When my husband passed in 2008 and I inherited his half-finished S scale layout, I had no idea what I was getting into. Sixteen years later, I'm still here, still building, and still convinced that S scale at 1:64 hits a sweet spot between the cramped details of HO and the space demands of O gauge.

But I won't sugarcoat this: finding S scale trains in 2025 requires more detective work than walking into your local hobby shop. The market has shifted dramatically this year, and if you're thinking about starting in S or expanding your roster, you need to know where things stand right now.

What Exactly Is S Scale?

Before we get into the weeds, let's establish what we're talking about. S scale is defined by a 1:64 ratio, meaning one inch on your model equals 64 inches on the real thing. The standard track gauge measures 0.883 inches between the rails.

Why does this size matter? I'll put it this way: when I'm scratch-building a Victorian depot window, my old eyes can actually see what I'm doing. Those tiny HO details that younger modelers handle with ease? They became increasingly frustrating as I moved through my fifties. S scale gave me breathing room without eating my entire dining room.

The most common scales in North America run from tiny Z at 1:220 all the way up to G scale for garden railroads. S sits comfortably in the middle, larger than HO but smaller than O. It's also one of the oldest model railroading scales, though it's never achieved HO's market dominance.

The Elephant in the Room: Lionel's Exit

Here's the news that's reshaping everything: Lionel has officially ceased new production of its American Flyer S gauge line. Company representatives confirmed this in January 2025, citing lack of sales. The "Big Book" catalog contains no new American Flyer items for the third consecutive year.

If you're running American Flyer equipment, don't panic. Your trains still work fine. But you need to think about this development strategically. Every piece of Lionel American Flyer rolling stock, every locomotive, every FasTrack component you might need in the future? That's now a finite resource.

My advice: if you're committed to the American Flyer ecosystem, inventory your roster today. Figure out what spare parts you'll need for the next decade and start acquiring them while back-stock exists at retailers. Or start planning a gradual conversion to Kadee couplers and scale wheels.

What's Still Available from Lionel

Lionel S-Gauge sets and locomotives remain available through dealers carrying existing inventory. FasTrack components can still be found at hobby shops and online retailers. An annual Christmas car may still appear, but don't expect new tooling or locomotive releases.

The tooling itself? Effectively mothballed. The company is unlikely to sell it, so we can't expect another manufacturer to pick up where Lionel left off.

American Models: The Anchor of RTR S Scale

With Lionel's withdrawal, American Models emerges as the primary ready-to-run locomotive manufacturer for S scale. This family-run company has been building S gauge trains since the scale was nearly extinct in the mid-1970s.

Ron, the founder, received his first American Flyer set in 1953. He tried HO but found the smaller scale too prone to derailments. His philosophy was simple: "I want to be able to walk out of the room for 15 minutes and come back to find the train still running." That reliability-first approach shaped everything American Models produces.

What's In Stock Right Now

The good news: American Models maintains healthy inventory of core diesel models. Their EMD GP-9 runs about $259.95 in road names like Norfolk & Western. The FM Train Master, SP GP-9, and Santa Fe GP-9 variations round out a solid diesel roster.

For passenger operations, 72' Heavyweight Passenger Cars sell for $79.95 individually or around $392.95 for five-car sets. The 80' passenger cars offer more length and detail, though they require a minimum 27-inch radius curve to operate smoothly.

Locomotives are available in both hi-rail (AC, American Flyer compatible) and scale (DC) versions. Their FP-7 DX models start around $235.95 for A-units.

Coming Down the Pipeline

American Models has announced several new releases worth watching. A Pacific steam locomotive is in development, along with a 4-8-4 Northern. If you want to support the future of S scale RTR production, pre-ordering new releases sends a clear signal that demand exists.

The company also produces rolling stock including 40' boxcars, intermodal spine cars, and various freight car types. Their catalog covers most of what you'd need for a mid-century roster.

