
The Fairplex Garden Railroad – Pomona, CA
N 34° 04.959 W 117° 45.905
11S E 429413 N 3771584
Quick Description: The Fairplex Garden Railroad is considered the oldest and possibly the largest miniature railroad of its kind in the United States.
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 10/7/2009 7:30:01 PM
Waymark Code: WM7D4J
Views: 4
Long Description:
The Fairplex Garden Railroad – Pomona, CA
The Fairplex Garden Railroad is considered the oldest and possibly
the largest miniature railroad of its kind in the United States.
The railroad began as a special static exhibit for the third Los
Angeles Fair in 1924. It soon became a small, hand built, operating
miniature train, in true 1/2 inch scale. The small railroad
continued to grow and in 1935, moved out of the Fair's tent to its
present 100X300-foot outdoor location where it remains today.
In May of 1997, with the help of members of a local garden
railroad club, the original 1/2 inch scale was replaced with what
is referred to today as G gauge in the hobby of model railroading,
and renovation of the miniature railroad began. Today over 9,800
feet of track provide for the running of over 30 trains at one
time. Approximately 2,000 linear feet of underground pipes and
conduits support the operation. Nearly eighteen miles of wires are
required to operate the electrical systems and over 12,000 gallons
of water flow through its lakes, rivers and streams.
The Fairplex Garden Railroad is maintained by volunteers throughout
the year. The railroad operates daily during the L.A. County Fair
in September, the first Sunday of each month and for selected
Fairplex events throughout the year. Admission to the Garden
Railroad is free, however for selected Fairplex events admission
price may vary depending on the event. The Garden Railroad is
located between the Main Grandstand and Fairplex Building #4.
Visit the The Fairplex Garden Railroad website for more
information. http://www.fgrr.org/index.html