Design your railway, Part 1: Organize the plan

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1. Retired but still active, Jerry and Alison Ogden maintain their Possum Creek Railroad to stay lush, with wall-to-wall plants they bought from Miniature Plant Kingdom. At this stage, six years after its initial construction, the trackplan still works and access is easy, but several unruly or languishing plants have been replaced. Jerry started with […]

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Design your railway, Part 2: Focus on a theme

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1. Near their back door in Nevada, a railyard introduces viewers to the theme of Joe and Mary Schrock’s highly detailed railway, Bulldog Junction. This picture communicates the teamwork necessary on railroads. All parts support the main theme. The distant backdrop of pointed dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, Zones 4-8) suggests the scale world […]

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Design your railway, Part 3: Detail with pairings

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Photo 1 Standing on Scott Gould’s lawn, visitors look up at Ballachulish & Pitlochry Railway. Structural spruce trees contrast low native moss that Scott transplanted onto riverbanks and lawns. We’re able to peek under the bridge for the reflected view of the truck farmer’s home as he loads up for deliveries. The paired detail of […]

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A snowy morning on the W&Q

plow being pushed by model train to clear snow on a garden railroad

Name: Eric Schade Forum User Name:  captain perry Railroad Name:  Winnegance & Quebec Location: Phippsburg, Maine Scale: 1:20.3 Theme: Maine Narrow gauge Description: Even with little snow this year, there has been enough for some good plowing sessions. this is my new plow being pushed by my two radio controlled live steamers. SR&RL 24 is […]

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March 2019 new products from Garden Railways magazine

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Ophir Depot Bridges & structures Banta Model Works, 421 Hopkins Road, Dummerston, VT 05301, released Ophir Depot, a 1:20.3-scale kit. The depot is made from laser-cut wood and measures 391/2”L x 19”W x 173/4”H. Production is very limited. Price: $650, includes shipping. Website: bantamodelworks.com Tire Bridgade shop accessories Piko America traction tires Preiser USA figures […]

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Getting Started in Garden Railroading

Looking to get started in garden railroading? Start by reading our free 17-page PDF. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of each garden scale, pick the right scale and gauge for your garden railroad, and gather the right garden railroad supplies for your backyard railroad. […]

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Plants and gardening ideas for O scale railways

overview of O scale garden railway

Nancy Lagomarsino and Jacques Verdier are long-time O scale (1:48) collectors. After volunteering at the San Leandro Historical Railway Society’s (www.slhrs.org) G&O Railroad (containing both G and O scales), they were understandably inspired and motivated to dust off their collection to run in the great outdoors. Choosing O scale gives garden railroaders the advantage of […]

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Plowing snow on the Jericho & Mt Zion Railway

plowing snow on the Jericho & Mt Zion Railway

Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA USA Scale: 1:20.3 Theme: Modern day steam powered tourist railroad with freight operations Description: A compilation from two days of plowing snow on the Jericho & Mt Zion Railway. Music by Hillsong Music from their album The Secret Place, “Dwelling Places.” […]

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A guide to plant-hardiness zones

Garden Railways

To a novice gardener, the topic of plant-hardiness zones can be as confusing as gauge and scale terminology is to the beginning model railroader. With gauge and scale, there are different standards used by various manufacturers. In gardening, growers and publishers utilize different hardiness-zone ratings. The main confusion comes from the fact that there are […]

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Garden railroad electrical/electricity questions and answers

Garden Railways

Garden railroad electrical/electricity questions and answers Is it safe to power your trains outdoors? Will I get electrocuted? It’s completely safe to run track power outdoors! Our trains, like those in the smaller scales, run on low-voltage DC, usually 18-24V. Thus, it is perfectly safe to run your trains outdoors, even in the rain or […]

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