This is unbelievable. From 1925. Some of the comments seem to be a bit puzzling if you remember what was available.
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Charlie
Wow. Simply amazing for 1925. And 2 rail O scale at that.
I found the comment by the guy who talked about some friend having a better layout in the 1950's filled with trains he bought from Lionel. some people just don't have a clue. I'm not sure that Lionel was building anything smaller than "standard gauge" in the 1920's, and it would have all been 3 rail ac. I guess some people are just plain clueless.
Great photo! Also note the wires plugged into the "light socket" in the ceiling.
I have some older model railroader magazines from the late 1940s-50s. Sure, the layouts don't look as detailed, but if you consider what people had to start with, the amount of work they put into their layouts was equal if not greater than what you see today. In 1950, almost everything in HO scale came as a kit and had to be assembled. plastic structure kits practically didn't exist, and almost all layout buildings came from craftsman kits or were scrachbuilt out of household items. Even obtaining DC power for control was difficult. I read where many people were using car batteries. Let's not forget most of the scenery materials we now use weren't commercially available.
Shorpy is an absolutely fascinating site.
Fluesheet Wrote:Shorpy is an absolutely fascinating site.
It sure is, good for at least 2 hours a week now, but the first time I was there, after somebody here posted a link, I was probably on the site for over 10 hours. The photos are so sharp I look at all the signage and fine details. There is always something to miss.
Charlie
Okay, so I'm more than a few days late, and short, but that was a great site!! Thanks for the link!!
He posted a follow up picture and you can see the wire running down the center of the track instead of the center third rail. The track appears to be hand laid.
It makes it all the more enjoyable.
Charlie
I wasn't sure if that's what it was....Seems so...
