I wonder if anyone besides myself might be interested in seeing an article or series about toy/model train "firsts?" First electric train (besides JLC's window display) to include a loco and consist, first sectional track, first action accessory, first manual and remote turnout, first e-unit reverser, first sound system, first digital control, and so on. I'll bet it would turn out that a lot of firsts originated in Europe.
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Now that might be a first. Might take some real research though.
The postwar side of this was presented in "Who was first? Lionel or Flyer?" by John Grams in our Jan 2001 issue.
Bob Keller
Locomotives with consists go back to the floor trains of the mid 1830's in France.
First sectional track, crossover, and turnout made to a specific gauge and made to form an actual railroad system (layout) Marklin 1891.
Mechanism for forward and reverse train control - Marklin 1895.
First electric train on rails - earliest reference I have is Marklin but no date given - earliest dated reference Carette - 1892. In the U.S. Carlisle & Finch offered the first trolley in 1897 and the first electric train in 1899 - two rail track. Three rail track - Marklin.
First operating accessory - spirit lamps.
First operating car - earliest reference I have is Marklin - exploding passenger cars and the cannon car for the armored train - fired cap guns triggered by a track trip - 1904.
mersenne6 Locomotives with consists go back to the floor trains of the mid 1830's in France. First sectional track, crossover, and turnout made to a specific gauge and made to form an actual railroad system (layout) Marklin 1891. Mechanism for forward and reverse train control - Marklin 1895. First electric train on rails - earliest reference I have is Marklin but no date given - earliest dated reference Carette - 1892. In the U.S. Carlisle & Finch offered the first trolley in 1897 and the first electric train in 1899 - two rail track. Three rail track - Marklin. First operating accessory - spirit lamps. First operating car - earliest reference I have is Marklin - exploding passenger cars and the cannon car for the armored train - fired cap guns triggered by a track trip - 1904.
Thank you very much for this information, which I find absolutely fascinating. Is all of it available in a single publication or did you have to reference several works?
For a company that is at least as important in the history of toy trains as Lionel is, it is unfortunate that Märklin has fallen on hard times lately. However, I see in Wikipedia that they are out of bankruptcy and profitable for now.
(By the way, the name is spelled "Märklin" or "Maerklin"--and pronounced "mare-klin".)
Bob Nelson
I would think that any reference to suggest material to publish will bring the response of "been there, tried that, it's in (decades ago) issue." Shame that no one wants to revisit things for some of us that have not been back into the hobby that long.
Maybe there just is not anything good to write about anymore? Maybe anything that brings ratings and sales has already been done? I am beginning to think so......
Founding member of the All Aboard Fastrackers! See us at: www.allaboardfastrackers.com
Most of the information can be found in Toy Trains: A History by Carlson.
As to the idea of writing articles about early firsts or anything pre-World War II or World War I there really doesn't seem to be much interest. I wrote a number of articles about pre-WWII trains which were accepted and published but about 10 years ago I wast told not to bother to send any more since reader interest just wasn't there. I have had fun posting information over on Northwoods Flyer's thread on Pre-war American Flyer and, since they now are more focused on articles on the history of the earlier toy trains, I'm working on a couple of articles for the TCA journal but that is about the extent of my efforts.
With regards to Marklin (Yup, I know about the spelling - just can't figure out where the umlaut is on the keyboard) the big issue would be finding one of those items and getting permission to photograph them. The operating cars in particular are extremely rare. I've only seen one armored cannon car and one exploding passenger car in the 40 some odd years I've been interested in such things.
In Windows, "ë" is ALT 0235; but the easy way out is to spell it "Maerklin", which is a correct alternate spelling in German, whether one has lost his umlaut or just wants to seem a little quaint.
Lou Hertz compiled a list of firsts among American manufacturers. Of most note was the hurendous list attributed to Dorfan.
lionelsoni In Windows, "ë" is ALT 0235; but the easy way out is to spell it "Maerklin", which is a correct alternate spelling in German, whether one has lost his umlaut or just wants to seem a little quaint.
Ooooh I had that happen to me once! Trust me guys, there's nothing more painful than losing your umlauts!
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
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