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The Toy Train Barn
Argyle, Wisconsin

  Operating Model Train Layouts
- All Scales -

The Toy Train Barn is a miniature world. Wholesome family entertainment that all ages can enjoy. Visitors can expect to see several operating toy train layouts which range from a tiny Z scale layout housed inside of a coffee table to large standard gauge tin plate trains which run across the barn floor.

Click image to view full size.The main feature layout is Buck's award winning classic S gauge American Flyer layout. A busy world in miniature where long freight trains clickety clack past each other on double track mainlines, classic passenger trains make their station stops and then zoom off to their next destination.

Action scenes fill the entire massive layout, Visitors witness steam engines that smoke as they chug-chug-chug on past while making their way across high bridges, around sweeping curves and in and out of mountain tunnels, railroad semaphore signals that raise up and down, a picture show that plays at the drive-in movie theater, oil wells pumping away, carnival rides turning 'round, a farmer plowing his field, cattle moving about in the stockyard pens, a hot air balloon that passes overhead, electric trolley buses that make their routes through the streets of Guthrie City as rapid transit cars pass above, Fire truck lights flash as Fire fighters put out a blaze and much much more on the ever changing and expanding animated layout.

A Interactive Experience

Click image to view full size.Many of the action scenes have hands on buttons that allow visitors to participate in operating the show. Visitors can make the saw mill operate, load a railroad car, make the tower operator wave or make many other action scenes function. Many of the action scenes are classic American Flyer scenes which date back decades in time to recall a much simpler era when boys dreamed that they would find a American Flyer or Lionel train set waiting under the Christmas tree for them to unwrap on Christmas morning, other action scenes are homemade, the product of Buck Guthrie's wide imagination and electronic genius.

Come visit with the entire family and experience an amazing world in miniature!

Ninth Anniversary!

Click image to view full size.On December 15, 2010 the Toy Train Barn in Argyle WI. celebrated it's ninth year anniversary. Congratulations to owners Buck & Jan Guthrie !

The Toy Train Barn has expanded and changed quite a bit since last year's Grand Opening on Dec. 15 2001 and it still continues to grow. A new improved Standard Gauge layout is currently being built in the barn and the main feature American Flyer layout will be further expanded again as well. Toy train layouts and displays have now taken over the entire lower level of the barn.

Click image to view full size.Outdoors you'll find the 12" gauge "Argyle & Eastern Railroad" which began operating in the Fall of 2002 after a considerable amount of construction work on the roadbed and a large wooden trestle was completed. Work on the " Argyle Zephyr " train and the A&ER Circus Train cars will continue through the Winter months inside the warmth of the roundhouse shop until better weather permits further trestle construction and track work outside once again.

There are also big expansion and improvement plans for the Argyle & Eastern Railroad during the coming new year. Note: Please call ahead to inquire about availability of train rides.

Congratulations to The Toy Train Barn / Argyle & Eastern Railroad owners Buck & Jan Guthrie on a very happy and successful first year of operation! Also thanks to all who volunteered labor and donated materials during the past year!

New Layout

Click image to view full size.The Toy Train Barn in Argyle Wis. is currently building a new Standard (wide) Gauge layout. Previously some of the Toy Train Barn's big standard gauge trains were set up for display on the barn floor. The new layout that is under construction will measure roughly 10' x 35' when complete. Star of the new multilevel layout will be a 1929 vintage American Flyer " President's Special " set which hasn't been on display at the barn before.

The new layout will also include some depression era American Flyer sets and a Lionel wide gauge steam set along with a suspended cable car on a large mountain side along with some high bridges.

The Toy Train Barn also has a giant American Flyer S gauge layout that is approx. 80' long which features numerous animated action scenes some of which are homemade in addition to all of the American Flyer equipment. Z, N, O scales and others also have separate layouts at The Toy Train Barn.

Jan Guthrie has created a game card for Toy Train Barn visitors to play. Jan's " I Spy " game gives visitors clues to hunt for scenes and various details among the many train layouts. The game has been popular with many guests since being introduced. Be sure to ask for a free game card when visiting the Toy Train Barn.

The Toy Train Barn is open all year round, so come on out and see the ever changing lay outs and displays! Check out the newspaper article from the Wisconsin State Journal!
Buck & Jan at the Toy Train Barn - Argyle, WIA film production crew spent a couple of hours filming the Argyle & Eastern Railroad & the Toy Train Barn on May. Illinois based Jolly Productions is producing a reality TV show featuring small towns of the midwest.

The idea is to use lighthearted comedy to show life in a small town and feature area businesses, attractions, unique stories, historic homes etc. The show is called " Z-Axis " It is a travel log of unique towns in the Midwest.

Show hosts Robin (" Jolly ") Martinson and Brian ("Z ") Zirlin and a film production crew of about ten people spent a couple of hours conducting interviews with A&ER owners Buck & Jan Guthrie and visitors as well as filming the Green County Gulch Railroad in action.

Jolly productions have also filmed pilot episodes recently in New Glarus Wi. , Galena IL. and Elburn IL. The show will probably air sometime this coming Fall. When we find out exactly where and when we will be sure to post the info. For more info. about Jolly Productions call ( 630 ) 479 - 4986 They are seeking more unique homes and businesses to feature on the show.

The 12'' Argyle & Eastern Railroad is now in operation!
Click here for the latest updates

The Toy Train Barn was featured in the Green County Spotlight!

Thanks to Mollie Guthrie and Robert Eineke for providing some of these stories -

Buck & Jan Guthrie
W 9141 Hwy 81
Argyle, WI 53504
(608) 966-1464
E-mail: Buck & Jan

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