Garden railroading combines the lifelong hobby of model trains with the passion of landscaping and gardening. If you enjoy gardening, you can combine that interest with large model trains. It’s called garden railroading.
The lush greens of the trees, graceful curves of the track, and persistent rumbling of a train, work together in harmony to form a slice of everyday life in miniature. The difference between a traditional indoor model railroad and a garden railway is the difference between realism and reality. An indoor layout creates the illusion of reality by using artificial materials—mountains are made of plaster or foam, and rivers are created using plastic resin. A garden railroad brings everything outdoors. Mountains are made of dirt, rivers are real water, and rocks are actual stone.
While this hobby may be new to you, it has been around for more than a century, primarily in Great Britain. In the United States, garden railroading achieved some popularity in the 1920s and ’30s, but nearly died out by the end of World War II. Its resurgence was due in large part to the advent of colorful
LGB trains from Germany in the late 1960s. As the company introduced more American-style trains, people took notice and garden railways began to spring up all over the country. Since then, numerous
other manufacturers of large-scale trains have entered the market.
Part of the fun in this hobby is following the practices of a full-size railroad and working with the landscape. You need to consider the topography of your land and any existing gardens, trees, or other obstacles when planning your railway. If your backyard is sloped, you might build wood or metal trestles or raise the line on earthworks and use timber or stone retaining walls. The choice is strictly up to you. After all, it’s your railroad! You may think that garden railroading is a hobby strictly for gardeners or people who like trains. The truth is that anyone who loves being outdoors can be a garden railroader. Your railroad can reflect those interests. If you enjoy electrical challenges, for instance, you can build a line with a complex track plan. If you have some carpentry skills, you can make buildings from scratch and model a city. And if you like to work with machines, you can build and operate a live-steam locomotive.
However you choose to build your railroad, you can have fun and create an ascetically beautiful landscape for your property.
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