In the center of the room is a 275 square foot toy train layout. This type
of layout combines both toy trains and related items such as Plasticville
buildings with scale components such as vehicles and detail items, and is
commonly referred to as a "hi-rail" layout. All items are in general
proportion but are not all to a strict scale of 1:48.
The "hi" refers to the rail height of toy track which is much taller
than true scale. Many layout builders today prefer to add varying degrees of
scale detail to layouts which operate toy trains.
The layout recreates a small Southern California
community in the late '40's or early '50's. The primary railroads serving this
area were the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Santa Fe. There is a town area with two railroad stations, a
minor league ball park, a school, churches, stores, gas station, motel, and
farm implement dealer. A
residential area separates the town center from a farming area. A small
streetcar or trolley line connects the residential area with the town center.
The farm is involved in diversified agriculture, growing crops and raising
various domestic animals. A significant area is also devoted to orchards. A
wide variety of farm equipment is used. Past the farm is a mountain area with
some high lakes, which are frequented by fishermen. These high areas area also
useful for locating a radar tower, an aircraft beacon, and a microwave relay
towers.
East of the town is a railroad yard and industrial area. A large roundhouse
services the various steam locomotives used. This roundhouse was made by my
father in the mid-fifties from scrap lumber. Nearby are water tanks and a
diesel fueling station. The rail yards contain several classification and
storage tracks. A small scrap metal operation is at one corner, along with a culvert
pipe operation and a refrigerated car icing station for perishable shipments. A
large intermodal, or truck-rail, operation is located on the other corner with
vehicles from numerous railroads operating in this time period. A tower
controls the yard operation. Also located on this side are a lumber mill, horse
watering pen, cattle pen, milk platform, and coal loading and unloading area.
In the center is a transfer table for switching diesel locomotives and an Army
depot with numerous military vehicles in storage. On the other side of the
depot are ammunition storage dumps. Next to the lumber mill are a hobo village
and hazardous waste dump. (Remember that this is the '50's!)
Along the west side of the room are shelves containing various Lionel items
from the Model Products, Lionel Trains, Inc., and Lionel LLC eras, from 1970 to
the present. This is "modern" Lionel although many of the designs and
molds come directly fro the postwar era. Along the south side are numerous
items from the "postwar" era, 1945 to 1969. This was the heyday of
Lionel toy train production. Below these shelves are the original boxes in
which these trains were sold. To the east is a reproduction of a dining car of
the '50's using actual linen, china, and silver from the Western Pacific
Railroad and its premier train the California Zephyr. Along the north side of
the room is a cabinet containing many rare postwar Lionel items. Also, along
the walls are numerous items of railroad memorabilia including switch locks,
actual signs, lanterns, and documents.
We hope you enjoy a visit to our "toy train heaven"!