What is the Fairplex Garden Railroad?

 It's been a while since I've talked about a train exabit that one could visit, and with the weather getting nice out, why not visit a garden railroad. One of the largest garden railroads in America. 

What is the Fairplex Garden Railroad

Photo curtesy of http://fgrr.org/index.php/history/

One of the oldest and largest garden railroads in America can be found in Pomona, California at the LA County Fair. First established in 1924 before making a move to it's current location in 1935, 

According to it's about section page, most of the equipment at the time was made by local high schoolers, which is quite a feat on it's own. Over the years the garden railroad would expand, with it's current feat of track being over 10,000. 

Around California 

It shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the garden railroad depicts scenes from California in it's early days to current days. Trains, trolly's and even cars travel around the giant garden railroad, crossing over each other on bridges, going through tunnels, and even a railyard. 

 The layout also features trains from "USA trains", a company that makes G scale trains such as the Big Boy and Hudson alongside amazingly detailed passenger cars. 

Covid challenges

The 2020 pandemic was hard for everyone, especially model train exabits. Though it was outside, the Fairplex Garden Railroad had to be shut down, with members who worked on it having to stay in touch. Once allowed back, the volunteers had much to fix things up. 

In the end, if was worth it, as wiring was upgraded and so was the railyard. 

The Garden Railroad today:

The Fairplex Garden Railroad is still going strong, with the layout in good hands and open to the public on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 11am to 4PM. 

For more info click here: https://fairplex.com/event/fairplex-garden-railroad-11/

Sources: http://fgrr.org/index.php/about-the-fairplex-garden-railroad/ 

http://fgrr.org/index.php/history/