Some, if not all answers are given in a series of videos from the Motherland of all trains.
Enjoy watching part 1 and understand the big "Why?"
Ulrich,
Fascinating stuff, thanks for the link. And it is a series, so there's more
This first one about how Bassett-Lowke rose and WWI's cut-off of his German suppliers led to his fall is something I was not aware of. Good to know that one, as I teach transnational and technological history from time to time and it is a great example of the many forces at work in times of war and peace.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I am glad you like it, Mike. I am not feeling well today, so all I can do is watch train movies on Youtube.
WW I caused many a business to fail - the Welsh slate business went more or less belly-up as they could not export the slate shingles to Germany with the outbreak of the war. It was not an immediate death, as the agony lasted over 30 years, leving us with such gems as the Ffestiniog Rlwy. and the Talyllyn Rlwy.
The Basset-Lowke situation may have a parallel in the fairly immediate future.
At present, the vast majority of model railroad products are manufactured on the eastern shores of the Western Pacific, where:
The kettle is starting to bubble. Model Railroad supplies will be one of the first casualties if it reaches a rolling boil. Of course, that might well be the least of our worries.
Chuck [MSgt(Ret), USAF modeling Central Japan in September, 1964]
Ulrich:
Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!