American Flyer S gauge department store layout in St. Louis

[Dave Farquhar]

Every year, the local American Flyer S Gauge club had a tradition of setting up a layout in the downtown Famous-Barr department store in St. Louis. Famous-Barr's parent company got bought out this year, and all the Famous-Barr stores became Macy's. Fortunately, Macy's allowed them to continue the tradition. Here are some pics.

 

Last weekend my wife and I rode Metrolink downtown, stopped at the old Union Station (now converted into a shopping center) for coffee, hopped back on the train to go to the next stop, and from there walked to Macy's to see the display and take some pictures. I was happy to see the layout drew a pretty large crowd. Lots of people were oohing and ahhing it, and I heard some people mentioning to the people they were with that they had an old train somewhere. A couple of people even asked me some questions (I guess they overheard me pointing something out to my wife and decided I must know something--I guess I had them fooled!). It was a nice excuse to try out our new digital camera too. Getting decent shots through a window is a bit of a challenge, although I think the photo of the crossing gates turned out OK.

It was nice to see it. I sure hope the layout is there again next year!

[Buckeye Riveter]

Dave, thanks for the pictures.  It looks like a great layout for a great American City.

[csxt30]

That sure is nice Dave !! Lots of Gargraves track !!  I'll bet the Local hobby shops had a few more visitors because of that display.   Nice work with you camera too !!

Thanks for sharring !!

John 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

WOW!  Love seeing American Flyer!!!!

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

That was a lot of work.  Great to see the sharing of their trains.

[Anonymous]

Very cool!

Thanks for the pics!

-bf

[Anonymous]

That is fantastic to see! What a great layout! What is really wonderful is that at least here is a place where the tradition of the department store display layout isn't something that died out in the postwar era. I can imagine how popular it must have been with passers-by.

[darianj]

That is a very nice layout.  Thanks for sharing your pic's.

[Brady]

Dave 

Nice photos.  Any idea on how the club established the relationship with the store?

Brady

[Anonymous]

Do you know how long the display is ussually up and running?  I live here in Saint Louis also and want to go see it.

[dbaker48]

Great Photos!!  Really nice job.  That layout must certainly attract people back to the store.  Thanks for posting them.

[Dave Farquhar]

Do you know how long the display is ussually up and running?  I live here in Saint Louis also and want to go see it.

I would think at least through this weekend. I may be able to find out more. But by all means head out there this weekend if you can.

Nice photos.  Any idea on how the club established the relationship with the store?

Not sure but I know someone who might know. 

And thanks all for the compliments on the photos. But the Pentax deserves most of the credit. Put it on fully automatic, find something that looks promising, and shoot, and that's what you get.