Chuck@chuckoakes.com 

July 3, 2006

“Garden Railroading…a growing hobby”

It is no secret that we are living longer and prefer to age in our own homes for as long as possible. However, many families are experiencing the difference between living and merely surviving! Hence, there is a growing trend of developing life-enhancing ways to make aging at home safer and more enjoyable. As one becomes sensitive to the difference between living and merely surviving, the quality of life improves. One such idea is the hobby of garden railroading.

There are many benefits to garden railroading; they include:

• It’s fun
• It blends gardening, history, love of the outdoors and trains into one hobby
• It’s for all ages
• It recalls a bygone era, in many cases
• Trains make sounds (a benefit for visually impaired individuals)
• Trains move (a benefit for hearing impaired folks)
• With digital technology, it really can resemble the “real deal”! (sounds can be actually recorded from the real train; the train can run on a precise schedule…making stops at stations and starting again automatically!)

What young man didn’t envision himself as a train engineer, or perhaps a cowboy? Today, things are different, I know. But in the days of yore, cowboys and Indians had nothing to do with diversity and employment, but rather, simply something we kids did after school. For me my love of trains began small and eventually outgrew the basement and as an adult, found itself in the backyard….with garden railroading! Some say I never grew up because I still enjoy railroading in the garden and the spirit of the Old West.

History of the hobby

Miniature railroads were evident in this country at the turn of the last century. As a matter of fact, the actor William Gillette (Gillette Castle State Park in Connecticut) was into miniature railroads before he built his own estate railroad. Germans were building miniature boats and trains in the 1890’s and continue today. The most notable of the manufacturers of garden railroads is the German manufacturer, LGB.

Everyone has a unique interpretation 

In this hobby, as with others, everyone has a rather unique spin, or interpretation of the hobby, depending upon the interests of the family members. When designing an outdoor layout, many hobbyists simply clear & create their railroad. That is, clear and prepare the land to receive the buildings, track and assorted stuff associated with outdoor railroading. However, for my family, we had enjoyed a mature garden for many years and had NO intention of making major renovations, hence, our challenge became how to build a railroad without severely changing the existing landscape.

“Tai-Chi Gardening”

To integrate a railroad into a mature, existing landscape takes creativity and patience. Compared with other layouts, ours is small, simple…. yet creative. I developed a theory and practice called “Tai Chi railroad gardening”. Simply put, I redirect the foliage whenever possible, rather than cutting, pruning or otherwise ripping out plants, ivy and other greenery. Towards this end, I built an “Ivy Arbor” that allows the miniature ivy to grow over the tracks via an arbor rather than derail the train by growing into or under the rails. In this way, the plants co-exist with the Acorn Shortline while minimizing derailments. The use of arbors, bio barriers and similar tactics minimizes maintenance and maximizes enjoyment of the hobby. Besides, the trains can run on time….an important thing! (Not always the case in the real world!)

I also elevate the track above the ground level but below the canopy of the groundcover (see insert). In other words, I intended to raise the track above the groundcover while minimizing the view of the track itself……..so when the train is NOT running, you cannot see the track. (One of our original objectives was to have the railroad literally disappear at a distance of about 10 ft and to do so requires creative construction design.) This raised track set-up includes a wire mesh screen that keeps the foliage from the track while allowing water and sun to nourish the plants. 

“Bio Barriers”

I also developed what I refer to as “Bio Barriers” that are essentially various types of walls, barriers and screening to manage the foliage and planting from encroaching on the railroad…without detracting from the appearance of the layout. These barriers, or walls can be made from wood, mesh or other material…using stakes to secure them into the ground.

As for train power, there are essentially three ways to power your railroad:

1. Battery power- utilizes the same NiCad batteries frequently used in miniature racing cars. In the case of a train, the battery unit is usually installed in either the tender of the engine or perhaps a trailing car. The benefit of battery power is that you don’t have to rely on track power and therefore you don’t need to clean your track for the train to run! This is a great option when you don’t clean or use the train very often. Personally, my family prefers this form of power and has had great luck with it.
2. “Live” Steam power- butane and alcohol are commonly used to provide the steam for the miniature boiler and engine. While live steam might be authentic and kinda’ fun, it can be messy and the time for a train run is limited……compared with battery powered or track powered options.
3. Track powered- Many enthusiasts use track power to propel the trains; that is, the power supply is in the form of a transformer you plug into house current. An extension cord connects the power from the house to the outside layout. The power is reliable; however, the tracks must be kept clean and clear! Track power is preferred indoors because of the need for clean tracks. However, I must mention that there are track-cleaning cars and separate engines that help clean the rails. 

Note: To control the train the “Engineer” must be close to the transformer or use a control unit on a cable/wire, or use a wireless version that enables you to walk around your layout without a cord or cable. 

Hint: if you don’t use the train and clean the tracks frequently, you would be better off with battery powered trains.

A note on technology—

With the advance of modern technology, you can actually select the specific SOUND of your engine from the Internet on some sound systems!! Our small engine got a boost when I selected the SOUND of a somewhat larger engine….it is now a small engine on “steroids”….sounding bigger and more intimidating then it really is!! It is amazing how realistic trains can sound today with digital technology. You can even install sound systems into your buildings on your layout!! I recently listened to an engine with an advanced digital sound unit installed….and you could hear the talk of the engineer and closing of the firebox door in the cab…as coal was being “shoveled” into the firebox!

There is nothing like the distant sound of a train whistle…the rustling of groundcover as a miniature train comes through the foliage into a miniature community….stops to pick up passengers and let others off….and proceeds on its way….automatically!!

Also, engines with digital technology installed can make some realistic sounds while simply staying at the station!

Variations on the hobby:

I once designed and constructed an outdoor layout for a nursery. It was complete with a town and a washed out mine with cascading waterfall! You may recall that the former G. fox Building in Hartford had a Winter Wonderland display during the holiday season. One entire floor was dedicated to trains of all sizes. I was asked to design a layout (insert) that represented outdoor garden railroads. Due to the temporary nature of the exhibit, the layout had to be lightweight and easy to disassemble. Therefore, I carved Styrofoam for the mountains and gullies, which kept things light and portable. Digital cricket and bird sounds, forty live miniature spruce trees….and a real running waterfall added realism. It was another example of how you can be creative in planning and construction of your railroad. 

In closing, the hobby of garden railroading is great for getting the family to enjoy the outdoors, gardening, landscaping, history, water gardens and trains! There is something in it for everyone! You too can relive the days of your youth through model railroading in a big way….in garden railroading! There is nothing like the distant sound of a steam engine…the rustling of the garden pachysandra….followed by the shrill of a whistle and plume of smoke as a miniature steamtrain comes out of the foliage into view! Great fun for all!

For more information about the hobby contact the writer, Chuck Oakes…. 860-644-1128 or, Chuck@chuckoakes.com.

There are numerous sites on this subject and a magazine called Garden Railroading.

Connecticut retailer: New England Hobby, Manchester 860-646-0610

Chuck Oakes is freelance photographer, speaker and author. His articles have appeared in USA Today, the Wall St. Journal, the American Management Association, USA Disabled and others. His recent book, Making Your Home Senior-Friendly, offers helpful tips to families and individuals who are aging in place and is available through local retailers and through www.chuckoakes.com. His photographs of ghost towns and historic railroads have been in malls, restaurants, in exhibits and in travel articles.

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