Later on the timeline, I remember a few shopping malls with train layouts which were generally HO and associated with local clubs. I don't know if those stopped showing up because of liability issues or because the mall operators wanted the space for pushcart vendors who generated revenue for the mall..
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I believe the display layouts were made the by store employees. And I would guess that the displays were taken down and mostly sold off after Christmas.
None that I ever saw were particularly sophisticated.
On t'other hand, I can imagine a store hiring a "model train person" to put something together. THEN you might get something spectacular.
I just can't imagine Lionel building portable/shipable layouts and sending them to stores.
Don't forget, those stores had people who designed their show windows. Not much of a stretch to build a simple layout and sprinkle snow on it. And then get it off the track.
Ed
ALL:
Did Lionel sell or loan Christmas layouts to major department stores in the US and Canada? What happened to them after the holidays? I saw a picture of Frank Sinatra purchasing one for his house.
Ed Burns