Family Garden Trains
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A reader writes:

Happy to find your site! I searched for large train for outdoor Christmas display. I have been displaying for Christmas over 25 years in our smallish front yard (20x20). The kids really like animated displays so I get blowups with motion. I think an outdoor Christmas themed train (Southern California beach so a lot of dew, occasional light rain) would be a great addition. Willing to spend for quality. Time to spoil the grandchildren! Thanks. -joe

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Thanks for getting in touch.

For construction, consider a wooden roadbed, even if it's only raised a few inches off the ground, it will run much moother (unless you were planning on putting your train on the driveway).

https://familygardentrains.com/primer/f ... ble_rr.htm

For track, consider brass track - the track that comes Bachmann and Lionel starter sets CAN'T be used outside.
Two articles: https://garden-train-store.com/track/track.htm
https://garden-train-store.com/track/track_order.htm

Also consider getting track curves that are at least 5' diameter. Trains run better on wider curves.

Trainwise, anything from Bachmann would be a good starting point. Just remember, the track is for indoors.
There are some examples, here, but Bachmann will likely be reintroducing some of their old sets soon - they do everythign in batches.

https://garden-train-store.com/bachmann/ls_bachmann.htm

Please let me know if you have any questions, and let me know how things turn out.

Paul Race
FamilyGardenTrains.com