Golden Gate Express Railway #4 -- January 14, 2012

Today we went to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. For the fourth year, in the special exhibit room at the west end was the Golden Gate Express Railway, a garden scale layout designed by by members of the Bay Area Garden Railway Society. The famous San Francisco structures were made from recycled materials.  This year they had a theme based on Playland-at-the-Beach, Sutro Baths and the Cliff House.  The only electric trains were a Third Avenue Railway streetcar, a cable car, and two PCCs that went back and forth.  There was a bumper car, a Laughing Sal that laughed but did not move, and a few games.

Golden Gate Express Railway #3 -- January 8, 2011

Today we went to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. For the third year, in the special exhibit room at the west end was the Golden Gate Express Railway, a garden scale layout designed by by members of the Bay Area Garden Railway Society. The famous San Francisco structures were made from recycled materials. The layout was quite different this year. The cable car ran on a separate table, with the Ferry Building, the Castro Theatre, and Coit Tower. Today the car was running backwards.

A freight train ran around the primary layout. I think one track was not in use today. Several Golden Gate Park fixtures were there, including the buffalo herd, the carousel, and the Music Concourse with the De Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences.

Another table had the Victorians, Ghiradelli Square and other San Francisco landmarks, but no train was running there today.

A jazz band was practicing in the tunnel. They were playing "Body and Soul" when we left.

I was shocked to hear that an Arizona Representative was shot in the head and several people were killed today. This is not the way politics are supposed to work in our country.

Update 11-January-2011:

I posted a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hILdyZrimo

I'm sorry the cable car was running backwards. I hope they were doing it to equalize wear on the car.

Golden Gate Express Railway #2 -- January 2, 2010

Today we went to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. In the special exhibit room at the west end was the Golden Gate Express Railway, a garden scale layout designed by by members of the Bay Area Garden Railway Society. The famous San Francisco structures were made from recycled materials. Autos ran across the Golden Gate Bridge. A cable car climbed the Hyde Street hill. A freight train ran around the layout. I think one track was not in use today. Structures included the Ghirardelli factory, made from chocolate-colored light switch and plug cover plates, the Chinatown gate made from Mah Jong tiles, the Castro Theatre, and Pac Bell Park. The Ferry Building clock came from a kitchen timer. New this year were a soundtrack, including organ music for the Castro, bells for the cable cars, Chinese music for Chinatown, and crowd noises and Renel Brooks-Moon's announcements. We didn't get to see it, but the fog was supposed to come in twice a day.

The Conservatory's ticket booth was closed because some jerk tried to break in during the week and damaged it.

I posted a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCweHPN0_yI

Golden Gate Express Railway -- January 4, 2009

Yesterday we went to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. The plants were in great shape. In the special exhibit room at the west end was the Golden Gate Express Railway, a garden scale layout designed by Cal professor Chip Sullivan. Various historic San Francisco structures, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Ferry Building, were made from recycled materials by Figureplant (http://www.figureplant.com/). On the upper level, New Orleans street car 952 ran back and forth from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Chinatown gate. On the two lower loops, there were two Amtrack trains and lots of tunnels.



I posted a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BqUEPkiO4o



I'll put more information and images on my Park Trains site at the end of the month.



It was very cold yesterday. After the Conservatory, we drove over the real Golden Gate Bridge to the Village in Corte Madera. We haven't been for a long time. The food court is gone. Boudin's, where we had soup for lunch, has moved across the way.


We had the mass for the Epiphany. I'll miss the decorations and the Christmas songs.