http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakeboxsoc/2687422580/#/photos/cakeboxsoc/2687422580/lightbox/

I came across this cake while i was looking for an idea for a train cake for my sons 2yr old birthday. I just love this cake! i'm a newbie cake decorator and hoping i can make something like this but i need some help to figure out exactly how to make this. i need it to feed around 20 ppl. i can't figure out exactly what size to make the cars and how to construct the engine. also what is under the cars to make them stand up off of the board?
any other tips would be so much appreciated. thank yoU!!!

anyone?

I would probably bake a sheet cake, and cut the sizes to make each car, couple layer each should be plenty, to elevate the cars, maybe use styrofoam and cover with green or black fondant, make the pipe stacks and other details, including the track out of fondant. HTH