Colorado & Southern Scenic Division
Jim & Debbie Hurley
The Colorado & Southern Scenic Division was initially established in 2012, and in 2024 underwent a major renovation to enhance the operating footprint of the layout. The theme of the design is rural country, with some trackside industrial areas, in the 1950s era.
AirWire and Piko remote systems control the battery supplied motive power, consisting of one (1) LGB Santa Fe 2-4-0, and two (2) Piko Diesel Switchers, while rolling stock employed on the C&SSD involves various manufacturers. The current 25 ft’ x 35 ft’ landscape, incorporating a 3% (maximum) grade covers approximately 650 sq. ft., with 175 linear feet of brass Aristocraft & LGB track,.
The L-shaped design features two (2) small villages: “Lone Pine, Colorado” at the Southern end – displaying a pond & trestle bridge, and “Summit, Colorado” at the Eastern end - displaying a tunnel & waterfall, with an accompanying stream running silently under bridges appropriately situated to traverse the rocky terrain. Aristocraft, Piko, Pola and “scratch built” structures populate the layout along the “Right of Way”, offering railroad passengers a scenic adventure during their travels.
EBENEZER SHORTLINE RAILROAD
Gary & Nancy Tebo
After having to leave a sizeable mature layout at their former home, construction of the Ebenezer Shortline Railroad started in 2012. Looking toward a theme set in the first half of the 20th century (1900 – 1950) consisting of farming and western settings, Gary undertook construction of what came to be a 65 ft. x 12 ft. “Garden” Layout bordering the rear of their new property. While moderately sized, the Shortline encompasses 220 ft. of a mixture of LGB, Aristocraftand USA Trains track, with a maximum gradient of 2%.
Analog control is used in conjunction with an Aristocraft Train Engineer System powering the engines electrically through the rails. Motive power is provided care of a “fleet” of LGB, Aristocraft, USA Trains, Hartland Locomotive Works and Bachmann engines, trolleys and Interurbans with an accompanying variety of available rolling stock. Here no available garden space is left unattended, as over the scope of the layout are many detailed structures (Piko, Pola, custom build from scratch), a Lighthouse on a hill, and carefully landscaped settings which bring to life the environment miniature inhabitants of the layout find themselves in.
A distinctive feature of the Ebenezer Short Line is the numerous use of perennial plants located throughout the layout, such as six (6) varieties of especially nice thyme, as well as sedums, Dwarf Alberta Spruces, Hostas, miniature boxwoods, Columbine, hens & chicks, Chameleon plant, Gaillardia (blanket flower), Miniature Gingko tree (Meriken), 2 miniature Japanese Maples, several min. boxwoods, Lamium (dead nettle), several small Austrian Pines, Arbor vitae, Artemisia, Lady’s Mantle, HJeuchera, Speedwell (Veronica), Ice Plant, Bloody Cranesbill, Dusty Miller, Balloon Flower (Campanula), several different sedum, Hens & Chicks, Snow in the Summer, 2 kinds of junipers, Forsythia, Sweet Woodruff, Coneflower (Echinacea), Artemisia Silver Mound), Ajuga, Flowering cabbage, Coreopsis and many others.
D & K RAILROAD
Dave & Kathy Mallory
Built in 2023, the D & K Railroad is comprised of 258 (total) feet of track, with 175 feet of mainline track, and an additional two (2) loops of 50 and 33 feet running in the front and rear yards, respectively, all constructed in a suburban setting. Using primarily LGB, Piko and Aristocraft brand solid brass track, the mainline is capable of being powered with DCC (Piko), AirWire Battery and standard analog systems, while the 2 loops incorporate analog circuits with accompanying sensor & timer hardware to operate independently and remotely. An assortment of decoder-equipped Piko, Battery installed LGB & Aristocraft, and analog USA Train steam, diesel and electric style motive power - many equipped with realistic sound electronics - pulls a variety of LGB, Aristocraft, Hartland and USA Train rolling stock throughout the scenic terrain.
Assorted Pola, Piko & Aristocraft kit and scratch-built structures of both contemporary & whimsical design parallel the mainline route as it snakes over its 150 foot length, the routing of which can be varied depending on the train cargo (freight or passenger), through multiple switches, a passing siding and accompanying dead end spurs.
NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD
Mike & Carol Leonard
A thoroughly mature layout, The New York Central Railroad features Buffalo, NY in the early 1950’s through 1965. Initially established in 2010, this well-defined and fully landscaped display encompasses 2,500 square feet, with over 400 feet of track, primarily Aristocraft, distributed over two (2) mainline tracks and a multitrack yard. Control is analog, furnished by BridgeWerks Magnum SR Series units with remote control capability, supplying both Aristocraft and USA Trains engines and rolling stock.
