I was absolutely shocked to see this layout pictured on page 83 of the December 2008 issue of CTT. It belongs to Mark Stephens. The reason it shocked me is because that was my dad’s layout as a kid. Well not that exact one but he did have the D-63. Only 1 picture of his layout that I know of exists. My grandpa bought it for him the week after Christmas 1952. It was the Christmas display layout at Younkers in Downtown Des Moines. The layout sat in the basement of my grandparent’s house in Des Moines until the house was sold in 1978. The layout was taken apart and I still have all of it. I have all of the track, trains, accessories, buildings, and even the freeway. Only the corners of the table itself still exist as the rest of the table was discarded of when it was taken apart. We didn’t know about the history of it though and until seeing that picture always just assumed that it was a one of a kind layout.
I’d love to learn more about it and how many were originally built. Is Mark Stephens a member of this forum? I’d love to speak to him. Thanks for the pic Mark and CTT. My dad was pleasantly surprised.
Now he’s inspired to rebuild it. I’m going to find the back issue from Nov 2000 that shows how the wiring was done. The mountain was paper machier and the ground cover was long dried up and rotten anyways but recreating them should be easy. At least I still have all of the important parts! If anyone out there knows anything else about this display, please let me know.
I did some research. While there may have been hundreds of these layouts built originally, only 5 or so are known to still exist. I have no idea if they are by the original owners though. I thought the table was gone. My dad said he found it. We have at least 90% of the original layout including the city scape and working freeway. The only thing that we know for sure is gone is the original paper machier tunnel but recreating it would be pretty easy.
I spoke to Roger Carp at CTT today about it and he seemed pleasantly surprised to hear of ours. He said that if we restore it to send in some pictures. Next year our goal will be to restore an original Lionel Department store layout and share it with the world again. I’m sure that it won’t be as vibrant as it originally was but some careful cleaning may go a long way. I’ve already had the trains cleaned up so they run fine. It’s not exactly a detailed realistic looking hi-rail layout with 3rs trains running on it but it is a rare piece of Lionel history and it’s going to live again!
I think thats great. I’m a fan of scale like details but have a special fondness for those store display layouts. Good luck on the project and I hope we’ll see some photos!
I bought the back issue from Nov. 2000 that had an article on one of these layouts that was restored. It’s a very good article as it shows the original wiring as well as some old pictures of the layouts being assembled at Lionel. Sadly the gentleman that restored it is no longer with us so I can’t call him. I wonder what happened to his layout? From the 2 out there that I have seen (and there are still a few others), both have not been owned by the original owners and both had to be pieced together and recreated in a number of ways. I’m proud to say that everything will still be original on ours with the exception of the mountain. We have everything else right down to track, working lights, etc… My dad is also the original owner.
I wish I knew what it was worth. After doing some research, of all of the postwar displays, this one is apparently the most coveted among collectors. That’s nice to know! From what we can tell, my grandfather probably saw it being taken down in Younkers in Des Moines just after Christmas of 1952. They were probably going to throw much of it away and he probably asked them if they’d just sell it instead. I’m not completely sure of this as my grandmother is old and doesn’t remember much and my grandfather died in '64 but it’s the most logical thing we can think of. My dad was 5 at the time and had no interest in trains up to this point. They didn’t make a whole lot of money back then but lived comfortably so buying a large display for a 5 year old didn’t make the most financial sense unless it was a good deal. The only thing my grandmother remembers is that it was a financially “generous” gift at the time. He probably paid far less than $200 for the whole thing, trains, included. For 1952 money, that was still quite a bit as adjusted for inflation according to an online calculator that’s about $1600 today. He may not have even paid that much. I wish I knew more. I’ve learned an awful lot in the past week though and am excited that I may be able
I would have a hard time selling it if it’s that rare…but if it was the difference between feeding my family or running trains, then I would sell it in a heartbeat. It’s unique, that’s for sure. I’m sure more info will turn up as you investigate even further.
I believe a book was printed not too long ago on the Lionel Dealer Display layouts. Not sure of the exact title, but I know others would be able to help. Also, what area are you located? Some may be able to help, or direct you to someone who can.
Fred. I keep checking this thread to see if anyone had more info or pictures. I too would be interested in updates as you and your Dad put life back into this layout. I always meant to ask the guys at a not so local hobby/train shop where they’ve got their window display layout which, while not larger than 10’ x 5’, has two loops with both entering mountain tunnels (same mountain) at one end of the track but at different levels and points in the mountain. It also has roads. Some mountainside buildings. Can’t remember the rest.
Could you scan and post that pic you have? Someone might see it and have some more input.
I found 3 original pictures of it. My dad had some extra things setup on it but it’s all there. The pictures are getting pretty dark so a little time with photoshop to clean them up would go a long way.
I have all the info I need now. The Nov 2000 issue of CTT had an excellent article on one complete with wiring and multiple diagrams.
What I’d like to do is to chronicle the entire restoration pice by piece complete with pictures of the raw, dirty looking pieces all the way to their eventual second life. I need to start taking pictures of what we do have. I can tell you that it won’t be set up until next summer at the soonest. I am getting married in April so I’m still taking up valuable space at my parent’s house, namely my layout is in the way! My soon to be wife loves my train hobby though so she wants to see the old layout live again even if it means in our house. It will be back one way or another!
