"Friend's Layouts" Installment # 10 - An Action Packed Post War Style Layout!

A big "Thank you to fellow LITCA member and good friend Joel K, for sharing his story and layout with us!

Like me, Joel loves Post War Lionel and runs his trains fast.

Unlike me, Joel's layout was completed and is without change since 1994. (Note, this changed in 2025 - see the updates at the end of this post!)

Whereas Warrenville has been constantly evolving since 1983.

Joel, himself has not changed much (other than the color of his hair and mustache) as evidenced by these two photos:

1994:

2024:

With 8 sets of Post War Lionel's on the layout, 4 of which were running, flawlessly, at the same time when we visited, we were all mesmerized.

Joel also entertained us with the layout's operating accessories that include a Culvert Loader, Operating horse car, Forklift loader, Operating milk car, Magnetic operating crane and more.

O gauge tubular track, conventional control, lots of ZW transformers, some of Lionel's finest Post War trains, ozone, sounds and smoke.

Lots of action packed into this 9 x 12 "U" shaped wonder!

Joel shares his story with us below but, first, I think you'll enjoy these current pictures:

A treat with the room lights off:

Joel writes:

"So, the history of my layout begins in 1954 when my parents took my brother and I to Madison Hardware(still have the memory). We picked out the 1515WS layout with 2065 smoking engine, magnetraction and whistling tender, no working cars, lighted caboose, a circle of O27 track and the 1033 transformer. I added to it for another 60+ years.

From the 1960's until 1988 I had the 4x8 layout below. The color coding was to explain to my daughters, when they built the same layout in the early 80's, how the separate voltages worked for more power uphill and slowing down on the decline:

When I moved to Rockville Centre, I bult the layout that you visited on October 2, 2024, in 1994 and it has been unchanged on the last 30 years.

My favorite parts of the layout are the Lionel working accessories and how it looks at night with the lights turned off"

A few days after our visit Joel said to me: "It was the greatest day of my life sharing my layout with you guys!".

Joel, before your wife sees this, you might want me to change your quote to ".....one of the greatest days..." LOL

Joel, it was a great day for us too!

As noted in the beginning of this post, things changed. Joel became invigorated after joining LITCA and, after no changes in 30 years, he and his friend (also a LITCA member) Pat M, refreshed the layout with some repairs, groundcover and track ties.

To thank Pat, Joel then named the layout "PM & JK Railroad".

Here are a few updated pics:

Great work Joel and Pat!

Now if we can only convince Pat that he can find room for a layout of his own.........