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Garden Trains are the fastest growing area of Model Railroads. Plus home gardeners are finding out that it is something exciting to add to their gardens. Garden Trains.com is your best resource. We provide you useful information at our site and references to the best sites on the Internet for Garden Trains. Welcome to the perfect family activity.

Tips for Getting Started
If you are new to the idea of Garden Trains it may be hard for you to get an understanding of what this hobby is all about. The most important thing to remember is that there is no one right way to build a Garden Railway.
Watch out for the "professionals" that try and tell you how to do it, and don't teach you how things can be done. Writing about Garden Trains and Railroads is one thing -- doing it is another.

The best way to get started is to watch a video and read all you can. Find or make a friend who already has a Garden Railroad. Finding a local club is a great way to get started and you can check out a complete database of clubs - online right here

How do I Figure out Grades on my Garden Railroad?
Lynn Rice: My first garden railroad had a very long double track mainline with a 3% grade and it worked fine. For that house and yard, it was the logical thing to do. My present garden train tracks are absolutely level and I believe that I can keep any likely expansions level as well. I had to do some cutting, filling and trestle-building to keep the track level. If you do your design right, rising and falling land around a layout can give the impression of grades while keeping the track level and easiest for trains to run on.

Joseph Cicerello: I think that the grades provide a more realistic setting and make the garden railroad much more interesting. I have been reading as much as possible as to the ability of certain engines to climb and I hope I do it right.

John Damkier: No grades, allows me to run very long consists which is what I enjoy. I do have hills for added interest and a dry riverbed for the tracks to bridge across.

Mike Evans: Original loop was pretty much flat. Redesigned and rebuilt last year to create a twice around plan with an up and over. If you keep the garden railroad grade gradual and under 2% (2" in 10 ft seems about right), most modern equipment will handle reasonable length trains.

Jerry Tupper: I have a grade on my garden railroad. It is more interesting than running the train on the level. Since I have experience in HO scale, I know the value of keeping the grades within 2% if at all possible.

Jeff Crotty: I tried to limit all my garden railroad grades to 2% or less, but in a few spots the grade is more like 4%. This doesn't seem to cause a problem, but it just doesn't look as realistic. I am presently revamping a large, high, curved trestle to help reduce excessive grade in a spot. It's a lot of work - but isn't that the fun of garden railroading?

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GardenTrainsRadio.com is your only and best audio resource for Garden Train information. We provide you with useful interviews, tips from experts at our site and references to the best information on the Internet for Garden Trains. Welcome to the perfect family activity.

LSOL.com is offering Garden Trains.com readers a discount to their online magazine. Large Scale Online has been around over 10 years providing a weekly email magazine with articles, pictures and discussions about Large Scale Garden Trains.

Use the code GardenTrains when you sign up today! A substantial discount is waiting for you at their site. It is a great way to start learning and to start building your own Garden Railroad.



Garden Railroad University is offering a Garden Trains Diploma. It is a great gift for the seasoned railroader, or someone just starting out. This is the only "official" diploma that shows you love Garden Trains.

Important Topics
  • Bridges
  • Buildings
  • Couplers
  • Garden Train Photos
  • Getting Started
  • Grades
  • How Garden Trains Work
  • Live Steam
  • Wheels