My usual model train oriented rounds in 1950's Manhattan were the Lionel Showroom, Gilbert Hall of Science, Savoy Merchandise, Polk's (5th Ave.), and Model Railroad Equipment Corp on West Forty-Fifth St. Polk's was a multi-level hobby department store, catering more to the burgeoning HO hobbyists. The store on West Forty Fifth had a mini tinplate museum and carried tinplate and postwar Lionel. The greatest stop was the Lionel Showroom, which included a museum display as you entered the layout area, and of course that incredible layout, powered by four ZW's! They also had a parts and service dept towards the back.of the layout.
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