An overview of garden railroading

a model steam locomotive approaches a switch

An overview of garden railroading: Garden railroading is the art of combining a model railroad and a beautiful garden to create a railway-like atmosphere. The difference between a traditional indoor layout and a garden railway is the difference between realism and reality. Indoors, the goal is to create the illusion of reality through the use […]

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Lego Trains for Large Scale Rails

green and white Lego diesel engine

Lego Trains for Large Scale Rails In the Summer 2019 issue, Gary Raymond shares how he modified Lego trains to run on gauge-1 track. Here, Ben Lake has shown the steps to build a Mack diesel using Lego parts. Download the PDF below and share what you build with us! […]

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White Pygmy cypress

small evergreen tree on garden railroad

White Pygmy cypress Latin name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘White Pygmy’ Common name: White Pygmy cypress Plant type: Dwarf conifer Growth rate: 12″ x 14″ wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8 Cultural needs: Sun to part shade, rich soil, moderate water White Pygmy is one of the smallest dwarf conifers available, usually growing only to a foot tall […]

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Kitbash an inexpensive flag stop station

red and green model station on a table

Kitbash an inexpensive flag stop station: I stopped by a garage sale last year that had children’s toys piled up on a table. I found several items I thought I could use, including what looked to be a horse stable building. The seller was asking 50 cents for it and the other items I picked […]

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Meet James Kottkamp

black and white photo of inside of model roundhouse

Meet James Kottkamp How did you get started in the hobby? My interest in model trains came from the real thing. After church on Sundays, Dad would park the car next to the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks in Kirkwood, Mo.  Kirkwood was the crest of the hill; westbound from St. Louis and eastbound from Valley […]

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Garden Variety Railroad Show | Snow Week Special

One of the most appealing aspects of garden railroading is the fact it can be enjoyed year-round in the great outdoors! And with the proper equipment at hand, large scale trains can even run in a moderate accumulation of fresh, crystalize precipitation. In this video, you’ll see the efforts a few resilient railway owners made […]

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Build a small cottage for your railway

side of cottage structure

As soon as my railway was operational I began to teach myself how to build scale structures, including how to build a small cottage. While searching the internet, I came across images of English/French tudor cottages. I like the high-pitched roofs and the exposed half-timbers of this style, and I settled for one that had […]

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Garden railroading in the winter

snowy scene with model locomotive and station

Enjoy a selection of photos of garden railroading in the winter. If you run your railway in the snow and have photos or video, let us know at editor@gardenrailways.com. You could be featured in a future article! Richard Ormond Chester Valley Garden Railroad Richard Ormond owns the Chester Valley Garden Railroad in Malvern, Pa. He […]

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Split Jaw acquires stainless steel track product line

close up of track

Split Jaw Products has acquired the HR Trains line of stainless steel gauge-1, code 332 flex track. This corrosion-resistant track will match their existing line of stainless steel rail clamps. Split Jaw will initially offer code 332 stainless steel flex track kits in 5 foot and 10 foot kits. Each kit will include rail, stainless […]

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Garden Variety Railroad Show | Snow Week Special

One of the most appealing aspects of garden railroading is the fact it can be enjoyed year-round in the great outdoors! And with the proper equipment at hand, large scale trains can even run in a moderate accumulation of fresh, crystalize precipitation. In this video, you’ll see the efforts a few resilient railway owners made […]

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Trailing ice plant or Cooper’s ice plant

Trailing ice plant next to model locomotive

Trailing ice plant Common name:
 Trailing ice plant, Cooper’s ice plant Latin name: 
Delosperma cooperi USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9 Cultural needs: Well-drained soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 3-inches high by 3-feet wide Sometimes called hardy ice plant or purple ice plant, this low succulent is not to be confused with the […]

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