Each year the Botanical Gardens has the Luminations Festival. The Gardens are lighted and very beautiful. WAGRS has provided a trains layout the last three years.
We have three loops. One is 20x 40 with an elevated ladder section on one end. The second is a 5x12 loop that a newbright Holiday Express animated train will run on. The third loop is up on a knoll with a small lighted passenger consist, decorated by led lights. There is a trolly line provided by member “Reevha.”
On the main loop we run a Mikado w/6 lighted Aristo Sierras - The Polar Express. There are 10 lighted buildings.
We run from 6-9PM on the next three fri/sat nights. The entire Botanica is lighted, with minstral groups, choirs, and other entertainment. It looks like a winter wonderland.
Last year a kid came up to me [I was wearing an Engineer’s cap] and his comment was that “This is so AWSOME!!”
We crank up the volume on the Mikado. You can hear that whistle wailing all over the gardens like a lonesome train passing in the distant darkness.
Pictures to be posted Sat. or Sun. night.
The first night was cold, snowy, windy, and Murphy was in full presence.
Altogether we ran four trains. Mikado w/Sierras, Holiday Express train, LGB Stanz w/3 passenger cars [light streaks on top of hill]. and a Bachmann Christmas trolley running on Aristo reversing track.
Herb Reeves sets up the trolley as his wife Heather supervises.
__*[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/pimanjc/Botanica2007%20Folder/Bot2007-HH*__