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Instructions for a Lionel Christmas Layout

Like mistletoe, holly and egg nog, a Lionel train running around the Christmas tree enlivens a traditional American holiday season. It brings excitement to the atmosphere and even little kids can manage a Lionel. You can construct a small layout by mounting the track on plywood permanently. Keep it in storage during the year and have it ready to run every season. Setting up this Christmas display requires a few basic tool skills and a little time and patience.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/2 inch thick plywood 48 in. square or larger
  • Christmas tree stand
  • Marker
  • Power saw
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood paint primer
  • White acrylic paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Lionel train set including track, feeder tracks, wire and power supply
  • Track nails
  • Tack hammer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Center the Christmas tree stand on the plywood and mark the position with a marker.

    • 2

      Layout the parts of the track on the plywood, attaching them at the joiners, to get an idea of how much space you will need.

    • 3

      Mark any changes you want to make to reduce the size of the plywood sheet. Cut off extra plywood a power saw and sand the edges smooth.

    • 4

      Brush on a coat of primer suitable for plywood and allow to dry.

    • 5

      Brush on two coats of white acrylic paint to give the appearance of snow. Much of this area will be covered with packages eventually, so don't worry too much about realism.

    • 6

      Lay out the track again, connecting pieces at the joiners. Place the feeder track that receives the wires from the power supply in a position that will be easily accessible once the tree is in place.

    • 7

      Mark the outer edge of the track in key places with a marker and nail the pieces in position with track nails and a tack hammer. Marking will help you keep the pieces properly positioned as you go.

    • 8

      Hook up the feeder track to the power supply using color coded, insulated wires. One color should be for the positively charged wire and a different one for the negative.

    • 9

      Plug in the power supply and test an engine to make sure the wires are making proper contact before setting up the tree around the track.


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