MODEL RAILROADS IN THE BACKYARD

Getting Started with Garden Railroads

A whimsical backyard railway with many curved trestles and bridges. [Photo by Daniel Smith.]

A garden railwoad can be as big -- or as small -- as your own back yard. Many of the members of REGRS have limited space and build delightful outdoor layouts where they can run trains, relax, and enjoy the garden. With our generally sunny California climate, outdoor garden railroading is fun for the whole family for many months of the year, and the train layout can become the focal point of home entertainment and social events -- or a satisfying place to relax, tinker with the plants and the models, and spend time on creative and imaginative work, just for fun.

Garden railroad layouts often involve the whole family in a way that indoor bedroom or basement model train layouts do not. In many families, one member loves to garden while another loves to build things. Large or G-scale garden railroad layoutss bring together the best of both worlds, including a love of miniatures; skills and talents with electrical, irrigation, construction, and building design; selection and care of permanent perennial plantings and optional water features; and the abundant joy of seeing a train running through the home landscape.

The great thing about belonging to a Garden Railway Society like REGRS is that our members -- no matter what their level of experience or expertise in the hobby -- want to help you succeed. We will offer advice and lend a helping hand to get you started with your own backyard railroad. When you join REGRS, you will be able to talk shop with some of the best modelers and gardeners in our area as you design, lay out, build, and operate your own backyard garden railroad.

Come aboard and join us!

The Redwood Empire Garden Railway Society is an informal outdoor railroad model club in Northern California. Our interests include:

• REGRS HOME PAGE
• Model Railroads in the Backyard
• Electric and Live Steam Power
• Kits and Scratch-Built Structures
• Railroad Gardening with Miniature Plants
          •  Don Herzog's "Plant of the Month"
• Garden Railway Photography
• Remote Control for Garden Trains
• Calendar and Open House Days for REGRS Club Members
• Garden Railway Manufacturers List
• Other California Garden Railroad Clubs

To learn more about model railroading in the garden, meet our club members, arrange a visit to a member's garden train layout, attend one of our monthly meetings as a guest, talk model railroading with hobbyists and railroad model builders, or to join the REGRS as a member, please contact the Redwood Empire Garden Railway Society by sending an email to Ken Brody -- westie@sonic.net.

copyright © 2017 Redwood Empire Garden Railway Society. All rights reserved.