The return of winter weather in Wisconsin is imminent, so host Kent Johnson has to work fast to complete projects on his raised garden railway. Luckily, he has Rene Schweitzer and Cody Grivno to help with gardening and multiple modeling projects too. […]
Enjoy an exclusive, behind the scenes look at the large scale (1:24) holiday layout that’s part of The Ingleside Hotel’s Country Christmas festive exhibits (lighted outdoor trail and indoor village). Located in Southeastern Wisconsin, this 12 x 30-foot indoor display features no less than 12 trains routing through winter scenes. Marvel at the action and […]
This special collection of tips from Garden Railways magazine staff and readers includes: Easy ways to keep your trains running smoothly Guidance on plants to use in your garden railway Workshop safety tips An overview of etiquette when visiting garden railways Enter your e-mail below and instantly receive a FREE 14-page download, as our gift. You’ll also […]
Each of these 21 plants, selected by the Garden Railways horticultural editor, fits the scale requirements of any backyard garden railroad. Print and clip this booklet to create handy cards to file for future reference or take to your local garden center. The profiles contain color photos showing scale and possible usage, with information on USDA Hardiness […]
Raising your garden railroad from toe level to something approximating eye level can be quite a bit of work, but it is worth the effort. Imagine yourself saying to your friends “Just lie down on your stomach here on the ground and see how realistic the train looks coming around the bend.” You can guess […]
The British really got their money’s worth out of many of their steam locomotives. The first copies of the Adams Radial 4-4-2T (denoting it as a tank engine) were produced in 1882. The last ones were retired from service in 1961. It’s named after locomotive designer William Adams. “Radial” refers to the design of […]
See the powered re-railer from PIKO in action in this special video. […]
Watch as Kent Johnson puts a PIKO America R/C GE 25-ton diesel locomotive (1:29 scale, battery-powered) through its paces on his small, raised-garden railroad, complete with a 2% grade! Read a complete review of the model in the Spring 2020 issue of Garden Railways magazine! […]
I’ve enjoyed some of the most peaceful times on my railroad after the sun has set. Most of us likely have a porch light we can turn on to offer some light in the back yard. If yours is anything like my light, it gives off enough light to make sure your dog does his […]
Like a grade-school report, “What I did on my spring 2020 vacation,” this story is about optimism in the face of confusion and lack of resources. We had just started a new little garden railway loop in front of our house, but hidden from the street. Having built a gallery along the walkway, we next […]
We’ve kept close to home since quarantine and social distancing guidelines have been issued. Club meetings have been canceled; events and open houses have been put on hold. Our hearts go out to anyone affected by COVID-19. Time at home has spawned creative moments, though. I’ve refurbished structures, maintained locomotives and rolling stock, and looked […]
Scene lighting allows you to shine a spotlight on your favorite railroad scenes. Again, the idea is to draw the viewer’s eye toward something you want to emphasize, like ridges, waterfalls, and pathways. You can be as creative as you want. You’ll want to hit the landscape lighting section at your local home improvement store. […]
