My Lionel Train Layout

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My father gave me all his Lionel train set from his childhood, when I was a kid. This was definately the most fun I have ever had with a train. While not exactly model railroading, the lionel train set provided me with hundreds of hours of enjoyment. Here are some photos of my layouts which I built as a younger child. Scale and realism be damned. This was about fun!



Just a simple oval with a reversing loop, and a couple houses.



Expanded the layout with a bunch more houses, some of them lego. Every part (including the scenic sand) was loaded onto the train where it would fit, and then driven around the loop ten times before it was delivered to the construction site. I even had to seal the hopper with caulking so it would not leak. Thank goodness I did not build my n-scale layout this way! Also note the ingenious use of masking tape. It is used to keep that pesky boxcar door closed which kept popping open, and also to hold a rock to the bottom of the tender which kept derailling before the weight was added.



Here I managed to claim some more table space by getting rid of the stupid hot wheels 'automatic car track' which never worked anyway. Added a siding and a remote turnout which actually worked.

In my late teens I decided to get back into model railroading, and ripped the layout up. I planned out a much more intricate layout to fit the available space. This included two reversing loops, and a siding long enough to store a whole train (complete with electro-magnetic decoupler). I built a mountain with plaster and window screen, and scenicked the rest of the layout with grass, water, roads etc. Unfortunately I cannot find any pictures of it. I moved out a few years later and then a few more years later ripped up the layout to make room for an HO layout for my younger brother. I still have the train, but currently have no room for it. Some day, when I own a house I am going to get the thing refurbished. I think the train would look realy nice running around the perimeter of the living room delivering full pints of beer from kegs of homebrew served up at the bar!

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