Skip to main content

Thanks for video! Can you see why there are different power divisions in the plans? The train shouldn't slow on the climb and speed on the flat or at the top of climb. Using different outputs at various voltages keeps the train at close to the same speed.

 

The audio came out like the Lionel Phantom. Sounds cool! It's a fun looking layout.

Originally Posted by Railcars:
Cool. So the layout I want to do is the one shown above w the crossover between the inner and outer loops. It's a modified version of the d265.  Anything I need to watch out for electrically w this crossover?   Any cool ways to automate this to have trains go between the loops?

Railcars,

if you are talking about the track plan 3D photo and the actual photo in the following post, they are D-264.    D-265 is 8' x 8'.

 

Super O has it's own track dimensions. The plan I did is in FasTrack and then put those switches in for the interlocking. I eliminated the bumper car track. The switches' center rail needs to be isolated by removing the center pins or whatever works for the track that you use. There is no room for a fitter piece with FasTrack.

 

I would try to use 072 switches or #5's there. The 036's were at the client's request.

We still have my dad's original D-63 display. We've intended to get it restored but just haven't gotten around to it. We do have the working freeway, buildings, and backdrop. The original tunnel is gone though but that shouldn't be that hard to recreate. Our layout was in the window of Younkers department store in downtown Des Moines for Christmas 1962. My grandfather bought it and had it delivered to their house right around New Years. It was in the basement until 1977 when the house was sold. The layout was torn apart and shipped to Houston where the wooden parts sat in an un-air conditioned garage attic until about 4 years ago when I learned what we had and decided to get everything together again for a restoration. Every other part including the trains, buildings, and transformer were in boxes in the house and have all been restored to working condition. We should be able to get it back to nearly it's original state. Roger Carp helped me out a bit with some info on it and I found a running one in New York. When I went to York a few years ago I drove up to see it and take pictures so we can get everything accurate.

Originally Posted by fredswain:

We still have my dad's original D-63 display. We've intended to get it restored but just haven't gotten around to it. We do have the working freeway, buildings, and backdrop. The original tunnel is gone though but that shouldn't be that hard to recreate. Our layout was in the window of Younkers department store in downtown Des Moines for Christmas 1962. My grandfather bought it and had it delivered to their house right around New Years. It was in the basement until 1977 when the house was sold. The layout was torn apart and shipped to Houston where the wooden parts sat in an un-air conditioned garage attic until about 4 years ago when I learned what we had and decided to get everything together again for a restoration. Every other part including the trains, buildings, and transformer were in boxes in the house and have all been restored to working condition. We should be able to get it back to nearly it's original state. Roger Carp helped me out a bit with some info on it and I found a running one in New York. When I went to York a few years ago I drove up to see it and take pictures so we can get everything accurate.

That’s a great story, Fred.

 

The D-63 was unique because of the so-called moving highway.

 

Hoping you get it restored one day and post pictures here!

My dad corrected my story on his layout. It was in Younkers in downtown Des Moines but it was not in the window. Younkers had their main building (which was destroyed by fire earlier this year) but across the street they had another which was the Younkers Store for Homes. For the holidays they'd clear out a section of the Store for Homes and devote it to Christmas toys. In the back right of the store was the train section. This is where his display was setup.

 

My grandfather was always looking for a deal. After Christmas he went in to see what was left. He made a deal to buy everything that was leftover that didn't sell. This included the D-63 with the ZW and all of the layout parts, the two trains that were running on it, one which was pulled by the Erie Alcos and the other which was pulled by a 2026 steam engine. He also got a new pair of Western Pacific F3's and the 4 set of aluminum passenger cars. There were also other various accessories such as the light tower and some random train cars and I believe 726 steam engine that is long gone. He picked up the whole lot delivered to their house for $150. What a deal!

Originally Posted by fredswain:

My dad corrected my story on his layout. It was in Younkers in downtown Des Moines but it was not in the window. Younkers had their main building (which was destroyed by fire earlier this year) but across the street they had another which was the Younkers Store for Homes. For the holidays they'd clear out a section of the Store for Homes and devote it to Christmas toys. In the back right of the store was the train section. This is where his display was setup.

