Model Railroading > Garden Railroad at the Pomona Fairplex

Two generations of trains.  The railroad is as strong as ever with over 70 volunteers.

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And before anybody asks this is at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona, CA.

I grew up in Pasadena, and always remember driving to the Fair each year with my folks.  The train exhibit was always a hit!

Yes, LA county, Fairplex, Pomona, California.  The railroad started in 1924 then moved to a 30,000 square foot outside area in 1932.  This is its current location on the fair grounds.

edsaalig Wrote:
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> Yes, LA county, Fairplex, Pomona, California.
>  The railroad started in 1924 then moved to a
> 30,000 square foot outside area in 1932.  This is
> its current location on the fair grounds.

There also used to be a large O Scale layout under the horse racing track grandstands too. But that's long gone.

Thank you for this. I didn't even think the fairgrounds were around at all anymore. 

I remember the inside O scale layout. Loved visiting that every year. The interurban setup was amazing with the overhead wiring live.

I model modern day HO, but if I went O, I'd love to do live wire interurban for sure! 

Mike ONeill
Okahumpka, FL

Very nice, Ed.  Thanks for posting.

-John

Nice video. In my kidhood I remember being mesmerized by that pike back in the days when the Templins owned it.
GK  

mcdeo Wrote:
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> Thank you for this. I didn't even think the
> fairgrounds were around at all anymore. 
>

Why wouldn't it still be around?  There's stuff going on there all year long. For instance the NHRA Winternationals at the drag strip which is on the east side of the property.

I recall that back in the 1960s/70s that garden railroad was a larger scale.  It must have been all custom built stuff.  I don't think anyone had heard of LGB trains or G scale back then.
I took my son there about 10 years ago and I saw they had some of the old equipment on shelves inside the small building.  

The other railroad attraction at the Fairplex is, of course, the Rail Giants museum, which is where Union Pacific obtained the Big Boy #4014 for restoration.