Park "train" identification question

Discuss park gauge trains and large scale miniature railways having track gauges from 8" to 24" gauge and designed at scales of 2" to the foot or greater - whether modeled for personal use, or purpose built for amusement park operation or private railroading.

Moderators: Glenn Brooks, Harold_V

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Topics may include: antique park gauge train restoration, preservation, and history; building new grand scale equipment from scratch; large scale miniature railway construction, maintenance, and safe operation; fallen flags; track, gauge, and equipment standards; grand scale vendor offerings; and, compiling an on-line motive power roster.
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Benjamin Maggi
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Location: Albany, NY

Park "train" identification question

Post by Benjamin Maggi »

This isn't your typical "Park Train" question. A good friend gave me a postcard recently because he knew I was interested in trains, and especially live steam trains. His father had originally owned the post card and he could provide no other information about it. The back is clearly lined for mailing, but there is no caption or any other information (publisher, year, etc.) to be had.
Train Picture postcard.jpg
Train Picture postcard.jpg (25.37 KiB) Viewed 15537 times
It looks like it is being pulled by a gasoline engine, and I cannot tell how many riding cars are coupled to it. It might be one engine and two riding cars (with another engine in the very back) or one engine and one riding car, and a middle engine blocked by the picture. One thing I find interesting is the front engine is clearly numbered "81" while the rear engine (and not easily seen in the picture) is clearly numbered "8." I doubt there were seventy other engines numbered in between.

Anyone have any more information about this train? Thanks.
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
Glenn Brooks
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Re: Park "train" identification question

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Fascinating photo. One thing I learned is that early day park gauge train post card photos, of this vintage, were often used as advertisements by the venues having the trains. A group would have its picture taken and the venue would print up postcards and send them out to advertise the facility. In this case, the background doesn’t appear to be an amusement setting. More of an institutional setting, with Workman like riding cars.

I don’t recognize the engines, but the clothing and passenger loading is very interesting. Three women appear to be seated in the front train, but seem to be wearing similar pantaloons, or fluffy, loose fitting trousers. Unheard of in WW1 or the 1920’s. Their headgear reminds me of a WW 1 nurses uniform hat. The men sitting behind all seem to be wearing military style uniforms also, particularly the headgear, and Sam brown style leather strap across the chest of the #2 loco engineer. The clothing style seems almost German or ottoman - turkish military. They are very closely loaded on four wheel carts. Yet positioned inside a building, close up against a wall with several sort of Art Deco framed paintings or prints. Very incongruous setting, yet quite interesting! Perhaps if you can identify the style of dress of the three woman, you might be able to more closely place the building and the locomotives.

The locomotives are small enuf to have fairly advanced motors. for example, most WW 1 era gas powered engines were massive size beasts, mostly because this was very early in the history of internal combustion engines. They then were physically quite large. Smaller, more refined motors and engines developed rapidly, but to get the horsepower you need to haul this many people, in such a small package, seems very unusual in such an early era.

So, I wonder if these locos were electric, or even cable driven? and possibly part of a small gauge underground loco design - something similar to the UK’s early day underground mail railway? Also wonder if the passengers are an organized, uniformed work team of people, male and female accustomed to working together in close proximity? They certainly are packed in to a very few locos and cars.

A great mystery. Worth unraveling. Hope others will know more and unravel the origins.

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
JR May
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Location: NJ

Re: Park "train" identification question

Post by JR May »

Well, that is an intriguing photo. By the looks of it, the locomotives are electric powered judging by the simple controller and what may be the hand brake wheel on the side. Perhaps a third rail or battery power. Looks to be two sets, one behind the other. Going by the pant legs of the guys, all the passengers/crew seem to be in some sort of uniform. Almost looks like photos on the wall behind the train. The rear car looks to be a good length, the forward car seems to include the locomotive/controls. All looks to be of wood construction. Judging by feet and how the engineer is sitting, versus the wheel sets and such, it must be around 24” gauge.

So, not sure its a park train. A very unique piece, something interesting to perhaps reproduce if someone was more inclined to work with wood rather than steel construction.

Thanks for posting it.

J.R. May
Glenn Brooks
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Re: Park "train" identification question

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Hey JR, hoping you would weigh in. possibly looks like a 1920’s (pre-rotary dial) telephone box on the wall, behind the front loco. If so, do you know,what the state of battery development was in those days for locos? For example, would battery’s have been able to fit in such a small loco frame, as we see here??

Also, I’ve been reading about early day DC systems. Any idea what the voltage levels might have been?

Our local retired railroaders breakfast meeting today, one guy suggested the woman in white pantaloons might be wearing bathing suits and bathing hats, such as could be found at Brighton Beach, UK after WW1. Intriguing.

Lots of fascinating questions and hints in the photo.

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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Benjamin Maggi
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Location: Albany, NY

Re: Park "train" identification question

Post by Benjamin Maggi »

also, though it doesn't really add anything, there is nothing printed on the back of the card except for a few faint lines to write a mailing address.
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
User avatar
Benjamin Maggi
Posts: 1409
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:38 pm
Location: Albany, NY

Re: Park "train" identification question

Post by Benjamin Maggi »

I just found a very similar (but not identical) postcard on EBay. It is much cleaner, and the description states: Antique 1920's German Mini Railroad Train Arcade Ride RPPC Postcard. Note that the driver's uniform is black in one and white in the other. Also, the background looks different. The riders appear to be the same, so I wonder if both shots were staged at the same time. Humm...

The back of the postcard is blank, so that is no help in identifying the train. Oh well.
Park Train postcard.jpg
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2929
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Park "train" identification question

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Ben, we have couple of European Chaski members who have active threads- Asteamhead comes to mind. I wonder if you sent them a copy of your postcard, if he or they could track down more background for you? Or pass along to whomever they know in the region that has an interest in such things. I’ve always been fascinated with the historical significance of these early day venues- but know very little about European live steam development. Might be a good chance one of the German speaking live steam community could turn up something...

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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