 3-Bay Hopper Set
Well we got to see some passenger cars, so it’s only right I throw some S Gauge freight cars into the mix. I’ve found something special for you in the form of this S Gauge American Flyer Bessemer & Lake Erie 3-Bay Hopper set! At first glance, this may just look like your run-of-the-mill coal hopper set, but take a look at that road name.
The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad company has been around since 1897, and despite not having the celebrity status of a Union Pacific or Santa Fe within the community, the Bessemer & Lake Erie company has proven to be a stalwart in the American Northeast, still operating today! The company was founded by Andrew Carnegie – I can only imagine he’d be especially proud of the railroad’s longevity.
This three-bay hopper set is a great way to get plenty of bang for your buck, and gets you well on the way to getting your S Gauge layouts buzzing! Plus, getting the rolling stock out of the way frees up your mind to get more creative with your layouts now that you’re not dealing with the pesky search for freight cars.
- Manufacturer: American Flyer
- Model Number: 6-48613
- Years Manufactured: 1998 - 1998
- Road Name: Bessemer & Lake Erie (BLE)
- Scale/Era: S Modern
Start Your S Gauge Journey Right
American Flyer 2217030 PRR Docksider S Gauge FlyerChief Steam Starter Train Set
Ok, so let’s say you’re loving the S Gauge showcase so much, and just have to dive into some S Gauge action yourself. This is where I’d recommend a set so you can hit the ground rolling, and we’ve definitely got plenty of S Gauge Sets to choose from! Just like the products that preceded this one, the selection was not an easy one with all of the great options available! Luckily, I managed to find a set that we’d all enjoy – the American Flyer Pennsylvania Railroad Docksider Flychief Steam Starter train set!
This S Gauge set comes with everything you need to start your S Gauge experience with a beautiful diesel switcher, rolling stock, track, transformer, and a FlyChief remote to guarantee you’re always in control of your fleet! It’s a great starter set for anybody looking to dip their toes into the world of modern S Gauge, and comes at a price that won’t break the bank while you tackle something new!
- Manufacturer: American Flyer
- Model Number: 2217030
- Road Name: Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
- Scale/Era: S Modern
A Classic S Gauge Station Comes Alive
American Flyer 6-49812 S Scale #755 Assembled Talking Station
It’s time for some S Gauge accessories, and I’ve got a classic coming back in a modern version! Those who have been around model trains for a while now have definitely seen past versions of the famous Mystic Station. Well, back in 2003, American Flyer decided it was time for a comeback, and didn’t just release just any plain reproduction of the famous train station. No, this version of the Mystic Statin (model # 6-49812) puts you in total control with a built in PA system! American Flyer did a great job of capturing the vintage look everybody loved with the Mystic Station, but decided it was time for a new Station Master, you!
I know some of you can’t resist using the PA system, don’t worry I was one of them. I actually had way more fun than I should’ve with this Mystic Station, but I won’t divulge too much about those shenanigans. In the meantime,
- Manufacturer: American Flyer
- Model Number: 6-49812
- Years Manufactured: 2003 - 2003
- Scale/Era: S Modern
You’re Going to Need Some Track…
Track is a necessity for model trains, unless, of course, you only plan to look at them. Most of us love operating, so we’ll need some S Gauge track for our layouts. I have tons in our inventory from S Gauge straight track, S Gauge curved track, S Gauge turnouts, S Gauge bumpers, S Gauge crossovers, and tons more! Check out the inventory, there’s so much variety, it’d be hard for me to just list it all out here, though I’ve provided some links to make things easier for you.
Vintage S Gauge on a Budget
American Flyer 21158 Vintage S 0-6-0 Blue Dockside Steam Switcher
Well, it’s time for our budget pick, and I’ve decided to break from the modern S Gauge flow of things, and instead go back in time. While I was conducting my search for the best S gauge product for under a hundred bucks, I stumbled upon this Postwar gem – things just felt right and I went with it. What do you know? A Dockside Steam Switcher is once again featured in the showcase.
Originally released in 1960, this switching locomotive from American Flyer came in the now much harder-to-find blue-shell version. I’m surprised it has held up as well as it has for more than half a century. Seriously, this thing is sixty-three years old and looks incredible! The road number and lettering on the shell are clear and legible, and the original paint remains completely untouched – it’s tough to find these switchers un-altered.
I like being able to help people add really cool trains to their collection at a great price, and that’s just what you’re getting with this Postwar gem. If you’re strictly hunting modern S gauge, then I’ve got plenty of great options on our website for under a hundred dollars!
- Manufacturer: American Flyer
- Model Number: 21158
- Years Manufactured: 1960 - 1960
- Scale/Era: S Postwar