The design also features a tunnel and impressive waterfall, emptying into a large crafted and detailed pond, with a stream wandering through the layout. Many Piko, Pola and scratch built structures, as well as miniature trees and well populated flowering plantings enhance the “right of way”. Engines and rolling stock are securely stored in a track-side Storage Shed during the operating season, for convenient and ready access.
Bear Country Railroad
Rich & Rose Ann Dulski
Construction began in 2010, with updates, modifications and renovations continuing through 2022. The railroad itself - 94 feet long x 32 feet wide at one end and 11 feet wide at the other - is more typical of a European Theme/Design, with terrain height changes amounting to over 4 feet, as you move from one end of the layout to the other. Five (5) individual bridges span the distances: A 16 foot Through Girder Bridge with 6.7 - 8.6% grade; 23 foot “scratch built” Pratt Steel Truss Bridge with 1.5 - 4.9% grade; 14 foot Drop Girder Bridge with 6.2 - 11% grade; 12 foot Warren Steel Truss Bridge with 6.1 - 7.2% grade; 17 foot Drop Girder Bridge with 5.8 - 7.0% grade. Approximately 750 feet of rail-clamped and individually soldered LGB track with 15 manually operated switches provide the two (2) main lines running through the garden, with multiple variations of possible routes. A 12 foot diameter mountain with tunnel & operating water fountain, along with a full arrangement of garden plants on the right-of-way compliment the Pola and Piko buildings situated throughout.
Control is provided through either battery power (AirWire) or by a Massoth DCC System (DiMAX 12010Z Central Station) with handheld wireless Navigators. Engines and powered units are primarily European style LGB, with a few USA Trains and Aristocraft Engines in Erie Lackawanna or Erie road names. Rolling stock is almost all LGB.
AUDUBON SHORTLINE RAILROAD
Ron & Christine Brounshidle
The Audubon Shortline Railroad was first established in 1995, and is currently undergoing a major expansion which will triple the operating footprint of the layout. The theme of the design is rural country over the era (1900 – 1960), changing as you move from one side of the layout to the other.
Crest Revolution and an MTH Digital Control System control the motive power, which consists of LGB, MTH, USA, Aristocraft and Bachmann locomotives and rolling stock. The current footprint covers 875 square feet, with 350 linear feet of Sunset Valley RR Code 250 brass track, which is being extended during the above mentioned expansion, and incorporating a maximum grade of 2.6%.
The L-shaped design features a pond and stream, with accompanying bridges appropriately situated for the rocky terrain. Aristocraft, Piko, Pola, scratch built and “other” types of structures populate the layout along the “right of way”, offering railroad passengers a scenic advantage during their travels.
LO-BO GARDEN RAILS
Bob & Lois Rodgers
Starting out as just a perennial 20 ft. x 30 ft. flower garden, the Lo-Bo Garden Rails Layout was designed by Bob Rodgers and built from scratch beginning in 2,000. In an “L-shaped” configuration, it covers an area of over 2,000 square feet, with 900 feet of track and a maximum grade of 6%. This may not seem too unusual, except for the fact that the layout is dismantled every fall, all track and structures brought indoors, and rebuilt outdoors each spring!
The railroad’s theme is twofold, running both American (Early 1,900s) and European equipment. Control involves use of an LGB MTS (DCC) System which usually has multiple trains running concurrently. Bob has over 20 Engines and 170 Pieces of Rolling Stock (all LGB), along with a Bachmann 55 Ton 3-Truck Shay, to select from. The “fleet” traverses through a curved tunnel, over 3 ponds (1 having fish), and a 20 ft. long river fed by a cascading waterfall. A combination of Piko, Pola and custom scratch-built structures arranged in urban and rural settings are scenically located throughout the layout’s 35-40 varieties of flowers.
ROCK CREEK RAILROAD
Gary & Judy Ludwig
Established in 2009, the Rock Creek Railway covers an area of 900 square feet, incorporating 150 linear feet of a combination of LGB and Aristocraft track at a maximum grade of 3%, in an “over and under looping design”. Over 60 feet of track is elevated through the use of scratch built trestles and bridges. The garden railroad has one mainline which represents the transition period when diesel power was replacing steam locomotives; representing a standard gauge short line railroad serving a rural community.
Motive power is controlled by analog, battery, and Aristo Train Engineer systems for Aristocraft, USA, and Bachmann engines. Piko, Pola and a significant number of scratch built structures are situated throughout the layout in various scenes. Including sawmill, small rural town, and farming community. An elevated waterfall dominates the center of the layout, emptying into a small pond. The stream powers the waterwheel of a mill.
