Nice pics. Thanks for sharing
Springfield PA
Check some of the info provided in the comments to the first picture in the above post. Sounds like Mr Swartzell passed away farily young. If the ages are correct, in those 1929 pictures he was not yet 40, but he certainly looks much older. In one of the MR anniversary issues I recall a mention of the B&O Junior" which is what this layout is. Also dig the power cords in theat first picture - wow.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Same place, different views.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/7676?size=_original
http://www.shorpy.com/node/7711?size=_original
Despite the primitiveness of the layout compared to what's available today, check out the detail in the telephone poles. He even has 'wire' strung from pole to pole. A lot of people, even today, don't go to that length to detail their layouts.
I love how he did his scenery, looks like he either used a drop cloth or the ol' lady's table cloth and smathered it with plaster. Heck, given the time frame, might have even been asbestos.
That's how I dress when I'm soldering under the layout. Hard to imagine dressing like that as a matter of course when a lot of people still couldn't afford an electric washing machine.
Everything looks ancient, even when it was new! I don't think that's weathering -- It looks like 8 layers of dust. The wire stand-in for the third rail is so kinked I'm amazed that the locos could apparently maintain contact.
My mother was born in 1928, and this reminds me of my grandmother's basement (minus trains, of course). It had a tin ceiling and asbestos insulation on every pipe that needed it. My great-grandfather was famous for dubious jury-rigs like that shelf, so maybe he knew these guys.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
And to think my great-grandfather put all his efforts into arms smuggling and booze running during the roaring twenties instead of a civilized-legal hobby. I've got some of those itchy tweed trousers, great attire when installing DCC decoders!
Dave
salt water cowboy How many of us wear ties around the house anymore. Check out the lower right corner. What careless deer hunter mistakenly shot a cow? Matt
How many of us wear ties around the house anymore. Check out the lower right corner. What careless deer hunter mistakenly shot a cow?
Matt
I don't even own a tie!
-George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
Nice suits guys, and that layout looks like some of the ones at certain train shows, you know, the guy with a million bucks and his layout looks like this, I like the asbestos covered pipe above the layout.
DingySP Just installed their brand new Hump Yard turnout controllers and they're good to go! http://www.shorpy.com/node/7789?size=_original Man, this is getting close to a hundred years ago.
Just installed their brand new Hump Yard turnout controllers and they're good to go!
http://www.shorpy.com/node/7789?size=_original
Man, this is getting close to a hundred years ago.
Cool they are modeling the CNJ! You can tell from the locomotives and the caboose he is holding plus the style of the depot.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Ah! Those were the days! Could get an electric shock anytime just by turning round... and look at the way that shelf is "supported".
Hello everybody,
wondering what these gentlemen would say if they could visit the layouts from the members on these forums, or even better the http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/ .
I would love to hear what they would have to say.
Frank
"If you need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm."
To all of those who think that hand-laid track looks better than flex track...
Even then, an obvious effort to hide the center third rail wire.
The interlocking levers are the least primitive-looking part of the picture. Note the eight-notch controller, years before the appearance of mainline diesels!
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
SERIOUS operating attire. Those tweed pants look itchy...
Yep Tom, when I saw the Hum Yard throws I started to wonder if it was a newer picture. Then I saw the date.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Tom