Layout Construction: The Scene

When you start building your layout, you probably have a real railroad after which you want to model your layout.  This will help you determine what kind of scenery to add to your layout.

Should I add a backdrop to my layout?

Consider for a moment what makes up an ideal model railroad setting.  Probably, you'll see more than just trains and structures, but also nice scenery, like mountains, sky, trees or other natural settings.  Rather than building hundreds of tiny mountains, a backdrop can provide an easier way to accomplish this look and save on time, space and money.

LGB Trains 3019 Green Postal Wagon

LGB Trains 3019 Green Postal Wagon

LGB Trains 3050 Dark Green Coach

LGB Trains 3050 Dark Green Coach

LGB Trains 3025 RhB Open Observation Car

LGB Trains 3025 RhB Open Observation Car

LGB Trains 3014 Green 3/3 Class Coach

LGB Trains 4080 Black CONOCO Tanker

LGB Trains 4080 Black CONOCO Tanker

LGB Trains 4073C03 D&RGW Black High Side Gondola

LGB Trains 4073C03 D&RGW Black High Side Gondola

LGB Trains 4073 D&RGW High Side Gondola

LGB Trains 4073 D&RGW High Side Gondola

LGB 4068 Green D&RGW Cattle Car

LGB 4068 Green Cattle Car

4067F01 LGB Trains NYC Pacemaker Box Car

 

LGB Trains 4067 F 01 New York Central Pacemaker Box Car

4067D03 LGB Trains ATSF Box Car

LGB Trains 4067 D 03 ATSF Brown Box Car

4067D01 LGB Trains Yellow/Silver D&RGW Box Car

LGB Trains 4067 D 01 Denver & Rio Grande Western Yellow/Silver Box Car

LGB 3013 SG Yellow Schweiger Dining Car

LGB Trains 3013 SG Yellow Schweiger Dining Car

LGB 3010 Green 3rd Class Coach

LGB 3010 Green 3rd Class Coach

LGB 3008 Green Coach 2nd Class

LGB 3008 Green Coach 2nd Class

LGB 3007OS 1988 Netherlands Coach

LGB 3007OS 1988 Netherlands Coach

LGB 3007CC Indianapolis BTO Car

Indianapolis, IN Convention Car

LGB 2090 DB Switcher Diesel Locomotive

LGB 2090 DB Switcher

LGB 2075 Black Steam Locomotive

LGB Black 2075 Locomotive, Steam

LGB 2060 Red Switcher Diesel Locomotive

LGB 2060 Switcher Diesel Locomotive
LGB Trains

LGB 2055 White Pass Diesel Locomotive

LGB 2055 White Pass Diesel Locomotive Train

LGB 2040 Brown Crocodile Electric Locomotive

LGB 2040 Brown Crocodile Locomotive, Electric Style

LGB 2028D DSP&PRR Mogul

LGB 2028D DSP&PRR Mogul

LGB 2020 Stainz 2 Locomotive

LGB 2020 Stainz 2 Locomotive

LGB 2019S Colorado & Southern Sound Mogul

For information , pictures and videos about the LGB 2019S Colorado and Southern Sound Mogul Locomotive + Tender, Click Here.

LGB 2018D DSP&PRR Mogul & Tender

LGB 2018D DSP&PRR Mogul & Tender

LGB 20030 Fire Department Tom Motorcyle

LGB 20030 Powered Motorcycle

LGB 20020 Fortuna Flyer

LGB 20020 Fortuna Flyer:

