Train Your Garden

This elevated mainline was part of a complete garden line renovation, due to the necessity of having a level line for live steam trains. The curves on the mainline are all at least 8 foot diameter (LGB R3) for the ease of running larger trains that will not navigate tighter turns.

Over 20 tons of material were placed for the new elevated path. The roadbed beneath the track is plastic wood for durability, made using a custom-cut ladder-style system. Future expansion plans include a switching yard and other industries at ground level.

The next phase for this line is to build out the scenery with buildings, vehicles, plantings, and more. The temporary posts elevating the line between beds will be replaced with trestles.

Above: A newly completed spur that connects the elevated mainline loop to the ground level works.

Below: A brief video of the layout at dusk, followed by a photo looking back at the house from the other direction.

JANUARY 2026 UPDATE

The railway line construction crew had a pleasant weekend for January, with the temperatures reaching 80 degrees on Saturday afternoon. Much progress was made on new rights-of-way; the ground level circuit around the fishpond and mine tunnel was completed. Now all that remains is to connect the new circuit to the spur that joins the elevated mainline to the ground-level circuit.

Also laid out by the ROW crew is the new point-to-point trolley line that will serve to connect Shady Grove to Pascalis. In the below photo it hugs the base of the stone bed in the middle of the photo. All of the ground-level track will be laid on a pressure-treated ladder roadbed that will hopefully ensure smooth, consistent running.