LIONEL D-27 DISAPPEARING TRAIN LAYOUT ???'S

The forum's very own stur-it has built one. I'll bet a dollar he'll chime in. Very awesome I might add.

I saw one "in real life" at the Springfield, MA show (Amherst Club) last winter.

Sadly, I don't remember who was displaying it.

--Joe

Didn't CTT have their version of the layout operating at York several years ago? It was a cool layout for its relatively small size. I thought I remember seeing it located in the purple or black hall. Come to think about it, at the time I believe Jim Barrett was viewing it with Neil Young. I hope I'm not confusing the Jim Barrett & Neil Young sighting at CTT's disappearing layout with a dealer layout OGR may have also built and brought to York.

quote:

Originally posted by UnclePeteRR:
Also what kind of 031 compatible engines can make the helix climb?

Weren't some of the curves in the tunnel helix 0-27 track?

Since the tunnel is not all that long, the train, to disappear, will likely only be four or five cars maximum - that should allow any traction-tired locomotive or a MagnaTraction equipped Postwar locomotive to climb out of the tunnel area.
Larry D.

CTT did have an sritcle about the Lionel ans their own built versions.

quote:

Also what kind of 031 compatible engines can make the helix climb?

I think originally it was one of the Lionel 2-6-4's (like a 2037 or 2026). Depends on the length of the train you want to pull. As mentioned, any magnetraction locomotive would work (depending on the curve size) but a smaller locomotive would allow you to pull an extra car or two.

It was one of the 2-6-4 steamers and a bunch of the short gondolas.


As for power, it shouldn't be anything too fancy or difficult to do. You basically just have a simple oval with a few extra curves in one side, I'd put two connections on the layout at opposite ends to distribute the power evenly.

The loco pulled fourteen 1002 Scout gondolas.

There was a repro. display at the 2002 TCA Convention in St. Charles (Chicago).

Ron M

I have always liked that layout. If I had the extra room I would have built one.

Susan Deats built one she use to bring our shows.

It was pretty cool to watch.

xferyard The Deats helix you are refering: Is it the double track one that ascends about 6 ft or the one in the Lionel D-27 and helix hidden under the mountain. I am trying build the later Lionel one. She was so kind and patient when I asked her ???'s a couple of yrs ago. Please pass on any more info, Chris

I've seen a few renditions and don't recall any special wiring (though I don't recall asking either). Most any engine with good traction tires and a train of short, lightweight cars will do the trick.

I did build this layout a few years ago. It was alot of fun.I had help from the members of the Pittsburgh Indenpendent Hi-Railers on a few of our work nights.
I have copies of the original wiring and yes there is special wiring.It also uses 2 power supplies. Here are some photos. I have not set it it for several years.









This layout was built in 3 sections like the original.
It is a fun layout I guess I will have to set it up again one of these days.
I wanted it to look as original as I could so I had the paint mixed as close to what I thought it looked like. I used as many Postwar items as I could and I even used bags of Lionel grass.

Snellenburg's in Philly had one of those in the mid fifty's.

I sometimes wonder how that would work out as an O-72 with scale-sized equipment.

Two Questions, In the first picture it looks like something is blocking the tunnel. Also, where is the engine? Also can you show a picture of the whole train in the tunnel with it open? Thanks.

The pictures were taken 5 years ago while I was building it in my garage. The is nothing blocking the tunnel. The train comes up on an angle. I used a Williams SW as my engine. The layout is not set up at this time.

I took this video a few months ago at a TTOS SP meet. It is at about the 2:50 mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXoyvtyewgQ

Steve

The Lionel disappearing layout has always been one of my favorite Lionel layouts. Although I'm not quite old enough to have seen the real thing, I love looking at pics and videos of reproductions of this layout. Thanks for posting both!

Jim

That is cool! I hadn't seen one yet. Thanks for posting!

stur-it: Is your layout built in seperate sections that can be pulled apart for transport or is it one solid piece? What kind of engines do you use (old or new) Is it necessary to build in cut out drop down section as pictured on left side? Could you forward copies of wiring diagrams? Very appreciatively Chris

unclepeteRR send me your address.

stur-it You can reach me at Chris87ms@aol.com

xferyard (John G) mentioned that I have shared my Modern Version of Lionel's Disappearing Train Layout at Meets and Shows in Colorado. Here are some photos I had in my "archives" from 2002. On this layout one train disappears into the tunnel and a different train exits.
This is a light weight layout that folds up to fit into a 1992 Ford Bronco. It's been displayed at several Rocky Mountain Division train meets in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Estes Park, Colorado. The accessories can be activated by the audience. The tunnel in the center hides the secret. When on display, there is a clear plastic fence on the front at the track curves.


