Lionel Dealer Display Layouts, Factory Layouts and Postwar Layouts

If I can figure out how, I'll do one better. I'll post a movie.

 

D-190,

If you can put the video in mp4 format, you can just add it as an attachment like a photo. Everyone likes to see these display layouts.

Yes, by all means, please put up some pics.

 

I am still plugging along on my 5x9 D-105 display layout. Two levels with the usual load of great accessories. Pretty much took the summer off from working on it but am back in earnest now. Getting ready to build the big honking mountain (5 portals) and finish other scenery.

I've included a video of my version of the D-190 Layout. The table top is green felt. The track is Fastrack. The turnouts are manual, the trussals are made for Fastrack. I still have to hook-up the wiring yet, but runs great. Hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for video! Can you see why there are different power divisions in the plans? The train shouldn't slow on the climb and speed on the flat or at the top of climb. Using different outputs at various voltages keeps the train at close to the same speed.

 

The audio came out like the Lionel Phantom. Sounds cool! It's a fun looking layout.

I enjoyed doing the layout, it put my brain to work. I still have to wire everything together. I'm using a 40 watt for the signals and 80 watt for the track and accessories. And toggle switches for the spurs.

I am finally got a copy of carps book.  I am going to do a d264 layout but modify so trains can cross between inner Amd outer loops.  Any watchouts to having cross overs between loops.

Here's my rendition in Lionel FasTrack with interlocking. Only one place that I felt it would work.

I took out the trolley run also. Fun layout!

moonman that looks a lot like this one. theres some differences but close

 

Cool. So the layout I want to do is the one shown above w the crossover between the inner and outer loops. It's a modified version of the d265.  Anything I need to watch out for electrically w this crossover?   Any cool ways to automate this to have trains go between the loops?

Railcars,

if you are talking about the track plan 3D photo and the actual photo in the following post, they are D-264.    D-265 is 8' x 8'.

 

Super O has it's own track dimensions. The plan I did is in FasTrack and then put those switches in for the interlocking. I eliminated the bumper car track. The switches' center rail needs to be isolated by removing the center pins or whatever works for the track that you use. There is no room for a fitter piece with FasTrack.

 

I would try to use 072 switches or #5's there. The 036's were at the client's request.

Have mentioned this before, especially for those who don't have/don't want to pay the high price of the Carp book on Dealer Display Layouts. I have the plans on CD for just about all the layouts, including basic track plan, picture, product inventory, and wiring diagram.

 

If anyone wants a plan for a particular layout, shoot me an email (in Profile).

John,

 

I just sent you an email with picture attached in hopes you can identify a Lionel Dealer Display that I have.

 

(Since I use AOL, don't forget to check your trash)

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Best,

Dave

This may seem like a rookie question but does anyone know what graduated trestle system this layout has???

conifers4,

It looks like the BridgeBoss Girder and Curved Girder system.  I prefer the Lionel steel look arch on this layout as designed by Lionel.

Thank you very much moonman. I'm thinking of using "modern" track as depicted in your attachment. 

We still have my dad's original D-63 display. We've intended to get it restored but just haven't gotten around to it. We do have the working freeway, buildings, and backdrop. The original tunnel is gone though but that shouldn't be that hard to recreate. Our layout was in the window of Younkers department store in downtown Des Moines for Christmas 1962. My grandfather bought it and had it delivered to their house right around New Years. It was in the basement until 1977 when the house was sold. The layout was torn apart and shipped to Houston where the wooden parts sat in an un-air conditioned garage attic until about 4 years ago when I learned what we had and decided to get everything together again for a restoration. Every other part including the trains, buildings, and transformer were in boxes in the house and have all been restored to working condition. We should be able to get it back to nearly it's original state. Roger Carp helped me out a bit with some info on it and I found a running one in New York. When I went to York a few years ago I drove up to see it and take pictures so we can get everything accurate.

That’s a great story, Fred.

 

The D-63 was unique because of the so-called moving highway.

 

Hoping you get it restored one day and post pictures here!

Did Lionel sell that highway with the autos??

Highway was only sold as part of D-63.

It was never a end user sale item.

 

One of my favorites.

 

Mike

My dad corrected my story on his layout. It was in Younkers in downtown Des Moines but it was not in the window. Younkers had their main building (which was destroyed by fire earlier this year) but across the street they had another which was the Younkers Store for Homes. For the holidays they'd clear out a section of the Store for Homes and devote it to Christmas toys. In the back right of the store was the train section. This is where his display was setup.

