Front End Friday

Have a good FEF, sending prayers for all how have lost home in Ca. God Speed All!

@Don McErlean posted:

Well in the aftermath of WWII the European and Asian economies were smashed and in attempts to recover the countries searched to products to export that they could make with limited industrialization as their industrial base recovered and hence earn "hard" currency.  In many , UK, Germany, & Japan in particular, the economic planners set up the manufacture of lithographed tin toys as one of their recovery products. These could be made quickly, were popular exports, and took modest industrial facilities.  Brimtoy, in the UK, was a pre-war manufacturer of toy trains and went back into production in the early post war period.  In those days, it was hard to acquire the toys IN the UK as they were reserved (by Gov't decree) for export.  The one below, is somewhat later than that very early period as it carries the "new" British Rail livery - the RR's were nationalized by the UK in 1948 - and the tender carries the famous "Lion and Wheel" logo of that period.  So likely this variation dates to the early 1950's.

It is clockwork and made almost entirely of lithographed sheet metal.  The cars try to emulate the "blood and custard" color scheme of the BR coaches of that period.  She came to me from an auction and was complete with her full set box that included, interestingly enough, an oval of track that included a gated road crossing!

Here is the set as she appeared in her box.  The short piece of track is to make up the straight line distance taken up by the road crossing on the opposite side of the oval (very good planning) and the box also contains her "key".

Best Wishes, Don

That’s a nice set Don. It reminded me of this 1920s American Flyer Limited clockwork, that caught my eye in YORK last year. What’s unique about it is that although it’s clockwork there is an electric light in the boiler.  It’s powered by a battery in the tender.

@Trainguy Ken - LOVE Hafner, those M10000's are GREAT!  Thanks for the picture. @pennsyfan - That is a beautiful flyer set.  You are right the combination of a mechanical set and an battery headlight is really neat.  The Japanese did that a lot but not until the post war 50's.  Thanks for your comment.

Don

Unpainted front end of a Custom Brass PRR Brill 660 from the 1980's.

Ran the Dreyfuss at the club layout for the first time using my phone as the club doesn't have TMCC or DCS - all are some version of Lionchief and bluetooth. It was fun and I plan to become more familiar with the system as we go forward.

Fridays are fun do to this Topic, there’s a lot of Wow’s to see here. If you are in the California area in harms way, You All are in our Prayers. Happy Railroading Everyone

Like @pennsyfan I too am taking down the tree.  Here's one of the ornaments and since it shows the front

- walt

A little late but...

front ends are the business ends of snow fighters.

@coach joe posted:

A little late but...

front ends are the business ends of snow fighters.

Joe sure looks like your ready for any kind of snow coming your way! I hope you like the cold!

@mike g. I don't believe they'll see much duty here in Myrtle Beach, all were bought while I lived on Long Island, in New York.  But if you've got as much northern railroad equipment a I do the road need to be ready for the white stuff.