Hello Tinplate World
1906 you had mechanical clock work trains , live steam, and electric novelties . By far the king of the electric train world was Carlisle and Finch based in Cincinatti . C&F is credited with the first successful electric trolley fall of 1896 followed by an electric mining train ( mine engine pulling dump cars 1898) and first steam outline pulling a gondola and box car or two passenger cars in 1899. C&F were 2" , 2 rail DC... 2" gauge was the American "standard " for the first 14 years of electric trains , till a new "Standard Gauge" took the lead and cast 2" to a foot note in history books.
At York I was fortunate to pick up a C&F #42 circa 1906 ... Add a bit of oil , clean the armature ... Dail up 6volts and 1/2 amp and she springs to life.
C&F used bright shiny brass for the bodies of trolleys and their passenger cars , wood was used for bases.
C&F is still in business today building searchlights .
Cheers Carey
