Model Railroading on Shorpy

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Shorpy has a great pic of a kid and his model railroad in 1942 posted yesterday. Well worth checking out.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/15167?size=_original#caption

Makes me wonder if he stayed with the hobby as he grew. It’s a nicely detailed layout so far. The kid has talent![Y]

2

Interesting!

Looks like pre-made roadbed. And some folks thought this was a new innovation.

Hope he stayed with it.

Thanks for sharing,

Richard

3

That’s actually a picture of our beloved forum member and brass aficionado, Tom White (twhite) [:o)] He learned how to do mountains and move out to garage at an early age. [:D]

Tom

4

I was going to say it was Sheldon. [swg]

5

Nope. Sheldon wasn’t even alive in the 40s. IIRC, he was born in '56. And he didn’t even post that on his profile page. [swg]

Tom

6

Looks like American Flyer

Harold

7

I am pretty sure that it is Jeff. [;)]

Rich

8

Tom

If anyone could pull that off, it would be Sheldon. [tup]

9

Nope, not I. Shoot, my father was only eight years old in 1942.

First time I saw track with pre-made roadbed was in Germany in 1966 on a neighbors HO layout. I don’t recall what company made it.

I have no idea who the kid in the photo was but it’s a fair bet he’s pushing up a tombstone by now.

10

hi Jeffrey,

it must have been Märklin HO; In production since 1935.

from their 1936 catalogue.

Paul

11

I think it is HO, it would seem a tad to small for American Flyer in S gauge. It weren’t me, as it’ll be 8 years, yet before I’m alive. If the caption is right this youngster would now be 84 years old!

12

Paul,

I doubt it’s Marklin, as I don’t see any hidden “third rail” down the center. I’m not sure how well-informed the photographer was about model railroading, but suspect there might be an issue with running “enemy track” that year, too.

I’m actually thinking it’s not an early form of “snap track” instead being some sort of preformed or homemade roadbed maybe? Interesting stuff, whatever it is, at a date when most folks still laid their own track.

Mark,

You’re right, 84 is not that old. Maybe this guy is a Master Model Railroader by now?

13

Someone from the CTT forum needs to chime in here.

Rich

14

That’s pre-war American Flyer HO. That’s the Hudson, and I recognize the LNE gon in the train, and the caboose as well.

Here’s their track: http://www.gilbertho.org/track_power/260.htm

The site linked has lots of Flyer HO reference information.

–Randy

15

You’re probably right, Randy.

Typical American Flyer S gauge track had widely spaced metal ties, and the rubber road bed didn’t show up until 1950 or thereabouts.

Rich

16

O.K., I had the scale right!

17

Randy,You beat me to it,That’s what my,first,train set looked like,including the,turnout controls…My question?? Now would be… Does, anyone have a idea,what the square looking thing, sitting on the top of the radio??? By chance,could it be a end of train lantern???

Cheers,

Frank

18

Here is a link to the 1941 American Flyer HO catalog.

http://www.rfgco.com/americanflyertrainscatalogs/catalogs.html

Each one of those freight cars can be seen on page 38 of the 1941 catalog.

Rich

19

Rich,

Thanks for the ‘‘link’’, Aside from the Trains,I Always,would have loved to of had an Erector set…

Cheers,

Frank

20

Frank,

You can still pick one up on eBay. Do it.

Rich