Lionel Display Layouts

Sorry, no photos.

I came across an interesting book, in a box in the basement. "Classic Lionel Display Layouts You can Build", by Roger Carp. (Pub. Kalmbach, 2000; I don't know if it's still in print.) Basically, it goes into the Lionel's sales displays of the 1950's. Veritable wonders of childhood delight!

Toy Trains, as opposed to Hornby's HO-scale that most of us in England grew up with, are in an odd scale, closely related to "O". It's supposed to be "O", but there's considerable variation.; O-27, for instance, is a sort of ersatz, sort-of "O" scale, for example. (HO, in case you didn't know, is "Half-O"... About 1:72nd, if my memory serves me!)

Anyway, I have a couple of Toy Train things: I went through a period in the mid/late 1990's when I was collecting all sorts of toy train stuff; it's fun. It started with a train-around-the-tree, and rapidly grew from there. (Yes, we had a Christmas tree for a bit; just because I'm an atheist, and the Mrs is not Christian, doesn't mean we don't elect to participate in the winter festival of holiday and good cheer!) I did my usual: bought lots, got rid of some, and finally figured out that I really didn't have anywhere for a monumental layout. Not if the I asked the Mrs for permission, anyway... :-) And I haunted the various stores in Brooklyn and Long Island for bargains and books. I didn't haunt "The Red Caboose" in Manhattan: they were a mite expensive. A 9" length of O-27 track was about $5 there; 50c in Brooklyn. I kid you not!

Anyway, I even started scouring antique stores and fairs for old train stuff: one time I snared an ancient Marx train set. I had more money than sense: the train didn't work, and most of the track wasn't original to the box. Oh well: we live, we learn and we occasionally let something other than sense sign the credit card slip. I have no idea where the set is; in the confusion of moving, it somehow got lost. I think I know where it is. Another time, I did get a bargain: the vendor didn't realize what they were selling, and I got a train worth about $50 for $15. I was honest: I offered to pay more. (I'm a bit hazy that way; I feel guilty if I take advantage that way.) Still, like many who begin collecting something or other, I paid more than most of the collection was worth. In the end I couldn't sustain it, and stopped collecting. (I can't say the same about my toy car collection, however.)

I didn't see any of these layouts (different country, and I wasn't born, yet...), but I've had a perennial love of model trains. Even in my darkest hour, I read toy and model train magazines and books to cheer myself up! There's something about those little trains tootling around wonderfully miniature landscapes that evokes a sense of escape. One of the basement rooms is designated as my "model train room", and I'm definitely installing a Lionel train layout in the Living Room. (Just wait until you see it! :-) ) The Mrs, by the way, is keen on the idea.

In the Games Room (when it gets built), we're going to have a space for the "Department 56" buildings we have; we're thinking they'll be on permanent display, and in the Christmas season, we'll just put a tree amongst them. Or something like that - the details, like the room, have to be figured out.

And to think: I can't tell one train from another! Oh well: that's for others, who are interested in that sort of thing. Me, I just like to see the toy trains run. There's something so relaxing about their journey.

Carolyn Ann

EDIT: I decided I really needed to provide some links! At least I don't get paid for them! (Hornby's home page has a great picture; it's worth checking out, just for that!)