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Thomas Edison & Werner von Siemens - First Model Railroaders

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Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2017 04:23 am

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jtrain
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On the "negativity" thread the topic came up as to who the first was to invent a specific gauge and scale combination.

That history is quite muddled, but I'd like to expand on the topic as I think I know who the founder of this great hobby is,
none other than Thomas Edison and Werner von Siemens.

Thomas Edison invented many things in his lifetime, including the light bulb, telegraph repeater, and phonograph;
but he also was the first American to make a smaller than prototype railroad that ran on electricity and carried passengers.

Need proof?

Here's a picture:

Image from heritage-history.com

Article: http://www.heritage-history.com/?c=read&author=meadowcroft&book=edison&story=railway

Just before Edison, Werner von Siemens invented the electric locomotive and had his own public display:

Both units were narrow gauge, built for entertainment (but with commercial prospects),
and most importantly, were powered through the rails with DC electricity.

These are the first two model trains in history.

Need more proof?

Here's the track plan for Edison's train at the Chicago exhibition:

Last two images are from Wikimedia commons.

What's your thoughts?

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Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2017 04:32 am

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Dank
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The image shows Edison's train near his Menlo Park, New Jersey lab.

I believe the train ran to a nearby lake.

Henry Ford Museum has a full-size reproduction of the "engine and rolling stock" shown in the image.

Unfortunately it is no longer on display.

Dan

Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2017 05:22 am

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Si.
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Werners wheel flanges look a bit out of scale to me. :shocked:

I hope his gauge is accurate !

Si.

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Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2017 01:01 pm

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Helmut
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Both Thomas and Werner invented DCC ( direct current conductors ),
and relied on center-rail pickup when running by track power.
No wonder Märklin kept that principle.
Thomas obviously invented BPRC ( battery powered railborne commuting ), too.

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Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2017 01:52 pm

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jtrain
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Werner's locomotive used a center rail, Edison's didn't

Either way, I wouldn't want to step on both rails simultaneously!

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Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2017 05:22 pm

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Helmut
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First electric locomotive by Davidson, 1839

From T. du Moncel, Electricity as a Motive Power, London, 1883, fig. 32

1837 - 1842 Robert Davidson (Scottish) also developed electric motors since 1837.
He made several drives for a lathe and model vehicles.
In 1839 Davidson manages the construction of the first electrically powered car.
In September 1842, he makes trial runs with a 5-ton, 4.8 m long locomotive on the railway line from Edinburgh to Glasgow.
Its engine makes about 1 hp (0.74 kW) and reaches a speed of 4 mph (6.4 km / h).

As you can see, both of them were just epigones..

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Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2017 08:12 pm

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Kitbash0n30
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Helmut wrote:
As you can see, both of them were just epigones..

Had to go look up epigone.

Origin Mid 18th century:

plurals from French épigones and Latin epigoni,
from Greek epigonoi those born afterwards (based on gignesthai be born).

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/epigone

( and the the thought occurs that someone needs to do a quirky freelance On30 electric railway run by Werner von Volt )

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Posted: Sun Feb 12th, 2017 01:45 am

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Helmut
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The full story of Edison's 2-rail venture in Greenfield is covered here.

There are some better photos, too.

This was 1880.

In1883, the exposition train was built.

They set up a very decent body, looks like an industrial diesel of later.

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Posted: Sun Feb 12th, 2017 02:31 am

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jtrain
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That's a great find there Helmut!

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Posted: Tue May 8th, 2018 02:06 pm

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Si.
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" Ford had Edison’s electric locomotive, a 'Pullman' car and an additional passenger car restored "

What a great 'excursion train' ! :pimp:

I could see this running on Michaels 'N.I.& E.R.R.' somehow !

Question is ... is passenger car No.74 a 'Pullman' ?

Si.

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