 

My grandfather was always looking for a deal. After Christmas he went in to see what was left. He made a deal to buy everything that was leftover that didn't sell. This included the D-63 with the ZW and all of the layout parts, the two trains that were running on it, one which was pulled by the Erie Alcos and the other which was pulled by a 2026 steam engine. He also got a new pair of Western Pacific F3's and the 4 set of aluminum passenger cars. There were also other various accessories such as the light tower and some random train cars and I believe 726 steam engine that is long gone. He picked up the whole lot delivered to their house for $150. What a deal!

 

Wow, deal is right!  Enjoyed reading that.

 

When I did a little research about Dealer Display Layouts one of the common stories I kept seeing was how Lionel dealers and other stores that had these layouts would sell them off after the holiday season, either whole as is or for the individual trains and accessory pieces. The other thing that’s interesting about these is how some layouts are still being “discovered” in basements and attics after all these years.  And there are a few well-known collectors out there that have any number of these classic displays in great condition. I know “the other magazine” did a feature on some of these not long ago.

Hi All,

 

Not to Hijack a thread but this IS about dealer displays and I have one I need help in identifying.  Its small by other display standards at only 41 inches by 67 inches.  It appears to be made out of 'vacu-formed' plastic.  Other than the Lionel logo on the front, there are no other identifying markings - not even something small stamped on the bottom.

 

 

 

Here's a close up of the Lionel logo:

 

Thanks in advance for any help with this!

Best,

Dave 

 

I want that layout in the middle of my mid century modern home!!! Mom making cookies.....Dad reading the paper.....only good memories aloud!!! 

 

It is one of my favorites.

My dad just pulled the old D-63 highway out of the attic. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of it. I will at some point over the holidays though since we are going to bring it over to my house soon. That way everyone will see how it works. It's actually quite simple. It's just a chain that has very long pins on between some of the links. Those pins stick up through a slot out of the face of the roadway. The cars are from Renwal. They are hollow shells. They just sit over the pins and the pins push the cars around. It's very low tech.

 

Our painted backdrop is broken in half and will require a degree of restoration at the split to make it look good again.

Look forward to seeing pics and all fred.

I have an original D190 and have restored and reproduced several others,

 

http://youtu.be/RjkA8JsmmXM

you tube link for lazy susan display

Also have reproduced this display as well

http://youtu.be/Z3bgHPfq0uA

 

another of the D51

Just seeing this thread again reminded me to post some pics of the finished layout. While not an exact replica of any factory display layout, I used a ton of research, including the  fabulous Display layouts book & some phone conversations w/ Roger Carp to nail down the look & feel of one built during that era. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher, 

 

Please tell us about your wall shelves.....they look great!!!

 

thx

 Here are some screen shots I got off eBay of a twin about 10 years ago:

 

TRAINZ/Dash claims to maybe have one for sale for $86.

WOW, Thanks Rob!!!!!!

 

You made my day... actually now I can get some sleep at night rather than cruisin' the internet looking for answers.  Again, MANY THANKS !!!

 

No, wait, I still need answers... when was it made, where was it made, what did it cost??????????????? 

 

Best,

Dave

Please pardon me if this question does not belong in this thread.  I apologize if it doesn't right up front.  Does anybody know what became of the display at Bruce's train shop that recently closed in Sacramento CA? I'm 58 years old but felt like I was 9 years old watching it.  The dealer display conversation in this thread is especially intriguing to me as I have a 12' x 24' room that will be used as a permanent dealer inspired layout to show case the operating accessories, recreating the 50's-60's era which appeals to some of us in this forum.  I would like to thank all of you for your excellent insights and links which have taken me back in time, where in fact, certain things in life were better. 

I can only guess at the year - 1970 or 1971 based on the leftover Hillside 1122E switches(as cataloged/pictured in 1970). If those aren't original, which is quite possible, it could be anytime in the Fundimensions era up to 1985, which seems more likely based on the mailing address and the lack of any reference to MPC.

Again, THANKS Rob !!!

 

Its interesting to note that Lionel's part number for this display that I have is 6-82104.  That number has also been used for the current operating accessory "Playtime Playground" - reusing numbers certainly isn't rare but but far from a common practice!

 

Makes finding facts on the internet just a little bit harder...

 

Best,

Dave

This is a fundimensions layout from the 70's. They do turn up then and again and are a vaccuuform constructhion I believe.

Probably my favorite thread on the site- here are a couple more contributions:

 

D-106 that's been disassembled/needs restoration

And a low-angle shot of a D-148 that shows how the bridges are mounted/mountain details