Reading the posts here on YMRC you get a good impression of the difficulties and considerations a modern model railway will course. Analogue or digital? What about supplies? Shops seem to increase the prices or even shut for good. Import from overseas sometime incur excess postage and/or import taxes. How do we communicate with fellow modellers if we can't rely on the internet? Etc., etc.



Perhaps it is a surprise, but in 1915 the railway modellers faced the same problems – except the one involving the internet!



During a recent visit to the railway museum in Broken Hill, NSW, I came across a complete and bounded Volume 7 of the magazine 'Models, Railways and Locomotives' (M.R.&L.). At first it had no interest to me. The debate over clockwork locomotives versus electric locomotives (several pages are dedicated to the workings of an electric motor) appeared out-dated. On the other hand – how could you be working on model railways with a war going on? Well, I got intrigued by a few comments and bought the book.



'I should be glad if you would return the photo when you have finished with it, as it is the only one I have, and the fellow soldier who had the plate has gone to the front' (By Quarter-Master Srft. R. S. Holman, R.E. Malta. M.R.&L. Jan., 1915)



'All our readers interested in small model railways will be sorry to learn that Mr. A. H. King has, to use his own expression, been “plugged in both arms” by the Germans at La Basseé. His right am is seriously disable, however, he has been able to write us a cheery note with his left hand and we trust that we shall be able, sooner or later, to record his complete recovery' (M.R.&L. Jan., 1915)



'W. F. Cardew (India). Thanks for your letter and enclosure. We note with pleasure that you are joining His Majesty's forces' (M.R.&L. Aug., 1915)



'A collision, fortunate attended by no case of personal injury, occurred recently on the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway, at Ashford Junction. Both engines were derailed and some damage done to the permanent way. Much amusement was caused when it became know that a German engine had charged a British made engine' (M.R.&L. May, 1915)



Finally a more local (Australian) comment:

'Mr. L. C. Hills “Kardinia”, Park Street, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, Australia writes: “Will you please state for me in your M.R.&L. that I would like to correspond with other readers in Victoria if they would send me their addresses, and have an increased interest in their railways” ' (M.R.&L. July, 1915)

At least we don't have a world war to worry about - yet !!

I love the "very correct" language they used in those days.  I wonder if Messers Holman, King, Cardew and Hills survived to continue their interests in railway modelling …………….

I love it when people talk about the "good old days", totally forgetting about bombs being dropped on civilians, men and women going off to be killed, women working in factories while trying to care for kids. The recession before WW2. Etc, etc,etc. And as Peter says, we're not in a world war yet, but there's plenty of time.