How To Large Scale Layouts Views from a Colorado narrow gauge garden railroad

Views from a Colorado narrow gauge garden railroad

By Ted Yarbrough | August 19, 2024

Email Newsletter

Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Sign-up for email today!

I model Colorado narrow gauge, specifically the Denver & Rio Grande Western and Rio Grande Southern. I own two separate garden railroads (not connected and about 8 feet apart). Trains run around approximately 250 feet of mainline tracks with a couple of short lines for logging and running the Galloping Goose. I can run five trains at one time, all on separate loops. I am a member of the Georgia Garden Railway Society and volunteer at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

Learn more about the author.

See more of the author’s railroads.

overview scene of garden railway
Overview of the newest loop with three basic oval tracks. Hartland Galloping Goose is seen on the upper loop while LGB diesel No. 50 is leaving the town area. The water tank is an old large scale Lionel kit, and the coaling station, town buildings, and station are from Brewer Railroad Plans. The house is from Aristo-Craft. Ted Yarbrough photo

 

yellow and brown structures on garden railway
A view of the Chama engine service facility: scratchbuilt water tower, coaling tower, small shed, and sand house. The enginehouse is a Garden-Textures kit. Ted Yarbrough photo

 

model sawmill with greenery around it
Teft Sawmill receives a load of logs from the mountainous lumber line. The sawmill is a Garden-Textures kit and the locomotive, powered tender, and caboose are LGB products. The log cars are Aristo-Craft Delton Classic. The vegetation in the foreground is ice plant (Delosperma sp.). Ted Yarbrough photo

 

view of garden railway with flowers and rocks
On the bridges of Ophir Loop, an Accucraft Galloping Goose crosses the upper bridge while Bachmann 4-6-0 Big Haulers are seen on the two lower bridges. ‘Hilda Nibblet’ Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Hilda Niblett’) is at top center, with dwarf boxwoods (Buxus sp.) on both top corners and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) at left. Ted Yarbrough photo

 

model steam engine next to yellow structure on garden railway
A Bachmann 4-6-0 with its train pulls into Lava Tank. Blue phlox (Phlox subulata sp.) blooms in the foreground. The tank and building are both scratchbuilt. Ted Yarbrough photo

 

red caboose next to house and depot on garden railway
The RGS train leaves Ridgeway. The caboose is from Accucraft, and the depot is from PIKO America. The gray house is a modified birdhouse from Hobby Lobby. Ted Yarbrough photo
You must login to submit a comment