Figure 1.--This German photograph shows three children with a toy train locomotive. engine. The child in the middle, who is sitting down, is holding a large chunky European tin toy train engine on his lap. The photograph is unidentified, but looks German to us. The photo was taken in a kind of park with a castle and towers in the background. Apoparently the little boy insisted on taking the train with him for the outing. We are guessing that a commercial photographer set up shop in the park, perhaps explaing the chair. The photograph is undated, but looks to be taken n the 1900s decade. There is an inscription on the back, but we are not sure what it says.

We note all kinds of toy trains in the mid- and late-19th century and 20th century. Toy trains began to appear soon after trains appeared in Germany (1830s). Boys saw then and toy trains had great appeal. For a century, trains were the primary way of moving goods and people. Lines gradually criss-crossed Germany. The first toy trains were stand alone trains and pull toy trains for the younger boys. They provide fscinating models of early trains, a useful indicator of the rapid development of railroads in Germany. These were toy trains which did not have any kind of drive. But most boys wanted them. Driving devices added interest for the boys. The first drive devices were wind up toys. Eventually electric engines were added. Electric trains appeared in great numbers after World War I. And the Germans made some of the best in the 1920s and early-30s. With the electric engines a whole new type of toy train developed--model railroading. Boys might just have a simple circular track like the boys here (figure 1). Older boys and adults began sohisticated, realistic layouts for their train sets. And model railroading was something fathers and sons could do toether. Some adult enthusiasts pursued the hobby without sons.

Created: 1:41 AM 1/8/2019
Last updated: 1:41 AM 1/8/2019