You though scale three rail was new? This is a shot of John M. Swartzell's three rail train system in Washington D.C. Glass negative 1929. Don
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Hi Don
You can tell its scale because the operators are dressed formal 
Clem
What a wonderful photo. 85 years later, the enjoyment is still there.
It certainly was a different world in those days, sigh. Jim
Man, those guys must be really old now!
Pete
That's cool Any more pics?
Oh Man, a suit and tie to run models trains? I know my picture (to the left) has me like that, but I never . . .
It's Christmas time in 1925. This is Mr. Swartzell's two rail layout. That is Margaret Swartzell at the railroad system as he called it. Don
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I have the exact same 050 switcher.
Originally Posted by Lee Willis:
Oh Man, a suit and tie to run models trains? I know my picture (to the left) has me like that, but I never . . .
It was a time when most people worked a half day on Saturdays...
Love it! A different time for sure.
Dang! I was what? Negative 28 years old at the time. WOW how time flies. I'm assuming this layout didn't survive.
Gilly
I love the little armstrong handles for the switches in the first picture.
Nathan
Impressive, for that era.
In those days I bet they wore neck ties to bed, I seen a photo of a street sweeper in Philly and he was warring a neck tie.
I realize that I'm being a bit picky . One thing never changes. That's dust on everything. Hey, let's just call it the early prototype for HighRail weathering 
.
Don, It's a wonderful window into the past, Thank you!
Great photos. The little girl in the picture (if she's still alive) would be in her 90's.
Excellent B&W photos to bring it all together. 1929
Excellent B&W photos to bring it all together. 1929
Isn't that the truth.
If you type in "John M. Swartzell trains" on Google you will get a number of hits over on Shorpy and discussion with each of the pictures. I can't recall if it was somewhere on the OGR forum or over on one of the Shorpy discussion threads about one of the pictures that someone provided even more information about the man and the train layout. I also seem to remember that his railroad was featured in one of the early MR magazines from the 30's.
Mr. Butler brings up an excellent suggestion.
The Google list includes this article from Machinists Monthly Journal which includes mention of Minton Cronkhite of (Chicago Museum of Science and Industry fame) and Vincent Astor but goes on to describe the work of Mr. Swartzell.
http://www.forensicgenealogy.i..._monthly_journal.pdf
Originally Posted by marker:
Haven't looked at that layout in a long time, thanks for posting. Here's another picture from a different angle.
Note the "forced perspective" on the buildings going up the mountain. Cool.
Originally Posted by John Pignatelli JR.:
In those days I bet they wore neck ties to bed, I seen a photo of a street sweeper in Philly and he was warring a neck tie.
My maternal grandpa wore a tie every day, even when working in his shop (with wood lathe!) or mowing the yard!
Originally Posted by scale rail:
You though scale three rail was new? This is a shot of John M. Swartzell's three rail train system in Washington D.C. Glass negative 1929. Don
I wonder how much of that was off-the-shelf?
Those guys look all business like they weren't about to wait on Lionel make what they wanted! lol
Originally Posted by handyandy:
Originally Posted by scale rail:
You though scale three rail was new? This is a shot of John M. Swartzell's three rail train system in Washington D.C. Glass negative 1929. Don
I wonder how much of that was off-the-shelf?
Those guys look all business like they weren't about to wait on Lionel make what they wanted! lol
Considering Lionel wasn't making anything remotely scale in 1928...
Rusty
I've read stories of gentlemen in the 1930s, when taking a break from model operations, would imbibe in "root beer and cheese." And yes, they all wore jackets and ties.
Mostly 0 gauge back then................2-rail and/or outside 3rd rail.
Really interesting stuff. The old-time model magazines would list not only the modeler's name, but his street address as well.
Found the reference over on Shorpy - turns out I posted it over there some time ago 
According to the July 1936 issue of Model Railroader the name of the railroad was "The B&O Jr." The article notes that Mr. Swartzell began construction of his model railroad "shortly after the end of the war."
