Trains.com

CTT Lionel Showroom Layout Track Diagram?

6737 views
16 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 131 posts
CTT Lionel Showroom Layout Track Diagram?
Posted by chipset35 on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 7:07 AM

Hi, I have ben enjoying the special edition of CTT about Lionels Showroom Layouts, but I have a question regarding the painting Bob Sherman did of the huge Lionel Showroom layout.

Does anyone actually have a track plan as opposed to the painting in the magazine?

The painting is kind of hard to use in order to make my version of this famous layout

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 2,869 posts
Posted by Bob Keller on Thursday, June 2, 2016 12:32 PM

We don't have one, Chipset35. If we do find one, we'll be sure to run it in the magazine.

Bob Keller

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 429 posts
Posted by tinplatacis on Thursday, June 2, 2016 2:22 PM

I know that Lionel (and Greenburg) have made track plans based on paintings and the like. Could someone try this with that painting and various photographs of the layouts?

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 131 posts
Posted by chipset35 on Thursday, June 2, 2016 3:19 PM

Thanks Bob,

I am making a smaller version of it, and trying to use your photos from the special CTT edition on all those Lionel Showroom layouts.

:)

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • 682 posts
Posted by balidas on Saturday, June 4, 2016 12:07 PM
Are you talking about the 1949 Showroom layout? There is a book put out by Kalmbach Books titled "Track Plans For Toy Trains". In the back is a 2 page spread featuring this layout with dimensions & needed track.
  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 131 posts
Posted by chipset35 on Saturday, June 4, 2016 4:09 PM

There are two 1949 showroom layouts, a large on and a small one.

The one I am interested in is the larger one.

I just bought the download of that book from the publisher (Kambach) but I cannot get it to display the pages properly.

So far I do not see it.

:(

Thanks for the heads up!

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • 682 posts
Posted by balidas on Saturday, June 4, 2016 8:04 PM

Yes this is the large one. I bought the book just for that. Can't help ya with the digital downloads tho.

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 131 posts
Posted by chipset35 on Sunday, June 5, 2016 7:51 AM

What is the track plan number?

BTW, I used to live in Ft Lauderdale too.

:)

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • 682 posts
Posted by balidas on Sunday, June 5, 2016 12:26 PM

Track plan 63.

Yea I'm still here. Even tho my dad passed away a couple months ago I'll probably be here for another year or so.

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 131 posts
Posted by chipset35 on Sunday, June 5, 2016 2:18 PM

ugh, I got ripped off.

The digital copy only goes up to Track Plan 54.

$5+ down the tubes.

I guess I will buy the actual book on AMazon.

Thank You for all your help

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • 682 posts
Posted by balidas on Sunday, June 5, 2016 6:25 PM

Yea I'm not big on these digital downloads. I'd rather have the flesh & blood book in my hands.

 

I think I bought mine on Amazon.

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 131 posts
Posted by chipset35 on Thursday, June 9, 2016 1:37 PM

Balidas, thank you so much for the info, as I received the book today and just like you said, the track plan was there!

Good thing I listened to you, I did not know about the small oval section on the bottom level.

I made a duplicate of the lower outer loop but could not figure out why only a single track was entering and exiting the top level, and now I see why...

No reason to have a duplicate track taking up all that space and expensive track sections if no one can see it.

It is just there for a visual effect of a 2nd train entering and leaving the station...very clever!

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • 682 posts
Posted by balidas on Thursday, June 9, 2016 8:14 PM
Ah you are so Welcome! I'm glad I could help. About that oval, I had wondered if Lionel put that train on some kind of timer or if they just let run.
  • Member since
    October 2008
  • 3 posts
Posted by ClintonMagus on Friday, September 1, 2017 7:04 AM

I put together the plan for the 1949 showroom layout recreation that was built by the Jackson Society of Model Engineers and, although it is close, the plan in the back of the "Track Plans for Toy Trains" is not completely accurate. It appears to have been drawn from the plan that appeared in the November 1993 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

I came up with what I believe to be a very accurate plan after looking through dozens of photos and books, watching videos and home movies of the original layout, and talking with John van Slyke and several former Lionel employees who worked on the layout. All of my research information is in a three-inch ring binder.

The main difference is that the track on the left end of the layout does not parallel the side of the "table" as shown in the plan.

I may scan my plan and send it to Roger or Bob in case they would like to run it in a future CTT issue.

 

chipset35

Balidas, thank you so much for the info, as I received the book today and just like you said, the track plan was there!

Good thing I listened to you, I did not know about the small oval section on the bottom level.

I made a duplicate of the lower outer loop but could not figure out why only a single track was entering and exiting the top level, and now I see why...

No reason to have a duplicate track taking up all that space and expensive track sections if no one can see it.

It is just there for a visual effect of a 2nd train entering and leaving the station...very clever!

