@Carey Williams posted:Toys were rapid to copy reality ...1878 Elevated trains begin to roll in Manhattan . C C Shepherd receives a patent for his "model" Elevated Railroad in 1879. Here is Shepherd's "New" Elevated Railroad ( In Circular Form) . Wood construction ...litho paper sides ..delicate ...yes.. turning the crank attached to a rod with a roller , turning the center axle which has a rod with string to pull the train ...around and around .
C C Shepherd also made a Rapid Transit Elevated Railroad.. were the trains move back and forth in a straight line ( for which the patent was based) and the "Curved" Railroad ...wooden floor train ..track and switch .Train is DCC ...direct crank control,
Please see link for action video
An amazing vintage relic, I've never seen anything like that before!