Garden Railway Aesthetics

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I really like your analogy of garden railroading to that of painting. From the abstract (whimsical) to those that paint every hair or blade of grass (rivet counters). I would think that as a designer of a garden railroad, it is one's requirement to find an appropriate balance between the whimsical and the detail. For if the detail is ignored (planning) the track will not last, or will be out of gauge, etc., and illusion is lost, to be replaced by frustration! But if we forget the whimsical, then all we have is the cold metal of the rails and a pile of rocks. The art is in balance!

Indoor railroading is primarily an illusion to only one sense. The sense of sight. Outdoor railroading stimulates all the senses. The heat of the day; the cool of the night. The distant sound of falling water, the smell of flowers, the closeness of friends. And one more, the sense of time. Nature always makes sure that the garden railroad is always different the next time you visit it. Sometimes its the track washout from the rain, the visit from the deers or gophers, and the weeds ALWAYS are trying to take over! Garden railroading is dynamic, indoor railroading is very static.

Trackwork is probably the most overlooked art in the garden. Rails that are almost hidden in the garden invite you to follow them along to see where they go, to see whats around the next bend. Have you ever been driving along and found an abandand rail line? You just have to park the car and walk the rails to find out where it went, why it was there, or what you find along the way.

I think your book is already a success, to me at least. You've made me think and actually write about this art of garden railroading! Can't wait for the next chapter. Now back to the real world....—R.B.

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I appreciate your thoughtful reflections on our shared journey through recreative time and garden space. I look forward to additional observations on this multifaceted adventure in craft and imagination. —J.P.

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I disagree with your premise that passenger cars should not be weathered. Yes, they were kept in good shape but they weren't pristine at all times. Even if they kept them clean and bright on the sides, I seriously doubt if they had someone on the roofs of them scrubbing the soot off that settled out of the smoke from the wood or coal fired steam engines. At the very least the roof of the passenger coaches from the steam railroad lines should be blackened or partially so. Actually, any top surface should have some dirt of some sort on it. I'm not saying that these surfaces should be grungy, but a little dirty —B.W.

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Marc, well done and can't wait for more. Just started into garden railroading and I find it more satisfying than my HO layout I have in the basement (under construction). I guess the larger it is the easier it is to see. I have constructed my first bridge and I find that most rewarding. Took some measurements from a magazine and looked at a couple of pictures and went to town. Can't wait to get going out in the dirt.Thanks for the inspiration of your video and your writing. —R.Z.

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I think Marc should describe things in the first person because they are your opinions and I suspect will run contrary to everyone (even Barb!) in some detail or other. —R.C.

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I must say your written words carry much validity in my mind. I am also reminded of Peter Jones writings—he makes his points as do you.

I admire both of you gentlemen. You sound as though you strive for genuineness in the art of Garden Railroading.

I still love my own private little railway, with handbuilt tracks of brass and wood, live steam engines—I simply love the real dirt, water, plants smells, etc. No, it is not full size—but it is REAL. —V.S.

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How about a photo gallery showing the best of garden railways, be it rolling stock or lines. To my mind, the whole profile of garden railways needs to catch up with what has happened indoors over the last 20 years. Weathered rolling stock and buildings, add all the details, BUT make them well so they can withstand the knocks. —J.B.

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In general, I agree with what you say; in particular, that an outdoor line is a railway in itself, not a model of a railway like an indoor layout.

My mainline uses 4'-6" radius, but I have to use two-foot curves on my branch line. However, I tuck these decently out of sight. —M.J.

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Like the new section on structures—like the style too. As someone who's tried to do something similar, I know how difficult it is. —J.R.

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I would suggest a discussion on scenes. I think people arranged in realistic scenes add much more interest than random placement of people. Same for animals. —R.T.

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Rocks ? I live in a flat country with no rocks - just soft hills and dunes and sea and forests - and still no rocks. There are landscapes without rocks... and you can make pretty good models of those landscapes too. Just so you know it. —J.J. (Denmark)

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I've read your feelings in Garden Railway magazine about the scale/guage problems that exist. It would be helpful for beginners to hear your (respected) perspective about mixing the various sizes and what they represent;i.e. narrow-gauge sizes, standard guage, 7/8" scale, etc. all on "G" track.

As you've described garden railroading as an art, so too is the perseption of what is "correct" as far as a scale / guage combination. To each his own.

Personally, I think that we would have more selection of materials and accessories for the railroad if there were some consenses. What that is may just resolve itself in the years to come as more people request items with proportions more similar to that of prototype equipment. —N.E.

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While, in general terms, I agree with you, I think choice of material is determined by location-specific considerations. I would not even consider wooden sleepers (ties), as they would get eaten far to quickly for my liking, even when treated with modern treatments, which, for the most part don't work as well as they should.
I also think a few notes on choosing a theme for the railway is a good idea—is it a common carrier, logger, standard or narrow gauge—as all these things influence the rest of the development of the line, as does any preexisting garden. —J.B.

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