BTW: I am in Spring, TX which is a suburb of Houston on the north side.
You can’t do too much planning for this restoration project.
You noted that you will soon be married and your fiancee (you are the fiance) supports your train hobby. Space for many of us is an issue. I can’t recall anyone on this Forum saying their layout was too big. Fortunately for you, the layout’s 5’ X 9’ size is already known before you go to seek out housing.
I’m going to need some help from the guys here, but there are a lot of deviouscalculating resourceful geniuses amongst this pack, eager to share their knowledge and experience.
One such mad scientists here has a spare bedroom with a day bed (trundle bed?); his layout is on casters or wheels, and his layout slides right under the bed. Another has a separate layout for his children (grandchildren?); and the layout for the kiddies slides right under his larger one. My first layout was 4’ x 8’ and the length on one side was mounted on hinges to the wall so it could be pivoted down and out of the way when necessary. The father of a friend of mine, not to be outdone, actually rigged a ceiling suspension system where the entire layout could be raised up and out of the way in a room in a finished basement. Others have rigged their layouts so some element of portability could be built in, like removable reinforced grab handles on one side’s length; and the layout could be stored leaning up against a wall behind furniture. And still others subscribe to the modular theory where in a worst case scenario the layout can be dissected into 2 or 4 parts without completely tearing the whole thing apart WHEN you ever have to move (again), or move the layout up and down some narrow stairs or into a dedicated attic space.
The room that the layout will be in is 18’ x 19’ so there is plenty of room for it. The original was on wheels so it could easily be moved around if necessary. The table top is 3 pieces with the smaller piece being in the middle. The plan was to build an individual framework for each section that bolts together. This way it could be taken apart and moved fairly easily.
I will definitely have room for it at the new house. My soon to be wife even says a main priority is a train room! The goal is a room above a 3 car garage that I could ultimately build my layout in.
I scanned the old pictures. On the back they are dated Jan. 10, 1955. My dad was 8 years old playing with his first camera. The quality is obviously deteriorating and in need of some work.
This shot shows the left half of the layout. The oil derrick, oil tanks, crossing gate and signal, station and lamp posts are original. The cattle pen in the foreground was added later. The army men are also not original! Visible is his Erie Alco’s coming around the back corner.
Here’s a shot from a little more to the right and closer in than the first one. The gate is down and the Erie’s are roaring through. The building in the foreground is just several made out of cardboard stacked up. They were actually orange juice containers. You could mail away 5 cents for the roofs. A couple of army men were standing guard. In each of these you can clearly see the working freeway in the background.
I scanned the old pictures. On the back they are dated Jan. 10, 1955. My dad was 8 years old playing with his first camera. The quality is obviously deteriorating and in need of some work.
This shot shows the left half of the layout. The oil derrick, oil tanks, crossing gate and signal, station and lamp posts are original. The cattle pen in the foreground was added later. The army men are also not original! Visible is his Erie Alco’s coming around the back corner.
Here’s a shot from a little more to the right and closer in than the first one. The gate is down and the Erie’s are roaring through. The building in the foreground is just several made out of cardboard stacked up. They were actually orange juice containers. You could mail away 5 cents for the roofs. A couple of army men were standing guard. In each of these you can clearly see the working freeway in the background.
This last picture is the only other one that is known to exist. It was taken from farther back in the basement so it’s hard to see detail. You can make out the city scape on the right side complete with the Lionel spire above. The original backdrop does still exist today but in this photo it had fallen down behind the layout. It is there though. Part of it is just sticking up against the wall underneath the freeway. The freeway is not on the back wall though. It’s legs are inside the rear main line.
Yep still have the Erie’s. They still run good too. I had all of the old trains including the Western Pacific F units, the Erie’s, the 2025, and the 2026 steam engines all gone through and repaired this year so they run great. I’m currently working on cleaning and shining up his aluminum passenger cars. Unfortunately those are too long for this layout. Keep in mind I’m working on my own trains every night including a stud rail layout (which is quick and easy to do btw!) using hand laid track that uses O-27 rail as well as some custom built freight cars. Then there’s the n-scale. I’m just too into trains!
As far as the mountain goes, I’m no stranger to scenery and have built my share of mountains. This one will be pretty easy by comparison. I’d really like to talk to someone who has one of these layouts to see what materials Lionel used. The goal is to use the same techniques as original which includes trying to build the mountain the same way out of the same type of materials that it originally was built.
What you have is really special in every way imaginable. What my Dad and Uncle would set up for me every November through February was not nearly as magnificent but I cannot tell you what I would give to be able to re-create or restore it now. It is the very meaning of why most of us are in this hobby to begin with. I for one would like very much to see the progress of the restoration.
BTW, I just picked up a complete set of the 2500 series passenger cars and the guy I bought them from told me both he and the previous owner used an aluminium polish to shine them. He himself uses something called Tarnite. I googled it and its out there. The cars by the way look fantastic. Not a real glossy shine just removes the tarnish and gives them a real silvery look.
