@G-Man24 posted:Moving the contents from one storage facility to another is an arduous task, but the silver lining is I get to see stuff I haven't seen in years. Hmm what's in that big box over there..?..Hey it's that 140L tunnel I bought 20 years ago!
After seeing it again I decided to bring it home for a day and take a few pictures so I could contribute to the Tinplate Show and Tell. This is one of the few Standard Gage items I can say I "scored" on over the years. I spotted it as part of an antique doll and dollhouse auction and those folks had no interest in it at all. I don't recall exactly what I paid but I ended up getting it for the opening bid price which made it a real bargain.
Offered from 1927-1932, Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains describes the 140L as follows: Standard or O Gage, steel construction 90 degree curve with embossed stone portals. Hand painted to represent wooded mountain with seven chalet-style houses, waterfall passing under fence, road and snow capped peak in shades of gray, green, red and yellow. 37" by 24-1/2" by 20" high, illuminated with one bulb inside each portal.
Thanks for providing such a detailed 'show and tell'. That's a beautiful piece. You were indeed fortunate to find it in a non-train auction.
Maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems like they've just started appearing at York in the past 4 or 5 years. Since I only "touch with my eyes", I always assumed that they were made of plaster and/or glued cloth. I should have paid more attention to my Greenberg book. I was never interested, since it seemed too fragile to survive the long ride home - maybe I'll take a closer look next time I see one.