 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Friday, September 1, 2017 7:43 PM

Whether they do or whether they don't, I for one would love to see it!  Big Smile

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    November 2014
  • 2 posts
Posted by BARRY HOSCHEK on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 10:12 AM
Hi, I just joined the Forum and noted everyone's comments about the '49 Lionel Showroom Layout. I building a re-creation of it using a plan developed from the original published photographs. Would be interested in any help you might want to share. Thanks Trainsrfun2
  • Member since
    November 2014
  • 2 posts
Posted by BARRY HOSCHEK on Friday, June 29, 2018 2:25 PM

ClintonMagus

I put together the plan for the 1949 showroom layout recreation that was built by the Jackson Society of Model Engineers and, although it is close, the plan in the back of the "Track Plans for Toy Trains" is not completely accurate. It appears to have been drawn from the plan that appeared in the November 1993 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

I came up with what I believe to be a very accurate plan after looking through dozens of photos and books, watching videos and home movies of the original layout, and talking with John van Slyke and several former Lionel employees who worked on the layout. All of my research information is in a three-inch ring binder.

The main difference is that the track on the left end of the layout does not parallel the side of the "table" as shown in the plan.

I may scan my plan and send it to Roger or Bob in case they would like to run it in a future CTT issue.

 

 

 
chipset35

Balidas, thank you so much for the info, as I received the book today and just like you said, the track plan was there!

Good thing I listened to you, I did not know about the small oval section on the bottom level.

I made a duplicate of the lower outer loop but could not figure out why only a single track was entering and exiting the top level, and now I see why...

No reason to have a duplicate track taking up all that space and expensive track sections if no one can see it.

It is just there for a visual effect of a 2nd train entering and leaving the station...very clever!

 

 

ClintonMagus

I put together the plan for the 1949 showroom layout recreation that was built by the Jackson Society of Model Engineers and, although it is close, the plan in the back of the "Track Plans for Toy Trains" is not completely accurate. It appears to have been drawn from the plan that appeared in the November 1993 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

I came up with what I believe to be a very accurate plan after looking through dozens of photos and books, watching videos and home movies of the original layout, and talking with John van Slyke and several former Lionel employees who worked on the layout. All of my research information is in a three-inch ring binder.

The main difference is that the track on the left end of the layout does not parallel the side of the "table" as shown in the plan.

I may scan my plan and send it to Roger or Bob in case they would like to run it in a future CTT issue.

 

 

 
chipset35

Balidas, thank you so much for the info, as I received the book today and just like you said, the track plan was there!

Good thing I listened to you, I did not know about the small oval section on the bottom level.

I made a duplicate of the lower outer loop but could not figure out why only a single track was entering and exiting the top level, and now I see why...

No reason to have a duplicate track taking up all that space and expensive track sections if no one can see it.

It is just there for a visual effect of a 2nd train entering and leaving the station...very clever!

 

 

 

 

ClintonMagus

I put together the plan for the 1949 showroom layout recreation that was built by the Jackson Society of Model Engineers and, although it is close, the plan in the back of the "Track Plans for Toy Trains" is not completely accurate. It appears to have been drawn from the plan that appeared in the November 1993 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

I came up with what I believe to be a very accurate plan after looking through dozens of photos and books, watching videos and home movies of the original layout, and talking with John van Slyke and several former Lionel employees who worked on the layout. All of my research information is in a three-inch ring binder.

The main difference is that the track on the left end of the layout does not parallel the side of the "table" as shown in the plan.

I may scan my plan and send it to Roger or Bob in case they would like to run it in a future CTT issue.

 

 

 
chipset35

Balidas, thank you so much for the info, as I received the book today and just like you said, the track plan was there!

Good thing I listened to you, I did not know about the small oval section on the bottom level.

I made a duplicate of the lower outer loop but could not figure out why only a single track was entering and exiting the top level, and now I see why...

No reason to have a duplicate track taking up all that space and expensive track sections if no one can see it.

It is just there for a visual effect of a 2nd train entering and leaving the station...very clever!

 

 

 

 

ClintonMagus

I put together the plan for the 1949 showroom layout recreation that was built by the Jackson Society of Model Engineers and, although it is close, the plan in the back of the "Track Plans for Toy Trains" is not completely accurate. It appears to have been drawn from the plan that appeared in the November 1993 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

I came up with what I believe to be a very accurate plan after looking through dozens of photos and books, watching videos and home movies of the original layout, and talking with John van Slyke and several former Lionel employees who worked on the layout. All of my research information is in a three-inch ring binder.

The main difference is that the track on the left end of the layout does not parallel the side of the "table" as shown in the plan.

I may scan my plan and send it to Roger or Bob in case they would like to run it in a future CTT issue.

 

 

 
chipset35

Balidas, thank you so much for the info, as I received the book today and just like you said, the track plan was there!

Good thing I listened to you, I did not know about the small oval section on the bottom level.

I made a duplicate of the lower outer loop but could not figure out why only a single track was entering and exiting the top level, and now I see why...

No reason to have a duplicate track taking up all that space and expensive track sections if no one can see it.

It is just there for a visual effect of a 2nd train entering and leaving the station...very clever!

 

 

 

 

 
 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month