GENESEE SHORTLINE RAILROAD
Dick & Kathy Mortellaro
This 4,800 square foot “L–shaped estate” was originally begun in 1998, which now has evolved to incorporate over 1,000 feet of Aristocraft, USA Trains and LGB track in multiple loops, with a 4% maximum grade. Battery, analog electrical and Aristocraft Train Engineer systems control LGB, Hartland Locomotive Works, USA Trains, Aristocraft and MTH motive power units and rolling stock, routed through a track control panel. Access to a secure train storage and work area in the rear of the garage occurs through a train “door”, which allows the trains to be run directly onto and off of the layout.
Points of interest include many bridges, dioramas and scenes throughout the layout, plus a working coal loader and rotary dumper. Streams, a pond and waterfall further enhance the design along the right-of-way, with numerous unique scratchbuilt structures, besides standard Pola, Piko and Aristocraft buildings. Many times over the years Dick has displayed his creative side to the WNYGRS, through fabrication of structures utilizing many innovative methods in combination with common and inexpensive materials, while Kathy originally worked with Jigstone, and now is the primary gardener for the layout.
BLACKWATER RAILROAD
Rob & Joanne Bond
The BlackWater Railroad Layout features 1960 era motive power and a 2-8-0 ‘excursion’ engine, running in a modern setting. In 2012 Rob decided to initially establish this layout and add various features in what spare time he could find on a year-by-year basis. At present, the design encompasses 260 feet of Main line track – a combination of LGB, Aristocraft(mostly) and Piko - over a 2,475 square foot area (45 ft. x 55 ft.), with a maximum gradient of 3%.
All motive power is provided by battery, either onboard with an Air Wire system or on trailing power cars through use of modified Aristocraft Train Engineer systems. Engines and rolling stock are predominantly Aristocraft (1:29 Scale), with some USA Trains, LGB, Piko, Bachman, Delton & Kalamazoo cars included.
The design features a waterfall, emptying into a “disappearing” stream, with bridges appropriately located to create the “right of way”. Trains wind through areas populated with Piko, Pola, scratch built and “other” types of structures, fruit trees and a vegetable garden. Engines and rolling stock are stored on a 3 track yard, inside a Storage Shed, accessed via a siding going through a ‘doggy’ door.
PEASEFUL ACRES RAILROAD
Lou & Jeannette Pease
Expanding to make the best use of space is something this layout is very good at! Construction of a Garden Railroad behind the house started in 2013, which is located in an urban setting. With those humble beginnings, the railroad layout has grown to cover an area of over 1,100 square feet across three sides of the backyard. Two point-to-point trolley lines, one at each end of the layout, extend 160 ft. through this expanse, coexisting with 360 ft. of a mixture of LGB, Aristocraft, USA Trains and Piko track. Water features along the mainline include a waterfall emptying into one of two ponds, as well as an adjoining stream.
The railroad design captures the early 1950s, with particular emphasis on the New York Central Railroad. Motive power is under analog control through the track rails, and consists of LGB, Aristocraft, USA Trains, Hartland Locomotive Works and Piko units, with an accompanying assortment of rolling stock to make up the trains. As the miniature travelers ride through the countryside, a functioning fire scene with smoke and sound is a particular point of interest, along with plus numerous Piko, Pola, scratch built and “other” structures placed throughout the layout.
C.D.D.M. & E. RAILROAD
Tom Schobert
ONTARIO & ERIE RAILROAD
Mike & Phyllis Flynn
GRAND ISLAND SHORTLINE RAILROAD
Jack & Marilyn Henderson
Started in 2006, Spreading out 275 feet of track into two independent loops and looking to add a third, with mainly scratch built buildings. Incorporating beautiful bridges and blending it into the landscape.
NIAGARA STATION RAILROAD
Bill & Mary Ann Robins
Niagara Station is a layout that maximizes its design footprint through emphasis on many separately applied detail features and efficient track plan. Over its 300 feet of stainless steel Aristocraft track, analog control is applied by employing an Aristocraft Train Engineer System, as well as an MTH Digital Command System for DCC applications. The layout was originally established in 2009 to represent railroading in the 1950s and 1960s, but has been undergoing some significant changes over the period Fall 2016 - Spring 2017.
Water features include a waterfalland small stream, which Aristocraft, USA Trains and MTH motive power and rolling stock pass by in the course of their travels, with a dual track bridge allowing safe passage across a pond. A multitude of Piko, Pola and scratchbuilt structures populate the layout, with many individual detail parts applied.
Of particular note is the construction and use of a Depot Building that acts as a safe secure storage area for the trains, where they can be driven in and out directly from the layout. The building design also incorporates a sheltered porch along the front of the structure, so that Operators and Observers can stand in the outdoor area protected from the weather, and watch the trains roll by!
