John J. Coit, an experienced locomotive driver, built the track of miniature railway together with his friends at cost of $1,200.

In the night from 21 to 22 August 1903, the whole roadbed, rails and ties of the Long Beach and Asbury Park Railway were washed away by a historic high tide.

With the experience gained, Coit did not rebuild the track at this location, instead building the Eastlake Park Scenic Railway (opened on 19 May 1904) and the Venice Miniature Railway (opened on 4 July 1905) with a larger gauge of 18 in (457 mm).

The 4-6-0 ten-wheeler steam locomotive of this railway was constructed by H. M. Leach of the Central Iron Works under Coit's supervision.

The Vanderbilt type boiler had a maximum pressure of 200 psi (13.8 bar; 1,379.0 kPa).