Large Scale Central

Further rewrites of History

General Discussion
#1

Hi all,

OK we all owe the Richters

JM said:
After all, do we ALL not owe a debt to the Richters for having created this hobby that we all enjoy?
of course if your hobby timeline only starts in 1968, that could be quite true.

But for some strange reason I remember garden railways way before then, going right back to the early fifties when I started school. That is my very own personal recollection i.e. what I’ve seen with my very own eyes!

Could it be that I’m just too old, read too many books on the hobby or just aren’t appreciative enough when credit is applied in the wrong column?

BTW one of my favourite hangouts was a large display layout right by the Zürich zoo called Alpenbahn Morgensonne. Spent many Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays at that place. O scale at its very best!

Once I had my “bicycle licence” i.e. I was old enough to venture allover on my own, I discovered the neat live steam layout next door to the Transport Museum in Lucerne. In high school I would ride my bike there and back from Zürich to see the “action” (that was circa 1959/60)

#2

My Great-uncle Ted and his brother Iestyn had Gauge 1 in their backyard in North Wales in 1928. My mother remembers it. Mostly Bing and Maerklin electric and some clockwork too. When I was small I had the remains of one of the older clockwork locos - that would be about the mid-1950’s…

However, it IS true to say that the Richters popularised cheap made-of-plastic large-scale trains for the getting richer populations.

And this year sees the Diamond Jubilee of the British Gauge 1 Model Railway Association.

Garden railways, as anybody can tell you, are well over 110 years old.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

#3

Terry,

It’s that all encompassing global statement of “created this hobby that we all enjoy”, that has me wonder where has one been, what has one learned, did any of it register?

OTOH there are some people who believe that 45mm track gauge was invented by LGB. As the saying goes “ignorance is bliss!”.

#4

I was surprized to read this from HJ ,

Once I had my “bicycle licence” i.e. I was old enough to venture allover on my own, I discovered the neat live steam layout next door to the Transport Museum in Lucerne. In high school I would ride my bike there and back from Zürich to see the “action” (that was circa 1959/60)

It seemed so strange to read bicycle licence .

I am so glad that I am not a SUBJECT in some other country , or have to have my papers in order , to venture around the USA , in my youth .

No offence intended HJ , or to the other Subjects , around here .

I am glad that I am where I am . Just counting my blessings .

#5
Dennis Paulson said:
I was surprized to read this from HJ ,

Once I had my “bicycle licence” i.e. I was old enough to venture allover on my own, I discovered the neat live steam layout next door to the Transport Museum in Lucerne. In high school I would ride my bike there and back from Zürich to see the “action” (that was circa 1959/60)

It seemed so strange to read bicycle licence .

I am so glad that I am not a SUBJECT in some other country , or have to have my papers in order , to venture around the USA , in my youth .

No offence intended HJ , or to the other Subjects , around here .

I am glad that I am where I am . Just counting my blessings .


Dennis,

Of course I didn’t need a “bicycle licence”, not any more than in the good old USA. But in Switzerland - at least when I grew up - your parents made sure you were responsible enough to go on the long jaunts i.e. approx. 40 miles one way. That was the “licence”.

Oh BTW couldn’t get a drivers’ licence 'til one was 18!

PS Yes, in Switzerland every bicycle needs: a licence plate, bell to warn other traffic, as well as proper lights and reflectors. Any of it missing you get fined just like any other user of the road. That goes for pedestrians too, who can get nailed for crossing on red and similar infraction.

But not jaywalking … you jaywalk they deliver you to the “loonie bin”. Only really nutty people would attempt to do that in Swiss traffic!

#6

Born and raised in the USofA and when I was a kid you had to have your bike registered and display a license plate. Bell or horn and lights required and you had to demonstrate your knowledge of road signs and hand signals to get the plate. Effectively, every 10 year old that had a bike could pass the written exam for a driver’s license.

#7

Warren where was this at ?

#8

I was raised in Richmond Virginia. This would have been mid 50’s. You could hang your plate from the back of the seat or use a holder similar to a motor cycle. The plate was smaller than a motor cycle’s. It was about the size of the kid’s vanity plates you see in stores.

#9

Hear, hear, this in the libertarian USA! I am shocked!

#10

Had much the same thing in Washington State when I was growing up. The nanny gummint was everywhere. “We know best.”