ScaleTrains and the S-Helper Legacy

In 2021, ScaleTrains acquired the former S-Helper Service tooling from MTH Electric Trains. This acquisition saved some of the most beloved S scale rolling stock tooling from oblivion.

The S-Helper Service models have a devoted following. When ScaleTrains announced the acquisition, many of us hoped it signaled a renaissance for S scale production.

The reality is more complicated.

What ScaleTrains Currently Offers

ScaleTrains' S scale line includes several freight car releases:

• 2-Bay Peaked End Fishbelly Open Hoppers in multiple road names
• USRA 40' Rebuilt Steel Boxcars including EJ&E and Atlantic Coast Line schemes
• ICC Wide-Vision Cabooses in numerous paint schemes

The Burlington Northern caboose, CSX version, Great Northern, and C&O models showcase the variety available. The undecorated version lets custom painters create their own road names.

The Uncertain Future

Here's where I need to be honest with you. ScaleTrains' commitment to S scale remains tenuous. Their first release sold around 1,000 units, but subsequent releases saw declining sales. The company has stated that 1,000 units is their threshold for keeping prices attractive.

They've been explicit: no new S scale locomotives are planned in the foreseeable future. The tooling exists, but the sales volume doesn't justify the production costs when compared to their HO and N scale lines.

What can you do? Pre-order upcoming releases like the GSC 53' TOFC Flatcar. Use their preorder system. Every sale is a vote for the line's continuation. ScaleTrains announced their caboose line with enthusiasm, and community response has been positive.

The Track Situation: Finally Improving

Track availability has been a genuine crisis for S scale modelers. You can have all the locomotives in the world, but without reliable track supply, layout construction stalls.

The breakthrough came in February 2025 when Micro Engineering acquired Tomalco's S scale flextrack tooling. This deal stabilized the supply of finescale flextrack that many of us depend on.

Code 70 and Code 83 flextrack became available in early 2025. Code 100, the workhorse for mainline applications, is expected by mid-summer 2025. Six-packs of weathered track run about $78.

For those running hi-rail equipment, Train World carries S scale rolling stock and track. Port Lines Hobby Supplies offers multiple track options for S-gauge use.

Understanding Track Codes and Compatibility

This is where my teacher brain kicks in, because I've seen too many newcomers make expensive mistakes.

The NASG maintains track and wheel standards for the S-scale community. Within S-scale, typical rail codes include 100, 88, 70, 55, and 40 for scale standard-gauge and narrow-gauge modeling.

The key distinction: equipment with deep "hi-rail" wheel flanges cannot operate on finescale track (Code 100 or smaller) or through scale turnouts. If you're running vintage American Flyer equipment, you need taller rail. If you're building a finescale layout with modern equipment, you can use the more prototypical lower codes.

American Models explains the hi-rail versus scale distinction clearly on their website. Pick your standard and commit to it.

Where to Actually Buy S Scale Equipment

The sourcing game for S scale requires working multiple channels. No single retailer stocks everything.

Primary Retailers

Trainz carries both American Flyer and S-Helper Service equipment, including one of the largest inventories of used and out-of-production S scale. They acquired the remaining S-Helper Service parts inventory, making them your go-to for replacement components.

Des Plaines Hobbies specializes in S Scale America products. Their semi-annual 20% off sales make them worth watching. SSA tank cars and freight cars often show up during these events.

Model Train Market operates an eBay store with rotating inventory of pre-owned items. If you're hunting for specific older releases, they're worth checking regularly.

The Secondary Market

For out-of-production brass and plastic, the secondary market is your only option. eBay carries American Models locomotives from private sellers. Expect to pay premiums for desirable items.

Brass models from retired manufacturers like River Raisin command serious money. An NYC H-10b that sold for $1,150 in 2023 might fetch $2,400 or more today. Budget 15-25% above what you'd expect for rare pieces.

The NASG: Your Intelligence Network

If you're serious about S scale, join the National Association of S Gaugers. Their website has become the central hub for product intelligence.

