Lionel Dealer Display Layouts, Factory Layouts and Postwar Layouts

Ace, Glad you saw that thread.

 

If you, or anyone, has the track plan for the D-131, 5x9 O gauge layout and can post it here it would be very much appreciated.

Good Day Ace,

 

Sounds like a great idea. 

 

Regards,

Frank

 

Here is my D-190 re-creation:

 

A corrected version of the 1957 catalog back cover Super O layout with track requirements can be found in the October 2010 issue of CCT. The accessories used on the revised plan are different from the original,however overall it is very true to the

original.

I've always like that 1957 layout. It may be part due to the mid century modern home it's set in!!!

I'd love to see info on the 8x8 D-132 layout....it's one I'd not mind recreating. Thanks

CSXJOE,

 

Is that a 4x8? It appears to be but wanted to verify.

I find the drawing of the layout a bit humorous.  It makes it appear as if you could seamlessly drop that layout into the main floor of a 1950s house without it being obstrusive at all.  If only that was the case...

Johnstrains:

 

Yes it is 4 x 8.

 

For more info on my build, look here:

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...598#7343020862274598

 

 

And what a perfect example of the positive 1950's era. A fantastic layout with finished sides and under layout storage befitting a top line kitchen.  My buddy lives in a Mid Century Modern home in So Cal.....and yes...the layout would work perfectly in his home....but yes...it is not typical of the small 1950's ranch the vast majority of folks lived in. But this is the 'dream layout' so dream big!!

I believe this 1957 layout was the basis for the 1975 cover layout on "How to Build a Railroad Empire" I wish there was a track plan and an article on this colorful layout!

 

I found pics of a D-132 layout on an auction site and am trying to figure out the track plan. Even with three pictures from different angles, it isn't obvious how the tracks connect, which is what makes the plan more interesting.

 

 

WOW! Lionel postwar D-132 dealer Lionel train display layout, circa 1954, which measures 8 x 8 feet. The layout operates three trains on two different levels.

 

This is my reconstruction of the suspected track plan, which maybe has only a single reversing track. If someone has a different idea on this, let's see it!

 

man this is a cool track plan - now you have me reconsidering my original idea!

That one reverse loop is odd though. CSX Joe - post some more pics Nice 1583WS set on the upper level!

I think I mentioned this in the 1963 layout thread, but posting it here since it’s on topic.

 

If any forum member has the Roger Carp book, “Classic Lionel Display Layouts You Can Build” and is willing to scan and post some of the track plans, it would be very much appreciated.

 

Am kicking around several layout ideas.

Here's the one I almost built before we moved last summer - D-106

I found these on the interwebs  The trackplan is attached as a PDF

 

A Great book is Lionel Display Layouts You Can Build by Roger Carp.  It is out of print they can be found but New is about $175. It is a 96 page book that covers 23 different layouts. The D-131 is in it. Many pictures, Track plans, old adds.

DOC,

 

You must have missed my post (see just up above). Am aware of the Carp book and the fact that it's cost prohibitive.  Am hopeful a forum member might be willing to scan and post some track plans.

just thought of something -  with these old style layouts if the track is directly on plywood/painted trackbed  , how bad is the noise?   Is there anything to do to quiet them down?

Christopher,  My tinplate layout has tin track right on painted plywood (I use paint for the "ballast").  With tinplate the noise isn't bad at all. Maybe because the clackety-clack of the tinplate trains is what I hear.

 

Overall, noise isn't an issue for me.

 

Ace,

 

Pretty good interpretation of the D-132 track plan, however the track with the milk/cattle cars dead-ends in the tunnel one and a half sections in. I like your version better!

 

Peter

 

Ace - how tight would that reverse loop curve have to be?

I did not see the post before mine about the Layout book. I have the book a friend gave it to me about a year ago. I did ask where he got it but it is new. He did not want it I sure was glad to get it.

It states in the book it can not be reproduced or copied.

I was   stur-it   I build the D27 layout pictured in that post. 

A friend of mine has a D224 and a D225. Both are Very Nice. His D224 has been in CTT.

Doc, 

 

is the D-132 track plan it the book?

Yes it is. Track plan Wiring and list of Layout Components. Di32 8X8 1954  Cost $274.

Is there anyway you could at least scan the track plan & post it. Or draw it on a pc of paper.  I'm trying to figure out if I can build this with the space I'll probably have, but I need to see the actual track plan. 

Chris, I drew that previous D-132 estimate with all O31 curves. I think it would be more fun if it had reversing for both directions, although this would involve a bunch of switches in tunnels, but it would keep people guessing where the train is going to come out ...

 

Drawn with tunnels open and upper level omitted for clarity.

I will take a picture and aenr it  Email address needed.

Can you tell us if the D-132 track plan is different from this? I puzzled over the three auction house pics trying to figure it out. It appears to have only a single reversing track unless something else is hiding in the tunnels. 

 

Or maybe it's just a dead-end spur going into the tunnel, which would be kinda lame.

I believe it is a dead-end spur. Since it has the cattle and milk car platforms, that track was probably meant for permanently demonstrating those two operating cars, and not for running of a train. It was probably extended into the mountain so there would be two tracks close together over which to display the signal bridge.

 

If you have access to the December 1997 CTT, there is an article on the D-132 on page 86.

Jim Barrett from OGR has recreated Lionel display layouts. He may have even built this one. I haven't seen Jim posting here much of late but he might have some good info.

I have attached the track plan for D-132. This was the second layout I built when I got back into the hobby many years ago. I continued the dead end spur and connected it with a switch at the back of the layout. The track came out of a tunnel portal, went under the upper level truss bridge, and met the main line.

 

Mike your addition of a switch and continuing through the tunnel is a great enhancement.

 

The switch too the right on top can throw the switch too its left opposite creating an in and out figure 8. One could also add a crossing guard technology which was available at the time. This would allow 2 trains to run stopping and starting for each other at the throat created by the 2 switches.

 

One can do both by wiring the controllers with a DPDT toggle switch. One side throws the switches curve to curve straight to straight. The other side curve to straight and  straight to curve.

 

On the lower inner loop a right turnout can replace the curve on the right inside the tunnel and connect to a left turnout where the dead end was. This way with 2 trains on the lower level one can alternate inner loop train to run on new middle loop with the throat or outer loop train to alternate between outer loop and middle loop with a train running on the middle loop. With trains running on the outer and middle loops one can drop a motorized car onto the middle loop for more action.

 

A pair of 022 switches can be placed near the signal bridge to create a double crossover with the middle loop. Never tried this on a 022 switch but have seen in Standard gauge where the turnout portion of the curve is cut in half and joined with another switch cut the same way to allow for tigher track spacing.

 

A 22 1/2 cross over can connect the middle and inner loops creating a figure 8 with a throat to the outer loop.

One of the other posters had reequested the D-131 which is supposed to be a 5 X 9 layout.

 

Any chance someone can post that design up here?

 

Thanks

 

G

D-131.

 

Chris,

 

  The pdf is only showing half of one page, can you try to repost it?

 

Art

I can see the entire PDF file fine except it's sideways and you need to scroll down or resize the page to see it all. The PDF file is attached again below. Thanks for posting that, Chris!

I right clicked on the PDF and it gave a rotate option.

Thanks for the tip; I didn't know I could do that with Adobe Reader.