 

My grandfather was always looking for a deal. After Christmas he went in to see what was left. He made a deal to buy everything that was leftover that didn't sell. This included the D-63 with the ZW and all of the layout parts, the two trains that were running on it, one which was pulled by the Erie Alcos and the other which was pulled by a 2026 steam engine. He also got a new pair of Western Pacific F3's and the 4 set of aluminum passenger cars. There were also other various accessories such as the light tower and some random train cars and I believe 726 steam engine that is long gone. He picked up the whole lot delivered to their house for $150. What a deal!

Wow, deal is right!  Enjoyed reading that.

 

When I did a little research about Dealer Display Layouts one of the common stories I kept seeing was how Lionel dealers and other stores that had these layouts would sell them off after the holiday season, either whole as is or for the individual trains and accessory pieces. The other thing that’s interesting about these is how some layouts are still being “discovered” in basements and attics after all these years.  And there are a few well-known collectors out there that have any number of these classic displays in great condition. I know “the other magazine” did a feature on some of these not long ago.

Hi All,

 

Not to Hijack a thread but this IS about dealer displays and I have one I need help in identifying.  Its small by other display standards at only 41 inches by 67 inches.  It appears to be made out of 'vacu-formed' plastic.  Other than the Lionel logo on the front, there are no other identifying markings - not even something small stamped on the bottom.

 

 

Dealer Display

 

Here's a close up of the Lionel logo:

 

Thanks in advance for any help with this!

Best,

Dave 

 

Display photo #2

Attachments

Images (2)
  • Dealer Display
  • Display photo #2

My dad just pulled the old D-63 highway out of the attic. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of it. I will at some point over the holidays though since we are going to bring it over to my house soon. That way everyone will see how it works. It's actually quite simple. It's just a chain that has very long pins on between some of the links. Those pins stick up through a slot out of the face of the roadway. The cars are from Renwal. They are hollow shells. They just sit over the pins and the pins push the cars around. It's very low tech.

 

Our painted backdrop is broken in half and will require a degree of restoration at the split to make it look good again.

Just seeing this thread again reminded me to post some pics of the finished layout. While not an exact replica of any factory display layout, I used a ton of research, including the  fabulous Display layouts book & some phone conversations w/ Roger Carp to nail down the look & feel of one built during that era. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by Dave Garman:

Hi All,

 

Not to Hijack a thread but this IS about dealer displays and I have one I need help in identifying.  Its small by other display standards at only 41 inches by 67 inches...

 Here are some screen shots I got off eBay of a twin about 10 years ago:

 

8c_3

90_3

d7_3

e0_3

e4_3

fa_3

TRAINZ/Dash claims to maybe have one for sale for $86.

Attachments

Images (6)
  • 8c_3
  • 90_3
  • d7_3
  • e0_3
  • e4_3
  • fa_3
Last edited by ADCX Rob

Please pardon me if this question does not belong in this thread.  I apologize if it doesn't right up front.  Does anybody know what became of the display at Bruce's train shop that recently closed in Sacramento CA? I'm 58 years old but felt like I was 9 years old watching it.  The dealer display conversation in this thread is especially intriguing to me as I have a 12' x 24' room that will be used as a permanent dealer inspired layout to show case the operating accessories, recreating the 50's-60's era which appeals to some of us in this forum.  I would like to thank all of you for your excellent insights and links which have taken me back in time, where in fact, certain things in life were better. 

Originally Posted by Dave Garman:
No, wait, I still need answers... when was it made, where was it made, what did it cost??????????????? 

I can only guess at the year - 1970 or 1971 based on the leftover Hillside 1122E switches(as cataloged/pictured in 1970). If those aren't original, which is quite possible, it could be anytime in the Fundimensions era up to 1985, which seems more likely based on the mailing address and the lack of any reference to MPC.

Last edited by ADCX Rob

Again, THANKS Rob !!!

 

Its interesting to note that Lionel's part number for this display that I have is 6-82104.  That number has also been used for the current operating accessory "Playtime Playground" - reusing numbers certainly isn't rare but but far from a common practice!

 

Makes finding facts on the internet just a little bit harder...

 

Best,

Dave

Add Reply

Post
The Track Planning and Layout Design Forum is sponsored by

AN OGR FORUM CHARTER SPONSOR
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×