Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1906. "New pumping plant on Ohio River." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

August 5, 1929. Washington, D.C. "Miniature RR of John N. Swartzell." Our fourth look at the Swartzell rail empire. National Photo glass negative. View full size.

Harbor Springs, Michigan, circa 1906. "Excursion logging train." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1906. "Mount Adams incline." A closeup of one of Cincy's famous incline railway lines, and of a lesser-known clothesline. Also: Moxie! 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Dec. 11, 1925. Washington, D.C. "J.N. Swartzell with miniature railroad." Finally we see the man behind the trains. National Photo glass negative. View full size.

August 5, 1929. Washington, D.C. "Miniature R.R. of John N. Swartzell." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

New York City circa 1905. "Jefferson Market Courthouse." Now a library. Looking down West 10th Street at Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

December 11, 1925. Washington, D.C. "Margaret Swartzell -- Swartzell railroad system." Not just a model train, it's a "system" -- who can tell us more? National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

September 1, 1900. "Wabash Avenue north from Adams Street, Chicago." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1908. "Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Wabash Bridge, Monongahela River." Back when Pittsburgh was sans H. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size.

Lake Erie circa 1905. "Hulett clamshell hoists, Cleveland, Ohio." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Vermont circa 1904. "Summit Cut, Green Mountains." I see seven eight people here. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

New York circa 1904. "City Hall subway station." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1904. "Dudley Street Station, Boston 'L' Railway." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1904. "Inclined plane." Five "Cincinnati incline" railway elevators served the growing hillside suburbs above the smoky basin below. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.