Thanks guys -- those are all so comforting to watch. My Dad built a fine 4 x 8 Lionel table for my oldest brother and even though I was young, I remember it well, a figure eight surrounded by an oval. Amazingly, not a single frame of film was ever taken of the completed railroad!
I recently inherited our family photo collection. Sadly, although there were indeed pictures taken, no were included. My mother would go through fits of just throwing things away, and I fear that was what happened here.