How to Build a Lionel Display Shelf

Measure the width of your widest rail car or locomotive. Add 3 inches to this measurement. Mark the width with a pencil onto the plank of wood you intend to use as your display shelf. Measure the length of the train that you’re displaying as well. Link together enough straight Lionel tracks to hold the measured length plus an additional 3 inches. The track may be several inches longer than the needed minimum length. Measure the length of the tracks and add 2 inches to that measurement. Mark the adjusted length onto your shelf wood as well.

Connect the measured markings with a straightedge and the pencil to create cutting lines for the shelf size. Cut the shelf along the lines with a table saw. Run along the three exposed edges of the shelf, the front and the two sides, with a router containing a decorative bit to trim your edge in the desired design. Sand the routed edge smooth with fine-grit sandpaper.

Brush wood stain onto the wood plank with a foam applicator to give it a finished appearance. Remove excess stain from the wood with a clean cloth and allow the stain to dry overnight.

Connect the tracks’ sliding track joiners onto each rail leg to hold the tracks butted closely together. Crimp the edges of the joiners with needle-nosed pliers to hold them in place and keep the tracks in a straight line. Use a soldering iron to place a bead of solder along the cavity at the side of each rail joint to hold the tracks together. Set the track centered onto the shelf. Mount it in place by placing white craft glue diluted with 3 parts water to 1 part glue between the railroad ties along the edge of each. Stir the diluted glue mixture thoroughly in a small cup with a wooden stick. Allow the glue to spread beneath the ties. Wait an hour for the glue to set.

Find the wood studs in the wall where you wish to mount the shelf using a stud finder. Run the finder over the wall and watch for the indicator light that shows the location of a stud. Mark its location with the pencil.

Place the shelf onto the wall with a carpenter’s level across the top. Mark the desired location of the leveled shelf by tracing a line along the shelf bottom with the pencil, making certain it crosses at least two wood studs. Set the shelf down.

Place a shelf bracket onto the wall centered along each stud, with the top of the bracket even with the drawn shelf-line. Mark the location of the mounting holes in the bracket onto the wall. Remove the brackets and drill pilot holes through the walls and into the wood beneath, about 1 ½ inches deep. Return the brackets and secure them to the wall using drywall screws. Drive the screws into place with a drill fitted with a Phillips head bit.

Set the shelf onto the brackets. Mark the mounting holes at the top of the brackets along the bottom of the shelf. Drill 1/2-inch pilot holes into the bottom of the shelf, and then drive wood screws through the brackets into the shelf bottom, mounting the display shelf to the wall.

Place the train onto the tracks of the shelf. Place plastic rail blocks on the rails in front of the front wheels of the train and behind the rear wheels to prevent the train from moving when on display.