Lionel D-289 Display

Looks good so far.  Keep us posted.  Lots of pics.

Dealer Display layouts are the best! Looks like a great start!

Nice

Nothing like a dealer display layout 👍🏼

Thanks! some others up in the man cave

obviously a misspent adulthood chasing toys still!

In '68 I worked as a radio announcer in Lethbridge, Alberta (Canada) where it was part of my job to run a "buy 'n sell" hotline. Yes, I took a little liberty with it for about a week, running my own "Lionel Trains wanted" ad. Got no replies until the last day when a gentleman from a small surrounding town called to offer me the 8x8 Lionel display layout that was on display for 6 or 7 Christmases at a local dep't. store. I wasn't earning much at the time. He wanted $250 bucks for it. I cry a heart river every once in a while. Stupid truly came to visit me that day; guess I'd never heard that even a man with a family on the way can negotiate a loan, lol...

Virginian65 posted:

In '68 I worked as a radio announcer in Lethbridge, Alberta (Canada) where it was part of my job to run a "buy 'n sell" hotline. Yes, I took a little liberty with it for about a week, running my own "Lionel Trains wanted" ad. Got no replies until the last day when a gentleman from a small surrounding town called to offer me the 8x8 Lionel display layout that was on display for 6 or 7 Christmases at a local dep't. store. I wasn't earning much at the time. He wanted $250 bucks for it. I cry a heart river every once in a while. Stupid truly came to visit me that day; guess I'd never heard that even a man with a family on the way can negotiate a loan, lol...

I too had past up things saying another will come along or too much of a stretch (I missed a lionel display layout in the 80's and a closed lionel hobby shop but just $0 disposable income). SInce those times I will stretch myself some because some items never will come around a gain!

Alas, life's path is often strewn with unfulfilled dreams!  :-(

Jagrick, does it need to be said that you have SO made up for those leaner times, lol? Hard to keep from drooling at the width and breadth of those display beauties. Someone should put together a book on your display beauties alone (but, of course, also focusing on your trains). I'd buy it!

Jagrick posted:

Virginian65 posted:

In '68 I worked as a radio announcer in Lethbridge, Alberta (Canada) where it was part of my job to run a "buy 'n sell" hotline. Yes, I took a little liberty with it for about a week, running my own "Lionel Trains wanted" ad. Got no replies until the last day when a gentleman from a small surrounding town called to offer me the 8x8 Lionel display layout that was on display for 6 or 7 Christmases at a local dep't. store. I wasn't earning much at the time. He wanted $250 bucks for it. I cry a heart river every once in a while. Stupid truly came to visit me that day; guess I'd never heard that even a man with a family on the way can negotiate a loan, lol...

I too had past up things saying another will come along or too much of a stretch (I missed a lionel display layout in the 80's and a closed lionel hobby shop but just $0 disposable income). SInce those times I will stretch myself some because some items never will come around a gain!

Most of us in the hobby for awhile have passed up some great & unforgettable opportunities over the years.

I always - even sitting here right now! - rationalize missing those buys by not only remembering the lack of money but the lack of space as well.

Thinking "lack of space" always makes me feel better.  

I agree unconditionally... fate sometimes causes us to miss out on great opportunities.  After all, fate can be a practical Joker with a cruel sense of humor.  So I look at my memories of those moments compared against their circumstances.  Was it truly a missed opportunity ?  Or a case of Fate looking to be cruel ?   Many years ago, when we were just starting out, I had an argument with my wife over the last five dollar bill in my wallet...  I wanted to buy gas, so I could drive to work & earn my paycheck.  But she wanted that five to buy milk & diapers...  ( True story folks )   Now if someone had turned up out of the blue, and offered me a standard gauge Blue Comet for five bucks that day;  I still would have given that five dollar bill to my wife.   Yes...  I would agonize over missing a great train set, but I'd never feel I made the wrong decision.  Because in the end, something like that really isn't an opportunity.  It's really a case where Fate just wants to make you feel bad .  

Now if the circumstances were different, and it was a choice between buying that Blue Comet, or a case of beer...  And I chose the beer...  Then I deserve to feel bad thirty years later.  So remember, the next time you lament about your missed opportunities, was it really a case of making the wrong choice...  The Blue Comet, or the Beer ?   Or was Fate being mean to you that day...  The baby, or the gas ? You may feel remorse about those moments.  But if you really think about it, you might not need to feel guilty !   That ends today's lesson in philosophy.

