garden railroads

[grandpopswalt]

I would describe my personal philosophy of garden railroading as being an outdoor scale model railroad. my interests have always been in the area of believable locos, rolling stock, cars and trucks, and buildings and figures.

Even though there were some out of scale trees, and less than authentic ground covers and improbable geology, the intent was to create the illusion of a real backwoods railroad in minature form. I specifically did not plant flowers because they are so obviously out of scale.

A lot of folks will be tempted to answer "something in between". But really, what is your true intention?

Walt

[hobbyfossi201]

I do see my railroad as "close to reality", though I focus on railways and rolling stock and not so much on buildings and surroundings.
best regards
hobbyfossi201

[Anonymous]

Early days yet. However, I want a railway that has it's own character. To that end I want things to look right. No towering dafs or triffid-like giant man-eating plants. My people need to see the line as their home, even though they are around 8cms tall.

The flower garden inhabits other areas of the garden, which to me is just as important as the railway parts. Well, an Englishman... and all that. It really isn't just a stereotypical image, especially when one lives in a foreign country.

The main reason for having a railway is to have a railway. For me, that says it all!

Matthew.

[Anonymous]

I guess mine is a flower garden , i use flowers and small bushes and have a pond in it
and it' s L SHAPED WITH BRIDGES and 2 SMALL TUNNALS in it. Their is also some building in it. I use several different types of flowers in it. each to their own RR. BEN

[Tom The Brat]

Not qualified to vote here 'cause I don't have any outside and my track is piled in a closet right now, but[:-,]

A flower garden with a train in it. Railroad scenes here and there.

[markn]

My "theme" is to make as realistic gnomes, fairies, and elves as possible?!- It's my little railroad rumbling thru my little world however real or bizarre it happens to be that day.

[markperr]

Eclecticism. Is that a word? Don't have a theme, an era, or a scale preference at present. When the one in the back yard starts to take shape this spring, I'll probably try harder to theme it.

Mark

[vsmith]

My little layout is set in what I like to consider more of a zen rock garden, but it is set up as a more or less realistic model RR albiet outdoors

[CandCRR]

I would have to say that I see it as An outdoor scale model railroad, but my Wife probably sees it as A flower garden with trains running through it.

Jaime

[Anonymous]

Definitely a flower garden....I don't have headaches because something isn't "perfect"--As long as it looks acceptable, I don't bother to measure or count rivets

[tangerine-jack]

Although mine is torn up right now for a major rebuilding, my philosophy is more of a garden with a PURPOSFUL train running through it. The (new) garden is more or less the focal point, but the train clearly moves product and people from a definable point A to point B. I have no interest in duplicating prototype equipment or operations, I run what I like when I like and hopefuly maintain a balance. I am in this hobby for relaxation, if I want nit picky stress, I'll go to work.

[Anonymous]

Mine would fit neither due to the fact that my garden railroad isn't a scale railroad, however, it is a desert themed garden railroad.

[ttrigg]

I selected a "flower garden." However the current major portion has no flowers. The GRR run around the Koi Pond, the yard (under construction) will have a few dwarf trees that will be carefully trimmed to maintain their "scale" appearance. The next phase is to lay a loop out through the wife's rose beds. She informed me yesterday that I had six weeks in which to lay the track through the rose beds (92 feet across the back) and up through the miniature fruit trees (another ~30 ft.)

[Capt Bob Johnson]

And the forecast for Southern California is (according to groundhog tom) 6 more weeks of rain! Noah, build the ark! Tom ain't gonna get the track down within the contract's time limits! OH, Woe! We're all gonna hafta go hold up umbrellas over Tom's place and make a human roof so he can get the track down!

Now, in serious note, congradulations in getting permission for the great expansion! Hope it turns out as well as you have indoubitably planned it!

[ttrigg]

Capt Bob;

It was not exactly getting permission, rather a case of "being INSTRUCTED" to expand. That run is a "condition" of the original approval for the initial investment. She wants to be able to send a train somewhere and not have it come back for a while. The run will not have scenery other than an 8 ft section under the "arbor seat", the hamlet of Rosebud Flats. The tracks will be on a "red brick road bed", no ballasting etc. She also gave instruction for the capital outlay to acquire sad track.

[kstrong]

For me, most definitely a scale railroad set outdoors. Yeah, some of the plants may be a bit odd in terms of scale and miniaturization (especially the ornamental grasses), and the vegetable garden is definitely not scale, but the premise is very much based in history and prototype fidelity.

Later,

K

[grandpopswalt]

.My previous two outdoor railroads were very small and of an experimental nature. They’re gone now but what I learned from that experience was that I definitely was in this for the trains and not for the garden.

My next railroad, starting sometime this spring, I hope, will be an elevated loop-to-loop-to-loop design. Each loop will be a town and will be laid out to handle freight and passengers as realistically as possible. From past experience, the vegetation will be limited to a few potted trees and some mosses for ground cover.

However, if the track joining the “towns” happens to go through a cultivated area there will no attempt to integrate it into the garden. The track will be routed so as to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Walt