Garden Railroads - Who's got em...

David McLaughlin · David McLaughlin's Garage

... and whatcha got?

The unfinished project thread caught my interest as a couple of people mentioned Garden trains.

My sons finally wore me down so I put up my old LGB starter kit in what was a small strawberry/ blueberry garden. Now were in the planning stage to replace the temporary railroad with something simple but nice and interesting. We'll be sticking to LGB's Euro style trains and two axle cars for awhile but I'll be buying large radius track just in case. We've started looking at building kits and plans and will most likely scratch build most everything.

So, who else is into this hobby?

legion · 09-12-2007, 04:43 PM

I don't let my gnomes travel.

Joeaksa · 09-12-2007, 05:00 PM

Photos, we need photos!

rouxroux · 09-12-2007, 06:01 PM

We saw a pretty nice set-up last summer at the botanical gardens in Huntsville, Alabama.

daepp · daepp's Garage

Walt Disney

HardDrive · 09-12-2007, 07:48 PM

So, SO stoked by this thread. I have tons of lionel and HO scale train stuff that I collected as a kid, but I have always be interested in LGB or better yet, G scale live steam.

Pictures Please!

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

There is a place just south of Yosemite that has an Honest to God steam locomotive that does runs it originally did full of logs and lumberjacks.

Can't recall the name off the top of my head, but if you were going LA to Reno or Tahoe it would be right on the way. Gives you a good reason to be driving all those mountain roads too. Tioga pass is pretty scenic, here are some pics of that, if you are wondering how that might lookLeaving tomorrow for a week in Lake Tahoe

That was easyLotta pics of trains

http://www.ymsprr.com/

RJMII · 09-12-2007, 08:04 PM

I'd be interested in pictures, and links, and all sorts of information. "details"

rouxroux · 09-12-2007, 08:05 PM

David, I wish I had taken pictures while we were there. Here's a link to the one In Huntsville, AL. Maybe some of the "locals" can fill in with more pictures for you. It is a rather large, involved and beautiful layout:

http://www.hsvbg.org/gardens/gardenrailway.htm

Mothy · Mothy's Garage

My brother runs live steam in his backyard - he and his buddies get together for regular 'Steam-ups' at their various homes during the year and have a great social day for a BBQ and a beer or three. They are as dedicated to their hobby as we are to our cars.

Made all his own track, points, landscaping, running stock and a couple of his engines are built from scratch.

Great to have a member of the family who is very skilled with a lathe.

Tim

David McLaughlin · David McLaughlin's Garage

I'll have my boys bring the trains to the track later today and take pics of my little railroad.

I'll be subscribing to Garden Railways Magazine in hopes to get some inspiration. There doesn't seem to be too much in the way of European structures plans. Lokkes like most people either buy plastic kits which are the wrong scale for LGB's starter sets or go with the old west US look.

chapo · 09-13-2007, 07:51 AM

I am paring down my collection. I bought a ton of stuff, mostly usa/aristocraft, but my yard is not big enough to run them, my race car needs the engine rebuilt, and I never finished the bath remodel. I kept my Shay and a few other cars for the Christmas tree, though. Had a nice collection of Rio Grande/ SP stuff that went on E bay.

VINMAN · 09-14-2007, 07:15 AM

Ive always been a huge rail fanantic. Ive had numerous different layouts in HO and N guage. I finally broke down and decided to get into "G" last yr. (Man, I thought my other hobbies where expensive). Started with a small 5 ft circle . Now I have about 400 feet of track i'm laying out in the yard. Originally it was just going to be a small oval. But than when I realized my SD-45 neded a big radius turn I said oh well, now i have an excuse to go bigger!

I have about 9 cars so far, all Aristo and USA Trains. All modern freight.