The Refreshment Stand and Crossing gate are controlled with momentary switches in lower right corner.


The Whistle and Diesel sound buildings are audience controlled. The Maiden Rescue is controlled with the IR Controller as the train exits the tunnel. The kids learn to reset the maiden quickly. The Log Loader is a pain sometimes because the trains have to stop to load logs. The Log Loader can be unplugged.


For more information (see the secret) and detailed construction and wiring information
see http://www.slsprr.net/tunnel_layout/tunnel1.html

WANTED: Train Runner to set up and run the display with me at Colorado Meets and/or shows. Two and a half day displays are more than I want to handle by myself.

Susan;
Looks like you extended the hidden section a bit as I was thinking should be done.

If you are still looking for an assistant in 15 years when I can hopefully retire back to Colorado, I'd be happy to join you. But for now I'm much too far away.

Awesome layout Stur-it!

Hi Sturit,
Was looking for info on wooden tunnel supports and tressle heights. Also if you have anything with more detailed wiring than what the Classic Toy Train article provided. Any information would be greatly appreciated. My email is chris87ms@aol.com.

Thanks.
Uncle Pete RR

quote:

Originally posted by stur-it:
unclepeteRR send me your address.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lXoyvtyewgQ#t=178s

 

Great video Steve, that's really funny to see a long train disappear into a short tunnel!

 

I did something similar but different with a small N-gauge layout, with a flat hidden loop of track inside a hill. I never finished the scenery and I ended up taking the top level off to convert the still-uncompleted layout to HOn30, as shown in second photo. Of course the train length is limited by the crossing at grade.

 

 

See my related thread https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/d.../lastReply#lastReply

This is a great idea for a display layout. I wondered how it might work with a flat layout, which would be simpler to build. I drew up this O31 variation which would handle trains about 6.5 feet long. 

 

 

 

Not only would the train length be limited by the crossing at grade, but the illusion would not be complete.

 

The D-27 with it's string of colored gondolas never completely disappeared.  The 2035 was coming out as the last 1002 was going in.

It might be a bit tricky to operate a really long train through that corkscrew feature!

Lionel did it on the D-27.

 

Once the whole gondola train is in the "corkscrew", half is going down, and half is going up.  That part is easy for the loco like a 2035 to pull through.  The 1002 gondolas have sheet metal bolsters with plastic sideframes, so they were marginally lighter, too.

The All Gauge Toy Train Association of San Diego made a version of this a few years back when I was in it. It has always been a favorite of mine. My friend won the auction. Someday it may  make the magazines it's now part of one of the biggest private model rr's on the west coast.

 

http://www.agtta.com/anniversary/anniversary.html
If you follow that link you can see the AGTTA D-27 they are making or remaking as thier big 40th anniversary Raffle. A great group of guys who do an amazing job on thier projects. There is a link to a video here as well.

FasTrack version in 4'x 10' with minimum O31 curves in the tunnel. Visible curves are O36 minimum with "easement" sections. Downgrade (clockwise) approaches 4% and the upgrade is about 9%. SCARM plan shows the spiral track inside the intended tunnel section. Use the AnyRail plan to identify the track sections. If someone decides to build this, please show photos!

 

 

I was  stur-it  now  DOC.  A friend of mine was at my house tonight and asked me when I was going to get my layout out. So I told him I was going to do it this Summer.

The all are on me I built the Disappearing Layout and it Disappeared.

There was one a "Playland at the Beach" as a arcade game. You paid a nickel to watch I believe a Lionel 027 steam engine do the same trick. I wasn't build by Lionel but someone made a lot of nickels with it. Many of them mine. Don

Was it set up with a long train that didn't completely disappear? Which is supposed to be the most novel effect? The only videos available on YouTube show the train disappearing completely before it reappears, much to the disappointment of certain forumites!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXoyvtyewgQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=179s