Gentlemen,

    Just before Frank passed away he offered to sell me the Iron Horse Hobby Shop, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa, at a more than reasonable price.  I passed on the purchase, because I believed the stress of taking over the business would be very bad for my health, I made the correct decision.  Unfortunately the Iron Horse is no more.  Wish it could have been done differently.

PCRR/Dave

Jagrick posted:

obviously a misspent adulthood chasing toys still!

Wow! Beautiful Display collection! Wish I had room for some of those! A 4x6' Layout is very big for my house!

Thanks guys,  this has turned into a fantastic thread.  

Hi guys!

Just an update, got all of the accessories mounted to the board and wired. I do have one good question though, I have a few accessories that need a lower voltage than the rest. When powered with 14v like the D-289 was, they are way overpowered. I purchased a dimmer for a halogen floor lamp from the local Menards (The only compact dimmer they have) Can I wire these accessories together and power them off of the 14V strips from the bottom with the dimmer wired into the hot lead for the accessories? I can't see why it wouldn't work, but just checking.

Thanks!

Hi Joe,  i dont know the anwser to the dimmer question,  you may get some responses if you start a new thread with that topic.  Good luck

You could also just run another bus bar with lower voltage or even put a resistor in line as a to  drop voltage down. How much lower is voltage?? Maybe even just use a dedicated power source.

The other idea -- admittedly maybe not your first choice -- is to pick up a Lionel ZW transformer to power everything. Gives you enough for two trains and you can use the B and C dials for separate, variable voltage as needed.

I have 3 ZW's  But I was trying to stay original with the look and the original transformers. If worse comes to worse, yes I could toss one of those on there.

Joe L posted:

I have 3 ZW's  But I was trying to stay original with the look and the original transformers. If worse comes to worse, yes I could toss one of those on there.

Totally get it. When I built my D-105 I tried to stay true to the original design as much as possible.

I did ditch one of the accessories - the 497 coal loader - in favor of the lumber mill. A long story but suffice it to say most of the coal loader models make me crazy.

Joe L posted:

Hi guys!

Just an update, got all of the accessories mounted to the board and wired. I do have one good question though, I have a few accessories that need a lower voltage than the rest. When powered with 14v like the D-289 was, they are way overpowered. I purchased a dimmer for a halogen floor lamp from the local Menards (The only compact dimmer they have) Can I wire these accessories together and power them off of the 14V strips from the bottom with the dimmer wired into the hot lead for the accessories? I can't see why it wouldn't work, but just checking.

Thanks!

original 289 layout had 2 transformers mounted on board, one to run layout and accessories on board, second one ran the elevated trestle track

Jagrick posted:

Joe L posted:

Hi guys!

Just an update, got all of the accessories mounted to the board and wired. I do have one good question though, I have a few accessories that need a lower voltage than the rest. When powered with 14v like the D-289 was, they are way overpowered. I purchased a dimmer for a halogen floor lamp from the local Menards (The only compact dimmer they have) Can I wire these accessories together and power them off of the 14V strips from the bottom with the dimmer wired into the hot lead for the accessories? I can't see why it wouldn't work, but just checking.

Thanks!

original 289 layout had 2 transformers mounted on board, one to run layout and accessories on board, second one ran the elevated trestle track

Correct, I have used an LW Transformer and a 1015 Transformer.

Update! Here are a few photos of where we got today during the snow. Pretty good progress!

that is a great looking dealer display!  Lots of accessories!!

Joe I don't think the dimmer will work. It is made to step down 110v-120v and is not an old rheostat type dimmer; new dimmers do the job differently.

What you can do is use the 14v and step down the accessory voltage with diodes or buck converter, etc. For the price and ease, you can dial in each accessory individually.

Lol, a dealer layout.....No wonder I liked the pieces chosen for this layout so much when I saw it in that other thread 

Adriatic posted:

Joe I don't think the dimmer will work. It is made to step down 110v-120v and is not an old rheostat type dimmer; new dimmers do the job differently.

What you can do is use the 14v and step down the accessory voltage with diodes or buck converter, etc. For the price and ease, you can dial in each accessory individually.

Lol, a dealer layout.....No wonder I liked the pieces chosen for this layout so much when I saw it in that other thread 

 

Yeah, I found that out so I ordered a Lionel 95 rheostat. I know that will do the trick.

Thanks!

Looks great, Joe. You really captured the display "look."

Fantastic great job 🙂