My 
"How to Build a Train Table"
Web Page by Phil Lea

...........................







Several years ago I was helping my parents clean out the upstairs in their garage and found my old train set.
BUT, the blue hopper car was missing. (I had not seen this set in 40 years and couldn't believe I remember that car.)

 

My uncle, Leach L. Lea, Jr., bought it for me around Christmas 1953 when he was going to the University of Tennessee.
 (Mom teases Pop, saying he and Uncle Jr. put me in the playpen so they could play with it.)


When I moved into my last house, I wanted to set up my trains.

It had a bonus room and I decided it would be a good room for a table.

I had a train table at my old home and fortunately I kept the components of it. 
I hope my table gives you some ideas to enjoy your trains. 

My Dad, Edward Lea, came up 03-18-2004 and helped me assemble my table.

Final Table Dimensions: 37 ½" wide, 17' - ¾" long, 40 ¾" high. 

I've placed some images below of the stages of construction:

On the South end I had a door to work around.
It was only 35" from the facing to to wall.

35" became the width of the frame and 37 ½" the width of the plywood top because of it.

 

1st, we started with the North end of the room.

  We constructed a 7' x 35" frame of 1x6's
and mounted it to the wall.
(We made the end pieces 37 ½".) 

Why 7' long? (It was a portion of a frame I had previously used in my old home.)

Note the 3/4" holes drilled in the frame to allow routing of wiring later.

Also, the braces make neat places to hold extra 3' sections of O track.

 

Note the LEVEL we used to make sure the table was "in the bubble". Using the stud finder my dad got me for Christmas, we mounted the frame to the wall studs with a few drywall screws. After all of the table frames we found to be "in the bubble", we used 1/4" x 3" lag bolts to secure it to the wall.

Another shot of the North frame showing it's one 2x4 leg.

 

A vent we had to work around on the West wall..

Because of the vent, 
we decided to make the frame 40" high.

 

2nd, we mounted the South end another 7' x 35" frame of 1x6's.  

 

3rd, we measured the distance between the 2 frames. 
We then built and installed a 35" W x 37" L box between them. 
This is an underside shot. 
You'll note we used 2x4's  to make it easy to screw to at the joints where the 3 pieces of plywood meet. (We also designed the box so that I could later extend the vent to the edge of the table if the need arises.) 

 

4th, we ripped an 8' sheet of ¾" plywood 37 ½" wide for the South end. 

(Note the 2 ½" x ¾" notch we cut to clear the door facing.)

5th, we ripped another 8' sheet of ¾"  plywood to 37 ½" wide and installed it on the North end.

6th, we ripped an scrap sheet of ¾" plywood to 37 ½" x 12 ¾" to fill the gap between the other 2 pieces.

Here's a view of the table we finished in one afternoon. 

We used 1 ¼" drywall screws to secure the plywood to the frame.

I have some green felt to cut and put down before the track goes down.

Another view.

 

It's easy to reach across for me and my Lionel stool will fit under it when not in use.

(I cut the legs 38 ½", so that I could lay down a 2x4 to distribute the weight. But, I don't think I needed to as the wall seems to bear most of it.)

An underside shot of the table.

 

More pics of the layout to come as I get it set up.

 

(I want to do an "Old-West" theme using my Fort Apache set and other Cowboys and Indians I had in the 50's / 60's.)

Parts used:

1x6's, 1x4's, 2x4's, 1/4 x 3" lag bolts, 1/4" flat washers, 2 1/2" drywall screws, 2" drywall screws, 1 1/4" drywall screws, 3/4" plywood

Tools used:

Cordless drill, Craftsman bits and bit holder, level, stud finder, pencil, table saw, miter saw, skill saw, square, safety glasses, chalk line, 1/4" drive socket set, vacuum cleaner, 

Phil's "Helpful Hints":  

I did all the sawing outside.
used a vacuum cleaner inside when we drilled to prevent a big cleanup later.
assembled the frame with drywall screws. (Easy to disassemble when necessary.)
used a magnetic drill bit to pick up those SHARP drywall screws. (They'll make your finger's bleed.)



This was a custom table for a special room. 

I hope you enjoyed my website.

Phil


 






 

Want your own Website?
Want your own www.YOURNAME.com Domain name?
No Skills? * No Idea of How? * NO PROBLEM !!!

Click to visit: www.DrWebman.com


 

My 1966 SS Chevelle 454, 4-speed, 12-bolt posi. For Sale By Owner
A REAL 138 Super Sport Car with Air Conditioning, Buckets, Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes,
NEW Interior, New American Racing Torque Thrust Original Wheels, clear Tennessee Title
Visit my personal website: www.1966SSChevelle.com  to see tons of pics and info.

$35,000

(I will consider a trade-in of a car that is valued $10,000 or less)
 

 



Nice 3 br, 2 bath Rancher FSBO near Ocoee & Cleveland TN, Parking for up to ELEVEN (11) CARS & a 30x24 Garage w/Upstairs
$149,999

Nice 3 br, 2 bath Rancher FSBO near Ocoee TN, Benton & Cleveland 
11-Car Garage, 2-Bay Garage / Workshop with unfinished Upstairs Apartment, detached 48x36 9-Car Open Garage, Sunroom, well-kept, low taxes, low utilities,  Benton Station, TN, $149,999 for sale by owner
Click to see tons of pictures: www.BentonStation.com

    30x24 2-bay Garage Workshop with Upstairs unfinished Apartment / Storage 9-Car open Garage




My 1995 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic
Only 7,000 miles, Rare original yellow & white paint, wide white-walls


My dad's Ford Ranger XLT pickup truck

4-door extended cab, 1-owner, 39,000 miles

Will trade for a nice, low-mileage Chevrolet Impala that's a 2006 or newer
(would prefer to trade, but will take $12,500 for it.)


