Russell M. Mobley Memorial Library
The purpose of the Russell M. Mobley Memorial Library and Archive is to collect, maintain, and provide access to publications including books and magazines, photographs, references, electronic media, and physical artifacts about S gauge and the NASG. NASG members may be allowed to borrow library materials or request copies of paper documents and electronic media. The term "S Gauge" refers to railroad and railroad-related models, including toy/tinplate, hirail, and scale models in all gauges modeled in 1:64 ratio.
Contact the NASG Librarian, Dick Karnes, nasglibrary@yahoo.com, for more information about what is available in the Mobley Library.
S Scale Magazine Indexes
Copies of articles from these magazines, for .10¢ per page, are available.
Note that the first 5 volumes of the S Gauge Herald are available on a CD for $5 postpaid. The CD contains each volume as a PDF and JPEG.
If you are looking for an article that appeared in Sn3 Modeler, S/Sn3 Buying/Modeling Guide, and/or S Gaugian (1980-1999), please use Kalmbach's Model Train Magazine Index to locate the article/issue desired.
Books, catalogs, and article copies from the Russell M. Mobley Memorial Library
- "Dear Ayeffe..." Tell us your problem we’ll find you a solution, excerpted from The Complete Service Manual for American Flyer Trains. Included in the manual is Setup, Operation, Maintenance, and Servicing information along with Exploded Assembly Drawings and Parts Lists.
- A.C. Gilbert's Postwar American Flyer S-Gauge Reference Manual, first edition (devoted to motors, and actuators in locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories), Robert A. Hannon, CrowsNest Publishing, Clarksville, MD, 2001 - scanned page images as requested
- American Flyer Instruction Book for Operating and Assembling 3/16" Scale Trains and Accessories, A.C. Gilbert Co., 1952 - copies $5.00 postpaid.
- American Flyer Trains & Gilbert Toys, Catalog #D1699, A.C. Gilbert Co., 1953 - scanned page images as requested
- Learning about Realistic Operation from the Guru Himself, a 6 part series by Frank Ellison
- S Gauge Model Railroading, a five volume videocassette series by Steve Blackburn of S-'n-S Trains
Videocassettes
Russell M. Mobley - 1932-2001
In 1938, Russ Mobley, born in 1932, promised his mother that he'd stop sucking his
thumb if she would buy him a train set. Since that time, Russ has done many things.
He started as an A&P bag boy, spent 21 years in the United States Air Force,
and drove an 18-wheeler semi, among other things. He has lived in Texas, Ohio, Alaska,
and Georgia.
In 1965, when the NASG was only five years old, Russ was designated by General Director Bernie Thomas to manage the round-robin letter “circuits.” Upon Bernie's sudden death a month later, Russ was became the third General Director of the NASG. Russ served until 1970, when Ed Schumacher took over. Since then, Russ had been a tireless NASG booster, introducing S gauge to kids, developing and marketing “Amity Star” kits, and promoting S at many different venues.
Russ was profiled in the Augusta Chronicle/Augusta Herald (Georgia), Sunday, Nov. 7, 1982 in the Nov. 1982 issue of Rural Georgia, the official publication of Georgia Electric Membership Corp. and in the Oct. 1994 issue of S/Sn3 Buyers' Guide.
Russ died in 2001. In his honor, the Russell M. Mobley Memorial Library was established in September 2001, with NASG life member Dick Karnes as its first Librarian.
For more information on Russell M. Mobley, the Russell M. Mobley Memorial Library can furnish copies of the profiles cited above. You can read about Russ's years as head of the NASG in part 2 of the history of the NASG series written by Bob Jackson and published in the DISPATCH (Vol. 9, no. 3, 1986).
How to request library materials
When you request copies of magazines articles or to borrow library materials, please include the following information
- Your full name
- Your address (e-mail or USPS)
- Your NASG membership number
- As precise a description as possible of what you are seeking
- Your NASG membership number
Send your request to:
Dick Karnes, Librarian
Russell M. Mobley Memorial Library
4323 86th Ave. SE
Mercer Island WA 98040-4124
nasglibrary@yahoo.com