LGB 2001 Gustav Hand Pump Car

LGB 2001 Gustav Hand Pump Car

LGB 4031 White Coca-Cola Coke Box Car

LGB 4031 White Coca-Cola Coke Box Car

LGB 41405 Purple 120th Anniversary MINOL Tanker

LGB Trains 41405 Purple 120th Anniversary MINOL Tanker
Production: 1600 units

LGB 45823 USA Bicentennial Wonder Bread Hopper

LGB 45823 USA Bicentennial Wonder Bread Hopper

LGB 4072CC Coca Cola "Coke is it!" Reefer Car

LGB 4072CC Coca Cola "Coke is it!" Reefer Car

LGB 3907BE Berlin Wall Passenger Coach

LGB 3907BE Berlin Wall Passenger Coach

LGB 4067JD Jack Daniels Limited Edition Box Car

LGB 4067JD Jack Daniels Limited Edition Box Car

LGB 4071 R REA Green Reefer

Made in 1984, uncataloged, limited edition, eight wheel, double archbar truck, Railway Express Agency refrigerator car.  Glossy painted dark green SW11 body; brown painted LA4 roof, catwalk and ice hatch covers and latches with black shading.  Operating double-leaf side doors with matching green hinges and operating latch.  Non-operating ice hatch covers on roof at all four corners of car.  Separately cast black grab irons (some painted green with body) and black brake wheel at hook coupler end of car.  Markings consist of separately cast plaques attached to sides of car including gold and green "REFRIGERATOR" over red and white diamond shape RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY logo to the left of double leaf side doors.  Gold on green "RAILWAY EXPRESS/AGENCY" over gold on green "REX 4071" to the right of double-leaf side doors.  No embossed ID.  Car commissioned by REA - LGB national distributor from Milwaukee, WI.

LGB 1985 104th Anniversary Coach

LGB 1985

LGB 1984 103rd Anniversary Coach

LGB 1984

LGB 1983, 102nd Anniversary Coach

LGB 1983

LGB 1982 101st Anniversary Coach

LGB 1982 Coach

LGB 4280 Yellow Shell Tanker

LGB 4280 Yellow Shell Tank Car
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LGB 4091CC 18th Annual Convention Car

LGB 4091CC: 1996 uncataloged, limited edition, LGB Model Railroad Club Convention Car.  Produced for the 18th Annual LGB Model Railroad Club Convention in San Diego.  Sides feature multicolor ocean/beach scene using the LGB gold circle logo on the right hand side, adding the script "by the sea" to the right of the logo.  LGB MRRC logo is on the left side along with early American locomotive, killer whale and giraffe, with the LGB stainze logo.  Silver roof with black roof walk and ladders.
For more information and pictures, click "read more."

LGB 4267S Lake George & Boulder Yellow Box Car

Made from 1992-1994, eight wheel, double archbar truck.  Lake George & Boulder Railroad box car with diesel sound.  Often Tuscan red painted SW13 body; black painted LA4 roof with separately molded black catwalk.  White, round Lake George & Boulder logo on the left size between the vent hatch and side door.  U.S. style dimensional markings below the logo in white (black in this case).  Right side displays LG&B in outlined roman font.  The side doors have small LGB sound symbol above the car number.  "42676 S" in lower right hand corner.  No embossed ID.

Replaced in 1995 by 43672

Length: 415 mm

LGB 4290VW Volkswagen Box Car

Made in 1992, this Limited Edition, eight wheel double archbar truck box car features Volkswagen logo.  Exactly the same as the 4090VW except without embossed serial number.  Offered only to members of the LGB Frequent Buyers Program and available only through authorized LGB Train Shop dealers.

Production: 2107 units
Length: 415 mm

LGB 2062 Blue European Switcher Diesel Locomotive

Made from 1991-1995, this three axle industrial diesel locomotive features outside frame counterbalances and connecting rods.  Color is dark blue with silver grillwork and window frames, red chassis and gold/brass handrails.  Original catalog photos show no lettering on the unit, but the production versions show the cab area with the trademark "LGB" logo above "Ludwig Gross-Betriebe" and "WERKSLOK1."  Includes bidirectional lighting during operation and detailed cab interior.  Replaced by the 21640.

Length: 310 mm

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LGB 2063 D&RGW Caterpillar Diesel Switcher Locomotive

Made from 1991-1995, this two axle, industrial diesel locomotive is based on the prototype narrow gauge D&RGW no. 50.  Just like the prototype, it is black with yellow grill-work, a yellow stripe from front to back that outlines the walkway and the cab windows.  Pre-production models may exist without the cab visors and may be lettered in white, rather than yellow.  However, the existence of these units has not been confirmed.

Length: 310 mm
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LGB 2056 Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive

Made from 1991-1995 and similar to the 2055, this is a black and orange locomotive with "Rio Grande" logo.  Different roof treatments include dynamic brake housing and additional ventilators, gibing the locomotive a traditional appearance - much more so than the White Pass.  Otherwise, the it shares the same body shell and chassis with the 2055.  Additionally, as there is no narrow gauge Rio Grande Alco locomotive in real life, this became the first U.S. diesel locomotive in the Queen Mary Series.

Length: 630 mm
For more pictures and video, click below to read more.