 


Click HERE to see my "Want To Buy" list, my "Wish List", my "WANTED" list of items I want to buy, www.drwebman.com/want



 


L@@K:

Click HERE to see a description of this item. Click here to see RARE Les Paul Pro Deluxe  Click HERE to see a description of this item. Click HERE to see Lionel GG-1  Click here to see Boom Box with TV Click here to see Snow Skiis

Click HERE to see a description of this item.    Click HERE to see a description of this item.
Click 
HERE

to see my
INTERNET YARD SALE

 



 

Phil's LINKS below!



* My www.DRWEBMAN.com FREE WEBSITES Webmaster site
* My www.FSBOTrader.com site to Buy, Sale & Trade all Kinds of Items that's For Sale By Owner
* My www.OcoeeRealty.com, site to BUY, SELL or TRADE Homes, Land, Properties, etc...
* My www.DRTRAIN.com Model Train website
* My www.DRKARAOKE.com DJ/KJ website
* My www.BentonStation.com website
* My www.EUCHEE.com MOVING SALE website.
* My "STUFF FOR SALE" website
* My EBAY Auctions website
* My CD's For Sale List
* My Train Appraisal website
* My Trains Wanted List of Model Trains I Want to Buy
* My "Train Finder" Service
* My "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" Banners For Sale
* My 1995 Harley Davidson Heritage w/7,000 mi. For Sale
* My LeRoy Mercer (aka: John Bean) "Real Story" tribute
* My EUCHEE / YUCHI Indians tribute
* My www.drwebman.com/signs Funny / off-color HERE'S YOUR SIGN pics found across the world
* My Used Karaoke CDG's For Sale
* My www.PhotosOfCleveland.com 50's & 60's photos of Cleveland TN website
* My www.drwebman.com/sweatbee website the tells how I keep sweat bees from sting me
* My www.MyLostToys.com
website that's a search for MY LOST TOYS
* My www.TroopTrain.com
website that pays tribute to the L&N WW-II train wreck near Jellico TN




      Click on image for more information     Click HERE for more information on my 1964 Gibson J-45 Guitar For Sale

    Click on image for more information Click HERE for more information on my FOR SALE Upright Stradivarius Bass "Fiddle" with Carved top


    Click on image for more information Click HERE for more information on "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" Banners


    Click on image to view information on it Click HERE for more information on my CD's FOR SALE

 



 


      
 

 


 

NoThruTrucks.com

           

My online campaign to stop empty Georgia log trucks from endangering lives on the Upper River Road of Bradley County TN

 


CLICK TO SEE MY PARTS FOR SALE WEBSITE
www.FSBOTrader.com


 

OcoeeRealty.com is a great website where you can buy, sell or trade properties.

Advertise your property on Ocoee Realty .com or browse the ads.

(Click on the images below for more information on the properties for sale.)



For you next Karaoke Party, contact:

www.DRKARAOKE.com

 

Check out my MyLostToys.com website

Mr. MacPooch American Plastic Bricks

 

that features toys from my childhood 

www.MyLostToys.com

 

 


Check out my Dr. Shock website:
www.drwebman.com/dr_shock
 


Check out my tribute to Cleveland TN 
www.PhotosOfCleveland.com



Click HERE to see my "MEMORIES OF A CHILD 50s" website, www.drwebman.com/memories



      Ingrid                 Rebel and
Bob Brandy

Click HERE to see my Tribute To Bob Brandy


John Bean 
1951-1984
(the REAL, the one, the only true Leroy Mercer)

Click HERE to see my Tribute To the REAL Leroy Mercer


www.TroopTrain.com

My website that chronicles the WW-II Troop Train wreck near Jellico TN on July 6, 1944



The BAT CREEK STONE

www.euchee.com/yuchi

My tribute to the Yuchi Indians

(Could the Yuchi be one of the lost tribes of Israel???)

 


 


 


Hello! My name is Phil Lea.

I am single and live in Sweetwater Tennessee.
I was born and raised in the Benton Station Community of Polk County TN.
My parents, Glenda and Edward, still live in the home where I was raised.
I founded and operated Tape City, an independent record store, for several years.
I am now a free-lance Webmaster, www.DRWEBMAN.com.
I also Buy, Sell & Trade old model Trains.

I enjoy riding my Harley Davidson Heritage Softail
singing Karaoke
and learning to play my Upright Bass

 









NOTE: I would like information on the following:
* How to construct a parade train out of a riding lawn mower. I would appreciate any information or suggestions. (Or, would buy one at a reasonable price.)

* Pictures and information on the L&N Troop Train #4 wreck June 6, 1944 in Jellico TN that killed over 30 people. Note: I have the book: "She Jumped the Tracks".
Click HERE to see my site on it.

* Pictures of the Etowah Tennessee L&N Rail Yard for the 40's, 50's or 60's. I want to know how everything looked and where it was located so I can model it in O-gauge. I especially want good pics of the unique coaling tower / tipple. (In the Summer of 2001 it was damaged by a derailment and had to be demolished.)







Keywords to help search engines like google, yahoo, AltaVista, Lycos, etc.. find me:

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