A New Tunnel Portal

By Mike Stella

Lionel Lines (The Largest Lionel Railroad on my Block) was started over 25 years ago before there were Big Boys and super long passenger cars and excess height freight cars to worry about.

In one corner of the room a wall was gouged out with studs being cut so that a Big Boy could swing around the 0-72 curve without getting stuck.  I could have relocated the curve but I chose to relocate the wall!  In other areas track beds were lowered or raised to allow modern trains to pass.  There are nine tunnels on the main line of Lionel Lines and luckily many were built in a manner that allows the larger trains to pass freely through.  In getting ready for the 2008 NMRA National Convention and the layout tour visitors that are coming by, I have been replacing tight switches and completing some scenery and also rebuilding areas that have posed a few problems in the past 25 years!

One tunnel was totally rebuilt last month and recently I spent just a few hours replacing the tunnel portal on the west end on tunnel #4, just a short distance from the division yard limit.

Now Amtrak Superliners will clear as well as any steam locomotive I operate.  I haven't checked those Baldwin Centipedes yet, but they don't clear a lot of places already, so remain pretty much on the display shelf!

I wrote this little article to show all of you that anybody can spend an hour and write down something about their layout and submit it to the editor.  He will thank you and he might even send you a coupon for a free pizza!

Happy Railroad from the greatest Lionel Operator in the Great Ole USA.

The old portal was "built" almost 20 years ago!

Problems occur when newer, higher equipment is operated

A knife makes quick work of the old hillside area

The new portal in place to check clearances

An 80 ft Superliner just misses each side

The hillside starts to be rebuilt

Another clearance check is made

The finished area with the new portal in place