My Large Scale Garden Railroad

The Bikini & Flamingo RR

To see new photos of my layout this spring


To see before and after pictures of the layout in progress and different views of the landscape


I have a large (over 400 feet of track) outdoor garden railroad in my backyard. Large scale model railroading is 1/2 inch scale or 1/24 scale. Some manufacturers make their trains in 1/29 or 1/32 scale, but they all run on the same size track and are basically the same size. The trains are weatherproof and can run outdoors with no problem. The track is plastic and brass and also is weatherproof. I run my trains year around, even in the snow. These are electric trains running on DC transformers just like indoor railroads, except real landscaping material is used - miniature shrubs and flowers and rocks and small trees. This photo shows my Aristo-Craft ALCO FA1 traveling thru a Chicago snow.



My newest engine, the LGB "crystal clear" version of their F7. This engine is quite unique. Lot's of lights both inside and out, so it puts on quite a show on the track!


This photo shows my Aristo-Craft U25B engine. This is the original portion of the garden railroad, built in 1990 and very well planted now. The railroad has increased in size each year until last year. I plan on leaving it at it's present size 3 major sections.



The LGB Coca Cola Superset rounds the corner of the new section surrounding the patio.




This photo shows the LGB ICE Train pulling into the station while the LGB Coca Cola Train passes by. The ICE train is running on a point-to-point track in the center of the new section of the layout. This new layout section was built by me this past spring. I used a different type of landscaping here, wood chips to make a foresty type of atmosphere. I used colored gravel to make a dry river bed for the bridges to go over. At the far south end, I made a desert scene, using Hens & Chicks plants to simulate cactus (they are hardy here in the North). This section has flowering shrubs for spring color, the focal point being a Weeping Cherry tree.




The Wells Fargo Depot has the very latest in technology to keep the waiting passengers happy. Notice the satellite dish on the roof.




The LGB Track Cleaning engine doing it's job.




Here is a shot of another of my custom paint jobs, on an Aristo-craft Pacific and tender. I used hot rose pink and then weathered it with grimy black and decaled it for the Bikini & Flamingo RR.


Another shot of the Pacific engine & tender




My favorite engine, the F7, I custom painted for the B&F railroad in my signature pastel colors. This photo shows it pulling the San Val Trains "very" limited edition Beaver Valley Salt boxcar. These were created by USA Trains for San Val a few years ago as "their version" of the limited edition Morton Salt boxcar by LGB. I didn't even have to paint this one. It came in PINK.




To the right, another shot of the San Val pink boxcar behind the Aristo-Craft Alco FA engine, again custom painted for the Bikini & Flamingo.





Your engineer playing with the F7 and the POLA circus buildings.





Other Train Links


The Aristo-Craft Trains Depot

Large Scale On-Line

LGB Trains

San Val Trains


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