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Originally Posted by Joe Rampolla:

That moving highway animated feature is really nice!  Great track plan and automatic action!  Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!

 

Take care, Joe.

Another fun thing with this layout- the 132 station was modified to allow multiple trains on the same loop of track. I've seen a 132 on eBay for sale that had the additional circuits

Just bought this display and will reproduce the shelves and banner for it for a complete restoration--running out of room, too many displays!!

 

Restoration started. 90% of wiring original but am replacing 3 and 4 conductor wiring as is brittle. Working on graphics and reproducing the display shelves and signage

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Images (4)
  • 20140717_151340_resized (1)
  • 20140717_151414_resized
  • 20140717_151327_resized (1)
  • 20140331_163046_resized
Last edited by Jagrick

Thanks for posting the 1955 Dealer Display Catalog images.  These are very informative, of course, but for those who are planning to use them as a guide to building a replica of the layouts, one has to use caution.  Often times what was pictured was not exactly what was produced.  For example, the D-147 shows the ZW and controls sitting atop the platform, when in actuality, the layout came with a separate control panel, which was typical for the 5 X 9 displays.  Also, the D-148 shows a RW transformer, when in fact, these layouts were shipped with a LW, which was introduced in 1955.  More drastic, is the fact that in the catalog, the siding at the "front" of the left hand lower loop is shown as a stub end siding, when the production layouts were made with this as a passing siding.  There are many other examples as well.  In 1956, the D-165 as illustrated in the catalog was based on a modified D-148, but the actual layout produced was much different!  I ended up building my replica on the catalog illustration and thus ended up with replica of the prototype layout, not the actual production layouts!

D165Layout2copy

D-165 Catalog

D165instructions

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Images (3)
  • D165Layout2copy
  • D-165 Catalog
  • D165instructions

How true, also the graphics vary and in some instances by a lot. The drum head display doesn't even show the animated featutre and the semaphore display it went from cartoon images showing a coupler, whistle and smoke to just the words. A lot of artistic license was taken by illustrators or some major league reworks performed in the display studios was being done. It woul be neat to be able to interview/talk with some of the workesr

Am reconstruction shelves for D289. I have cleaned all of the gravel off of the D147 and painted the more correct tan. Previous owner had painted grass areas dark, so I reapplied original Lionel grass to it again, and am wiring as originally spec'd by Lionel with  insulated rails to activate accessories. Should be up and running in a couple of weeks!!

Also shown is my reproduction of the D187 ferris wheel (now has the Lionel Trains sign on it also.

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Images (7)
  • 20150119_221220: Reproduced D187 ferris wheel
  • 20150116_215029: another view of lazy susan display-operates as original
  • 20150117_232813: Original semaphore layout
  • 20150117_232911: original lionel arch
  • 20150117_232924: Original d191 layout
  • 20150116_215024: Reproduction of Drum head (yes the drum head animation is functional as well)
  • 20150119_221109: My reproduction of the lazy susan display
Last edited by Jagrick
Originally Posted by RitchieDrums:

Anybody have a blue print or something that can guide me through building the Highway with cars from the D63 1952 dealer display?

Ritchie, I have the plans for this one -- and all of the dealer displays for that matter -- at home. Shoot me an email and I will send to you when I'm home this evening.

jjdjsweet@comcast.net

I can probably help you with that. Biggest cost will be the AC motor to operate pulley--cast about 80-90 dollars for that, A bearing, two 3" sheaves, 1/2" shaft for axle, long fan belt, etc. I have all of the pieces and was getting ready to put together (time willing). The cars used by Lionel were Renwal and show up on ebay frequently. Other cars could be used (dimestore brand) as well

The one I saw in the 70s was a squeaky contraption.

I see why now. In one photo you can see the pulley rubbing a bare spot in the bracket.

 

Its building was torn, or was crushed on the backside, but still awesome to watch the cars. It immediately reminded me of the Jetsons cartoon. I consider it, and the disappearing train to be the two best dealer layouts I've seen.

 

 Ritchie, Since your not likely going for an exact "historical" recreation, a garage sale can-opener may supply a motor with a speed you can live with, and torque enough to do this at a low price. I'll offer to send the one I just took apart, but I bet you can find one local cheaper than shipping alone .

 

 

 

Is there an organized check list of known dealer layouts someone has, to accompany this thread? I don't see it being a short one   

 

 

 

 

 

     

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