Lionel Heirloom - Part 2 2/26/22
- peterubba
- Mar 5, 2022
- 2 min read
This is Part 2, a continuation, of my 2/19/22 post in which I began to recount the process used in building a display case for an heirloom - a Lionel O-Gauge model train that my grandfather, Henry C. Layer, purchased in 1940. As I noted, Henry, was “A Railroad Man,” who worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) on the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad line for 54 years, 50 of those as a steam locomotive engineer. He also was a model railroader with a basement display build around a Lionel 2-6-2 steam engine #224, coal tender 2224W, three load-carrying cars, and a caboose and a doll house he constructed in the late 1920s for my mother.
The display case for the model trail was to be a Christmas gift for our son who while not a model railroader expressed interest in the train as an heirloom.
Continuing the build process - pieces of 1/4" plexiglass for the ends, top and face of the oak case were cut to order by a local glass installer. These were attached with round-headed brass screws into holes I pre-drilled (1/32" larger than the diameter of the screws through the plexiglass and 1/16" smaller than the screws into the oak). In the photo below, the case is laying on it back. The end pieces of plexiglass are attached, as is the front piece still supported by blocks of wood. The top piece of plexiglass, with its tan protective film in place, is under screwdriver.
Below is a long view of the case with all four pieces of plexiglass installed...
...and, an angled side view (the glare in plexiglass is from the LED lights over the work bench).
Risers, intended to resemble stacked railroad ties, were made from 3/4" x 3/4" popular found at Home Depot, stained to look more authentic.
The finished case was placed on the "collectables wall" in our son's house.
The following are two 1954 photos of Henry, one taken on his last day on the job for the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad Line (owned by the PRR), and at his retirement dinner with a PRR executive (Henry, Pop Pop to me, is on the right in both).
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