Lionel ‘O’ gauge Exhibition layout

In 1979 Geoff Bull founded the Lionel Collectors Club UK (LCCUK) which bought together like minded collectors.  Once a year he would organise an annual show in The Winter Gardens, Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Together we built an exhibition layout and the following article was written by my late father describing the G&J Shortline for the Model Railway Constructor.  It appeared in the July 1983 issue and was reprinted in that year’s Christmas album.

Unfortunately the layout is no longer in existence; it was broken up and disposed of in 2002.  Fortunately the Gauge ‘O’ Guild have a slide show produced by Jack Ray which is available for members to borrow so in one way the layout lives on for posterity.

My father and I got a lot of pleasure out of exhibiting it across the North of England watching the children (young and old!) enjoying the sight, sound and smell of Lionel trains and working accessories in full cry, just as Joshua Lionel Cowen intended all those years ago.  I hope you enjoy reading about it.