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Lionel's Showroom Layouts:

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Posted by Train-O on Thursday, October 20, 2011 12:19 PM

I  will have to send for a back issue of the Aug. '92 C.T.T. magazine, to read "The Phantom of the Layout" by Lee Price article, as I only started to subscribe to C.T.T. in '04.

Ralph

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Posted by Texas Pete on Thursday, October 20, 2011 7:15 AM

Ogaugeoverlord

We ran a three-page article in the August 1992 issue called "The Phantom of the Layout" by Lee Price. If memory serves, it was an O gauge locomotive made by General Models Corp. custom-painted for Lionel to act as a stand-in for their NW2 which wasn't available at the time the publicity photos were taken.

Sho 'nuff.  I checked my piles and found the article, which makes a strong case that it is indeed a General Models locomotive.  Funny I had that issue because at the time I was buying the mag sporadically as it appeared at my local magazine store.  You checked the archives too, right Boss?

Pete

"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light."  - Edward Abbey -

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Posted by Train-O on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 3:26 PM

Thank you jimmydely and Bob,

I will look for both the DVD and Aug. '92 article.

Ralph

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Posted by Train-O on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 3:22 PM

Thank you Pete,

At first, I just skimmed through the magazine and saw that familiar engine in the photo., without looking further through the magazine.

Had, I read further, I would not have posted the question regarding "The Phantom" engine.

So, now I have to eat crow!  

It, goes to show that Roger already had considered this engine.

Years ago, after first seeing this engine in the 1950 Bantam's paperback Pocket Book, I always wanted it, not knowing that Lionel did not produced it for public purchase.

Thank you,

Ralph

 

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Posted by Bob Keller on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 3:14 PM

We ran a three-page article in the August 1992 issue called "The Phantom of the Layout" by Lee Price. If memory serves, it was an O gauge locomotive made by General Models Corp. custom-painted for Lionel to act as a stand-in for their NW2 which wasn't available at the time the publicity photos were taken.

Bob Keller

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Posted by jimmydelv on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 2:56 PM

If anyone wants to see what the 1949 layout looked like in action, get the Lionel Showroom layouts DVD from TM books and videos....www.tmbv.com......it's the re-creation of the 1949 layout that was built in the early 1990's by a model railroad group down in Mississippi.. It's really well done and they painstakingly made the layout like the original. I have watched it over and over. I understand there is a gentleman named Joe Mania who is building an exact replica of it in his own home as we speak. If you google Lionel 1949 showroom layout, you can see his progress somewhat. Enjoy!

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Posted by Texas Pete on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 1:24 PM

Check the caption of photo 11 on page 53.  That loco, "The Phantom," was not a production item.  I've read about it elsewhere and almost everything I've seen is supposition.  It seems as though nothing is known about it other than the fact that it existed.

Pete

"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light."  - Edward Abbey -

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Lionel's Showroom Layouts:
Posted by Train-O on Monday, October 17, 2011 6:58 PM

To All,

I would like to know, inside of Kalmbach Publishing Co.'s, Classic Toy Trains, Special Issue magazine entitled: "Lionel's Showroom Layouts" by Senior Editor Roger Carp, on page 48, in the B.&W. photo., just to the right of the turn table are two passenger cars hooked up to what appears to be a white, or light color NW-2 diesel switcher.

From, what I know, unless I'm wrong, Lionel did not release for public sale a white, or light color NW-2 engine, not until later did they release a yellow engine.

Does, anyone know of this special engine used for the showroom layout?

Lionel's "Model Railroading" 1950, Bantam Pocket Books, has this same photo. and I always liked and wanted this diesel engine.

Please advise,

Thank you,

Ralph 

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