A reason for a #197 rotating radar antenna on your layout

Call it a weather radar.

I’ve had an airport beacon on my layout for at least twenty years but, you’d be hard pressed to find the airport.

Your layout, your favorite stuff! Who needs any justification beyond that?

Curt

It could be used for tracking the Menards flying saucer.

Interesting post.

I have two PW radar rotating antennas. Somewhere in my past watching Sci-fi I gathered some plausible idea that looking for Soviet attack didn’t appeal to me. I had already gone through The Bay of Pigs hour in grade school. So I fantasized two rotary antennas looking for extra terrestrial activities like the big ear in the sky. Made a saucer out of two aluminum pie plates…you get the idea! I was in the fourth or fifth grade glued to sci-fi movies, comics, books. Every time I look at the rotary radar tower I am aware of the fascination I still have!

PW#197 still on guard!

It is extremely important to have a #197 somewhere in the general vicinity of your #175 Rocket Launching Pad. Failing to do so may lead to the rockets veering off course and landing on your #132 Passenger Stop Station.

It was irresponsible of Lionel not to note this in the instructions.

@juniata guy posted:

I’ve had an airport beacon on my layout for at least twenty years but, you’d be hard pressed to find the airport.

I had a 394 beacon on my 4'x16' layout in the basement in the 1950's.  Like many an owner of this accessory, I found it to not be very reliable for consistent operation...to say the least.  Dennis, my neighborhood friend who held his American Flyer layout in higher esteem, added fuel to my aggravation asking 'Where's the airport?'  I remember Dad told me at dinner to respond with 'Tell him it's on the other side of the basement wall...but you can't get there from here!'

Your layout, your favorite stuff! Who needs any justification beyond that?

Not me!!  Dad's point was...'Use your imagination!'  It's still one of those trivial memories that pops back from time to time as I enjoy the freedom from reality of the O3R hobby realm.   Not all the gimmicks and gizmos are tolerable (like crew talk!), but 'beyond the table's edge' is pretty cheap expansion of the layout!!

Curt

These are on duty to detect any of those pesky Russian Bear bombers that might be off course, any stray North Korean missiles, and Chinese balloons. Airport not required!

Postwar technology applied to possible modern terrorism detection. Yep
breezinup. Hmmm. I guess that’s why I have two of them! lol.

It's your layout. Your are the President, King, Dictator or whatever ruler you wish to be. These accessories  will protect you and your Lionelville subjects from attack from any imaginary nemesis. Let your imagination rule wild. Regardless of your age, you can return, for the moment, to childhood.

That's the beauty of it.