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. […]
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 […]
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.” […]
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 […]
What grade can an engine climb? Different engines will climb different grades. If you are trying to stay within full-size railroad practice, your grades should be no more than about 3 percent for mainline traffic (3″ of rise in 100″ of travel) or 5 percent to 6 percent for logging, mining, or industrial lines. I […]
Download this free nine-page PDF to learn how to control the growth of miniature trees, and prune, shape, and trim a variety of different plants. […]
Visitors along the back of the garden have this view of Copper Gorge, the waterless water feature encased in recycled auto glass. The battery-powered Union Pacific MOW uses AirWire 900 and Soundtraxx Electronics. Both engines are powered (all 16 wheels drive) to pull full name train car sets. Nancy Norris The Southern Pacific ‘Red Car’ […]
Nancy Norris Common name: Watch chain stonecrop Latin name: Sedum sexangulare Plant type: groundcover USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: full sun, average to dry soil with good drainage Plant size: 6-10″ Often used on green roofs for a quick covering, watch chain stonecrop is both dainty and rugged. Like most stonecrops of the genus, […]
In the Spring 2019 issue, Nancy Norris shares photographs of nine public spaces designed to inspire you. We’ve assembled all of the related links here for you to access quickly. Gabis Arboretum at Purdue University: tinyurl.com/gabisarboretum A “The sedum spectrum,” June 2013. B “Using red in the railway,” June 2014. C “Massing plants to frame […]
Name: Kent Johnson Railroad Name: Canadian Pacific Joy Division Location: Milwaukee, Wisc. Scale: 1:29 Theme: Modern-era branch line in Western Canada Description: The sun was making a weak effort to shine over the CPR Joy Division garden railroad on a cold January afternoon. Even so, I still wanted to capture the inaugural run of my […]
Name: Shawn Viggiano Railroad Name: Kittatinny Mountain Railroad Location: Wantage, NJ Scale: 1:20.3 Theme: Logging Description: Accucraft live steam Shay pulling scratchbuilt log bogies […]
Name: Shawn Viggiano Railroad Name: Kittatinny Mountain Railroad Location: Wantage, NJ Scale: 1:20.2 Theme: Logging Description: Bellflower live steam Cricket on a cold day […]
