Welcome to the newest activity department of the Model Railroad Club, Inc.  Garden Railroading, also know as Large Scale or more commonly G-Scale, has been a rapidly growing segment of the model railroading hobby.  

At the 2002 annual membership meeting, we passed an amendment to the Club constitution creating the Garden Railroad Department.  Our plan is to accommodate all members who wish to participate in the development and building of an outdoor layout using G-Gauge track.  All scales that utilize G-Gauge track, including track and battery powered equipment will be reflected as the Garden Railroad Department grows and develops. 

Interest in Garden Railroading has existed at The Model Railroad Club for many years. In the summer of 2001 several members started an effort to create a department within the Club dedicated to G-Gauge.  The group created temporary loops of G-Gauge track within the Club building and outside on Club grounds to help increase interest within the Club for the department.  The group created a demonstration loop of track in front of the building near the main entrance.  This loop of track currently is used when the weather permits and is in operation on Saturday afternoons. When snow prevents routine operations you can often see a snowplow clearing the track as was seen here and again here in 2 different snow storms.  Please check out all 3 videos as there are some spectacular shots from on-board the plow.  Other still photo images of our G-scale equipment can be found here.

Just recently a new stub-end siding showed-up inside the loop as well as a new passing siding.  Rumor has it that a real estate deal is in the works for a major industry to locate a new facility in town adjacent to the stub-end siding.  Frequently on Saturday afternoons, several members are running trains on the loop of track.  It certainly is an eye-catcher for our younger visitors.  With all the new track coming online, this should soon be a beehive of activity.  All who are interested in Garden Railroading are invited to join and participate.  If you're interested in the weather in our garden check out Weather.com statistics right now.

No long ago, approval was granted for an area approximately 120' x 90' for the construction of a walk-thru outdoor layout.  Acquisition of roughly 500' of track has been completed and the task of laying it will begin shortly.  A passing track and siding were recently added to the original outdoor loop.  Rumors continue that a major international manufacturing firm is looking to locate a new facility adjacent to the trackage and will be generating significant freight traffic.

Big boys toys...   more ballast please.

 

All scales that utilize G-Gauge track, including both track and battery powered equipment will be reflected as the Garden Railroading Department grows and develops.  The department intends to build an outdoor layout on an unused area of the Club grounds starting in the Spring of 2003.  The original area dedicated for this task measured approximately 60'x80'.  This was considered large enough to build a significant garden railroad but as you can see above, an even larger area is being discussed with the County Parks commission and the Club Board of Directors. Roughly a 130' x 140' space is being explored.  Stop down and pay us a visit.  We're always looking for new members - including rail fans, gardeners, and even spectators.

For your additional reference, please search the web for Garden Railroad, or visit our friends at DIY Network and view any of the Garden Railroad oriented shows they offer.   Enjoy!