Trains.com

Commercial layouts

1532 views
16 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Saturday, July 8, 2006 1:08 PM
In the San Diego area (Poway to be precise) Walter Anderson's nursery has a large layout, and the sell LGB, USA, and Aristo Craft. If you give them a call you can also make arrangements to bring your trains to run on their layout on Thursdays and Fridays.

walterandersen.com/

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: S. Carolina Up-country
  • 279 posts
Posted by jhsimpson62 on Saturday, July 8, 2006 9:46 AM
In Northwestren S. Carolina, (Seneca area) all the Bi-Lo grocery stores have overhead trains running above the check-out counter.
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Bucks County, PA
  • 428 posts
Posted by Bucksco on Saturday, July 8, 2006 9:29 AM
Keep it coming guys- great info!
If possible let me know the town names where these are located
Thanks!
Jack
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Norton, MA
  • 394 posts
Posted by piercedan on Saturday, July 8, 2006 6:04 AM
I have seen 2 in my area.

Weston nursery in Hopkinton, MA . Once a nice layout, now fallen victim to poor maintenance. Last time there there was a powered sound tender pulling 2 cars, no engine, just the tender. Track is in bad need of work also.

McDonalds in Canton, MA has a loop overhead, no scenery.
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Sandy Eggo, CA
  • 1,279 posts
Posted by Ray Dunakin on Friday, July 7, 2006 11:25 PM
I don't know of any in the San Diego area but there's a McD's in Anaheim, just a few blocks from Knott's Berry Farm, that has a really nice looking layout. There are suspended tracks all over the place, and in the center there's a glass-enclosed layout with detailed scenery, structures etc. Unfortunately the one time we were there, it wasn't running.
 Visit www.raydunakin.com to see pics of the rugged and rocky In-ko-pah Railroad!
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 1,192 posts
Posted by kstrong on Friday, July 7, 2006 9:54 PM
Sorry, Jack--just trying to tug on your leg a bit. Service contracts, then??? [:D]

Seriously... Wegman's has trains in many of their northeast stores. They're based in Rochester, not by coincidence near Ridge Road Station. I keep waiting for them to expand out west. (If you've never been to a Wegman's grocery store--do so. They're far better than any other grocery store I've been to. Man, I miss their cafe. Used to frequent it for lunch.)

Later,

K
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Salisbury, England
  • 420 posts
Posted by devils on Friday, July 7, 2006 9:43 PM
Beer house next to Bertsdorf station, on the Zittau - Jonsdorf 750mm line in Saxony, Germany. G scale delivers the drinks along the bar! Steam outside and steaming inside, and just to keep you happy Jack, it's a Spreewald engine.
Closer to home the 7 1/4 inch gauge Moors Valley Railway in England has a small garden layout as well by the main station running Bachmann and LGB on a coin meter. They sponsor our G scale layout when we go to shows as we got them to sell us G scale in the first place! Is it advertising or just sharing the fun?
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Friday, July 7, 2006 9:35 PM
Nope, not any more

the Ruby's by us shut down and it and its overhad layout are long gone

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: US
  • 85 posts
Posted by paultheloon on Friday, July 7, 2006 7:58 PM
there's a restraunt called the 'family buggy" down in livonia, mi., that has an overhead system that has a lgb train on it.[C=:-)]
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Winter Springs, FL
  • 123 posts
Posted by dukebasketballer` on Friday, July 7, 2006 7:08 PM
Hey Jack,
When I was in Pennsylvania, we went toa Wegman's grocery store in Downingtown where they had a big overhead loop in the back of the store with an F7 AB running. There was a boxcar with Ridge Road Station's name plastered all over it so I am assuming that they put it in.
Hope this helps,
David
David Wenrich
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Bucks County, PA
  • 428 posts
Posted by Bucksco on Friday, July 7, 2006 6:40 PM
Keith,
Stop by the LGB of America area and say "Hello"!
Jack
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 7, 2006 5:04 PM
There is a great layout next to the Great Central Station at Rothley in Leicester, g-gauge, double track, and a rack![;)] It is superb!
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Folkestone, UK
  • 77 posts
Posted by folkestonekeith on Friday, July 7, 2006 4:03 PM
Only one I've been to over the pond (but not in the UK) was at the Cafe B1 at Elend Station on the Harzer SchmalspurBahnen - you order your beer and it gets delivered to your table by G-Scale train hauled by an LGB Spreewald 2-6-0T........

The German owner of the Cafe B1 knows his stuff about railways - B1 was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive on the London and North Eastern Railway in the UK and one of those locomotives was named "Elend". Interesting cross-country play on words.....

.....looking forward to my trip to Nuremburg next week - gotta Birthday Party to attend......
Keith
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 7, 2006 1:26 PM
Very few in the uk sadly , we seem slow to catch on to the entertainment value.
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Bucks County, PA
  • 428 posts
Posted by Bucksco on Friday, July 7, 2006 12:53 PM
K,
Alot of folks out there keep looking to me for repair, replacement or fixing of overheads that they've had installed and then cannot get them maintained . As I always tell my cohorts "Think Big !"
Don't have to just sell trains to make a living , eh?
Jack
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 1,192 posts
Posted by kstrong on Friday, July 7, 2006 10:41 AM
Jack, if I were a bit more cynical, I could be led to believe you're looking to sell trains to whomever we mention here. [;)] But that's just me being cynical--an unfortunate side-effect of growing up immersed in DC politics.

There's the display at Caboose Hobbies--though I'm pretty sure they already know about LGB.

See the June '06 GR for a list of other public displays.

Later,

K
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Bucks County, PA
  • 428 posts
Commercial layouts
Posted by Bucksco on Friday, July 7, 2006 7:43 AM
Are there any commercial layouts in your area?
Things like overheads in restaurants, museums, retail stores, etc....
Just curious.
Jack

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy