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My backyard garden railway

last photo ←

Our garden railway has been around since 2001 in my back yard, built by my father, me and the rest of my family. Most of these photo's are from 2003 - 2006, so they are a bit outdated, I do how ever have a recent video from our local news thats was taken over summer 2010.

37 comments

Feb 28, 2011. 7:39 PMCrabby says:

This would have made Mr Rogers proud.

Feb 28, 2011. 8:19 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

LOL thanks man

May 8, 2012. 1:24 PMJimbok3 says:

It look great!!!!

I've been planning a garden railway for a while (mainly using live steam), but have found that moss is the perfect plant to use for lawns and field (no trimming needed)... also perfect score 10 10 10

Jan 24, 2012. 12:18 AMmeygi says:

Showing respect for all your effort. Good job

Jan 24, 2012. 1:07 AM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

mostly my father effort, but he did use me and my brother for slave labor lol

Mar 3, 2011. 10:18 AM

build52 says:

that is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you get 10/00000000000000000000000000000/00000000000/0000000000000/000000000000000000000/00000000000000000000/0000000000000000000000/0000 points

Mar 3, 2011. 10:16 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

WHAT OVER 9000

Apr 25, 2011. 3:31 PM

build52 says:

yep!

Apr 24, 2011. 5:54 PMChewie42 says:

Very very cool...i had a lot of questions about how it weathers but after watching the video..i got it

Apr 24, 2011. 6:09 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

ya its depends, some buildings made out of clay or ceramic will crack split and turn to powder, wood ones can rot and crack and plastic ones usually just fade and glue wares out. our sets over 10 years old and every so often a brige gets removed , houses gets moved around every so often and stuff changed.

the biggest issues tend to be critters wild, or our black lab/ greyhound mix bella lol, and usually hind wind is another issue

Apr 21, 2011. 10:28 PM

GailC says:

That is so awesome! If I ever get a yard of my own I hope to do something just as great!

Apr 21, 2011. 11:07 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

ya we get alot of odd looks from the neighbors, and when we get new nieghbors they here the trains and say i never knew we were so close to the tracks then we tell them about the yard

Mar 27, 2011. 8:19 PMMrBrownThumb says:

Sweeeeeeet!

Mar 22, 2011. 9:01 AMaseaheru says:

cool.

Mar 13, 2011. 10:19 AMcindi59 says:

(removed by author or community request)

Mar 14, 2011. 6:59 AMcindi59 says:

Youtube messed the upload up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69OsbG6RI_w

114

Mar 4, 2011. 8:58 PM

l8nite says:

I have 2 of the 3 things required for a garden train, time and space, unfortunately Im missing the most importent one, money ! I agree a pov would be OVER THE TOP ! With cell phones and small cameras being able to take videos it couldnt be that difficult to fabricate a removable mount that slips over one of the engines, the next step would be a passengers veiw from the side of the train. Not to mention the "ible" factor of building the mounts! . really great looking layout

Mar 5, 2011. 10:24 AM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

well ours is mostly built under our deck and i know a few friends who have very little space to pull this off. as for money you dont need alot heck we aren't millionaires, my dad just finds lots of good deals on plants and trees. the trains them self you can find great deals on ebay for them.alot of times people buy the lgb brand trains for going around the Christmas tree and usually they resell them cheap. alot bunch of the cars, people and houses we have goten at walmart and misc places, there are some bird houses, homies figures and dicast cars.

Mar 3, 2011. 10:48 AMAlternateLives says:

I really can't believe that there aren't more instructables on Model Railroading. It seems that there should be a lot more than I have seen (or that they would be more publicized.)

Anyway, thank you for sharing your model railroad from the vegetated world of Garden! I sure wouldn't want to live there (could you imagine how long it would take to trim the lawn there?) but I am glad we can enjoy it from the view 5 feet above it thanks to your pics.

good job!

Mar 3, 2011. 10:16 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

ya i was surprised too, the only train stuff are thomas the tank engine and cakes really

moding the lawns not bad in fact its better, a lot less lawn to mow, i should know i usually mow the back yard

Mar 4, 2011. 4:47 PMAlternateLives says:

I was trying to make a joke about living in the world that the model railroad portrays, with enormous garden plants springing up all around you. I guess I failed.

Mar 3, 2011. 12:05 PMAsmodeous says:

This reminds me of Mr. Rodgers place with the train...

Mar 3, 2011. 10:14 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

some people actually make that trolley in g scale but we dont own one

Mar 3, 2011. 2:18 PMscraptopower says:

Cool! This works year round ? That's incredible, thanks for sharing.

Mar 3, 2011. 10:13 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

year round but it usually doesn't run in the winter since no one want to stand out side in the cold to run it

Mar 3, 2011. 9:53 PMfengye says:

(removed by author or community request)

Mar 3, 2011. 1:16 PMjjps says:

It would be cool if you put a GoPro on the front car and did a point of view vid.

Mar 3, 2011. 2:27 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

well i dont really have a video camera and i dont have a car with a mount on it. but hey if i win and the cameras can record video then i'll be glad to do a pov video

Mar 3, 2011. 4:17 AM

Blofish says:

That is just fantastic. thank you for sharing it!

Mar 3, 2011. 12:02 AM

porcupinemamma says:

Oh Wow! Well done! 10/10! Beautiful!!

Mar 2, 2011. 6:45 PM

mhkabir says:

Amazing! 5.0 for its realistic look!

Mar 2, 2011. 11:38 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

thank you

Mar 2, 2011. 10:37 PMzack247 says:

wow! i have to say that its really amazing!
and you have never had any problems with the tracks and scenery over winter or with vegetation?

Mar 2, 2011. 11:27 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

Track issues hmmm some times the ballast underneath it erodes and theres no support under the track

winter damage, yes theres always a little but most of the houses are plastic some are wood and they show a little damage. most of it holds up really well any thing really fragile we bring in for the winter

no real vegetation issues my father usually is pretty good with keeping every thing trimmed

and thank you so much

Mar 2, 2011. 6:13 PMBrianHuntley says:

Lovely. I'm envious as all heck, but my own garden is under 30 cm of snow, so it's just as well.

(Does anyone make an O gauge rotary snowplow?)

Mar 2, 2011. 7:29 PM

sillyzombie666 (author) says:

actually is g gage and yes a friend of ours did make one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGf66ferP5Q