The Product Gallery documents over 21,000 current and past S scale products. The Resources section tracks over 550 active manufacturers and retailers, with entries updated daily. When I'm hunting for an obscure detail part, that's where I start.

The NASG also maintains the Scale vs. Gauge explanation that clarifies terminology. Throughout their site, you'll see references to "S-scale" rather than "S gauge" because scale refers to the size ratio while gauge refers specifically to track width.

Understanding the Standards

American Flyer and hi-rail modeling uses equipment compatible with the original Gilbert American Flyer trains. American Models and ScaleTrains manufacture lines that operate with these trains, equipped with compatible hi-rail wheels and AF-style couplers.

Scale modeling uses finer standards. The NMRA provides scale definitions that help standardize wheel and track dimensions across manufacturers.

3D Printing: The Great Equalizer

Here's where S scale gets genuinely exciting. The explosion of high-resolution 3D printing has become the most significant force for expanding S scale's viability, especially for modern-era modeling.

Over 50 vendors now offer previously unavailable items: modern intermodal containers, signals, vehicle details, and rolling stock components that no major manufacturer produces. For modelers focused on contemporary scenes, 3D printing fills gaps that would otherwise make certain eras nearly impossible to model.

My own experience: last year I needed a specific New England mill building loading dock that simply doesn't exist in kit form. A local 3D printing service produced exactly what I needed from STL files I found online. Cost me less than a commercial kit would have, and the fit to my prototype photos was exact.

Electronics and DCC: Proven Technology

The larger size of S scale models provides ample space for robust sound systems. The decoder ecosystem is strong, borrowing heavily from the well-supplied HO market.

The SoundTraxx TSU-2200 offers 2-amp motor capacity, making it ideal for older S scale locomotives with less efficient motors. The ESU LokSound 5 provides excellent motor control at 1.5 amps. Budget roughly $110 for a sound decoder and $20-30 for a keep-alive capacitor per locomotive.

American Models locomotives with factory sound use a two-button controller. One controller works with all their different sound-equipped locomotives and remains compatible with Lionel American Flyer locomotive sound.

What Does Getting Started Actually Cost?

After teaching high school for 34 years, I know that people want real numbers. Here's what a viable starter layout looks like financially.

A basic 4'x8' layout can be built for approximately $1,050:

• One American Models GP-9: ~$260
• Three freight cars from ScaleTrains or American Models: ~$165-200
• DCC control system (Digitrax Zephyr Express or similar): ~$200
• 48 feet of Micro Engineering Code 100 flextrack: ~$150-175
• Basic benchwork materials and wiring: ~$150-200

That gets you running trains. From there, you can expand incrementally as budget and time allow.

A larger 12'x20' layout with multiple turnouts, several locomotives, and a sound-equipped fleet pushes toward $5,500 total investment. But you don't build that in a weekend. Plan for years of gradual growth.

My Honest Assessment for 2025

S scale in 2025 is not for the casual hobbyist who wants everything handed to them in ready-to-run packages. It requires more effort than HO. You'll spend more time hunting for specific items. You may need to learn scratch-building skills or embrace 3D printing.

But S scale continues growing among modelers who appreciate its advantages. The 1:64 ratio offers detail visibility that aging eyes appreciate. Layouts fit into reasonable spaces. Running quality, especially with American Models equipment, remains excellent.

The market is consolidating around dedicated players. That's actually healthy. The hobbyists and manufacturers who remain are genuinely committed to the scale's future.

If you're willing to work a little harder for your roster, to join the community, to support manufacturers with pre-orders, and to develop some self-reliance skills, S scale rewards that effort with trains that look right, run reliably, and don't require a magnifying glass to appreciate.

That half-finished freight depot I inherited in 2008? I finished it three years later. It still sits on what's become my layout, a reminder that patience and persistence matter more than having every product available at the click of a button.

By Carol Fitzgerald

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