layout 3 overview

This layout was probably Gilbert's crowning achievement. In shape, it was a reverse "J" with its base at the former 5th Avenue entrance, which was closed to make room for the layout. It was reported to have cost a huge sum to build and the expenditure upset some of the stockholders. 1 2

This layout was the last project Frank Castiglione worked on prior to leaving Gilbert to start his hobby shop in Branford, Connecticut. Ray Mohrlang told me that the Yale University Art Department also played a large part in the creation of this layout. He also noted that there were 11 loops of track, some of which could be controlled by pushbuttons at the side of the layout. A triple loop circled the entire layout. It was built at a lower than normal level, especially at the 5th Avenue window, as can be seen in the photo below. According to Frank Castiglione, that was to make it more accessible to children.

Thanks to Ray, we have several photos of this layout to display here. Judging from the rolling stock that can be seen in these photos, I would guess that they were probably taken in 1955, shortly after the layout opened. Some of Ray's other photos of this layout also appear in two articles by Bruce Manson, in the Train Collectors Quarterly. 1 2

Window View From 5th Avenue - Photo courtesy of Ray Mohrlang

This is one of the few views that demonstrates the fact that the layout was actually a reverse "J" in design as the short end of the "J" is clearly visible on the right. The Waterfall is visible just above the "S" in "Scale." The liberal use of mirrors on the walls surrounding the display makes it difficult to ascertain the exact details of the layout, but at the center of this photo, the HO gauge trestle is visible, though it is quite possibly a reflection of the actual trestle. Also, on the track just below the beginning of the stone arch viaduct, there is an A-A Unit Silver Comet pulling a string of Koppers tank cars. Ray has seen this train in other shots of the layout and believes it was one of several items created especially for this layout.

1st_floor_layout-3-refinery-800.jpg (253631 bytes)

Oil Field Area - Photo courtesy of Ray Mohrlang

This photo of the oil field area shows another highly detailed scene built to scale standards. The oil field area was one of three areas with its own small loop on which trains could be operated for display. A three track mainline that circled the entire layout went around the front and back of these three areas which were located on the long side of the reverse "J" along the 25th Street side of the building. The trademark porthole windows on that side of the building can be clearly seen in this photo. Three dome tank cars date this photo to the 1955-1957 period.

1st_floor_layout-3-HO_trestle-800.jpg (252711 bytes)

HO Trestle - Photo courtesy of Ray Mohrlang

This trestle, clearly built to scale standards, was located at the tip of the short end of the reverse "J." Judging from the rolling stock, This photo is probably taken in 1955 at the beginning of the re-introduction of the HO line. The freight headed up by the 0-6-0 is pulling 4 freight cars which are all early cars manufactured by Varney for Gilbert to enable a fast re-introduction of the HO line. These were manufactured only in 1955 and 1956. The Diesel is a Lackawanna F3 also manufactured by Varney and only in 1955 and 1956. The portholes are reflections of the 25th Street wall in the mirrored wall at the back of this side of the layout.

(1) The Gilbert Hall of Science, by Bruce Manson, with Maury Romer - Train Collector's Quarterly, Fall 1980, Vol. 26, No. 5, page 11 (Photos of this layout throughout the article) Link to this issue of TCQ (available to TCA members only)

(2) The Gilbert Hall of Science - Update and Then Some, by Bruce Manson - Train Collector's Quarterly, October 1992, Vol. 38, No. 5, page 28 (Photos of this layout throughout the article) Link to this issue of TCQ (available to TCA members only)