Lionel Dealer Display Layouts, Factory Layouts and Postwar Layouts

Notch 6 posted this D-133 on Facebook some time back

A restoration on Facebook... The green used to match the original was listed as HC-132 Harrisburg Green from Benjamin Moore paints

D-63 images and videos

That moving highway animated feature is really nice!  Great track plan and automatic action!  Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!

Take care, Joe.

More D-63 

D-192

Another fun thing with this layout- the 132 station was modified to allow multiple trains on the same loop of track. I've seen a 132 on eBay for sale that had the additional circuits

Lionel D-40 pics from eBay

D-289 from eBay

Just bought this display and will reproduce the shelves and banner for it for a complete restoration--running out of room, too many displays!!

Restoration started. 90% of wiring original but am replacing 3 and 4 conductor wiring as is brittle. Working on graphics and reproducing the display shelves and signage

D-165, I believe, pulled from Facebook

Again from Facebook, supposed to be the original Storytown display built by Lionel for the park

I read an article about the Storytown display layout, really cool. I always admired that layout.

The last two photos are from Ed Dougherty's collection- read here:

Ed Dougherty Lionel Trains Train room  the history is described on an 11/26/2013 post by Frank G.

Latest eBay pics, this time a D-147 from 1955. Seller says ballast was added as well as roads (as opposed to the tan paint) at some point in the display's life. I also spot some trees and telegraph poles that aren't original

Thanks for posting the 1955 Dealer Display Catalog images.  These are very informative, of course, but for those who are planning to use them as a guide to building a replica of the layouts, one has to use caution.  Often times what was pictured was not exactly what was produced.  For example, the D-147 shows the ZW and controls sitting atop the platform, when in actuality, the layout came with a separate control panel, which was typical for the 5 X 9 displays.  Also, the D-148 shows a RW transformer, when in fact, these layouts were shipped with a LW, which was introduced in 1955.  More drastic, is the fact that in the catalog, the siding at the "front" of the left hand lower loop is shown as a stub end siding, when the production layouts were made with this as a passing siding.  There are many other examples as well.  In 1956, the D-165 as illustrated in the catalog was based on a modified D-148, but the actual layout produced was much different!  I ended up building my replica on the catalog illustration and thus ended up with replica of the prototype layout, not the actual production layouts!

How true, also the graphics vary and in some instances by a lot. The drum head display doesn't even show the animated featutre and the semaphore display it went from cartoon images showing a coupler, whistle and smoke to just the words. A lot of artistic license was taken by illustrators or some major league reworks performed in the display studios was being done. It woul be neat to be able to interview/talk with some of the workesr

D-146 at the Train Room in Hagerstown, MD. The accessories are not all correct on this, but this should give a good idea on the colors of paint and materials used at the least.

D-147 from 1955 on eBay at the moment

D-264 on eBay as well

Bought the D147 from Fred in Nebraska-long trip but met a couple of great train guys. 

Am reconstruction shelves for D289. I have cleaned all of the gravel off of the D147 and painted the more correct tan. Previous owner had painted grass areas dark, so I reapplied original Lionel grass to it again, and am wiring as originally spec'd by Lionel with  insulated rails to activate accessories. Should be up and running in a couple of weeks!!

Also shown is my reproduction of the D187 ferris wheel (now has the Lionel Trains sign on it also.

Anybody have a blue print or something that can guide me through building the Highway with cars from the D63 1952 dealer display?

Ritchie, I have the plans for this one -- and all of the dealer displays for that matter -- at home. Shoot me an email and I will send to you when I'm home this evening.

jjdjsweet@comcast.net

I have been working on reproducing the roadway itself which is a bit of a challenge but doable. I have some preliminary drawings and measurements for this. The hardest thing about the D63 is the electrical if you are wanting to reproduce the relay system--not bad but need the relays to do.

I just want to add that highway with the cars to my layout.

Not looking to do the whole D63

I can probably help you with that. Biggest cost will be the AC motor to operate pulley--cast about 80-90 dollars for that, A bearing, two 3" sheaves, 1/2" shaft for axle, long fan belt, etc. I have all of the pieces and was getting ready to put together (time willing). The cars used by Lionel were Renwal and show up on ebay frequently. Other cars could be used (dimestore brand) as well

These are from a gentlemen who restored an original D63, construction is straight forward but does require some equipment (table saw, etc.)

WOW!!! How do the cars connect??

This shows the axle of the car through a bar that is riveted to the fan belt (that is 14 feet long!!)

Good photos, Jagrick. I think the D-63 will be my next repro after the D-148 I am presently doing. Do you have the schematics for the relay system? As I said above, I saw one of the stations with the relays sell on eBay within the last six months, but it went for a very high premium.

I believe I do--I will find and post/get to you

Finishing another D187

Thanks, looking forward to it

Jagrick, thank you for sharing all the great photos. I know it takes time to shoot, post and caption the images, I (and other) appreciate it.

Keep up the good work.

Charlie

I have seen an original D63 Highway in operation. This particular one was extremely noisy.

The one I saw in the 70s was a squeaky contraption.

I see why now. In one photo you can see the pulley rubbing a bare spot in the bracket.

Its building was torn, or was crushed on the backside, but still awesome to watch the cars. It immediately reminded me of the Jetsons cartoon. I consider it, and the disappearing train to be the two best dealer layouts I've seen.

 Ritchie, Since your not likely going for an exact "historical" recreation, a garage sale can-opener may supply a motor with a speed you can live with, and torque enough to do this at a low price. I'll offer to send the one I just took apart, but I bet you can find one local cheaper than shipping alone .

Is there an organized check list of known dealer layouts someone has, to accompany this thread? I don't see it being a short one   

Actually needs to turn quite a bit faster than that:

3" pulley, 14 ft of fan belt with a rough travel time of 20-25 seconds per circuit, 3" pulley must rotate 18 times to perform circuit, so roughly 3 times per minute means it must be abouy 54-60 rpm to run at proper speed.

Resoration of D147 moving on well. Track almost all attached and will attach wiring with insulated rails as trips. Re-used original track, and repro billboard.