September, 2019 Update from Family Garden Trains^TM

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Update for September, 2019

You've probably noticed another gap in our newsletters. Due to long work hours and bad weather when I did have time to work outdoors, I hadn't done that much that is noticeable on the railroad between our November, 2018 snowfalls and this summer's record heat waves.

Fortunately, the way the new railroad is constructed, I can still run trains whenever people come over. In the old days, I'd have to know about visitors a week in advance, just to get control over the weeds, shifting roadbed, etc.

Now that I've had time to do some physical work on the railroad, I've installed the rest of my planned water feature, and am prepping for the next expansion.

I have also been reflecting the state of the hobby. It seems that certain businesses that profited from garden railroading in the past are scaling down their involvement, as if they expect interest in the hobby to taper off. Maybe from a dollar standpoint, it already has. But I still get a lot of questions and new signups, so as far as I can tell, the ability to run trains outside is as compelling as ever.

I've preached for years that a successful garden railroad depends more on creating the right setting and a durable, low-maintenance infrastructure for your railroad than on having an excess of trains and accessories in your garage. So reduced support from the business that once promoted the hobby shouldn't really keep old and new hobbyists from enjoying their railroads.

The "Which Comes First?" article below deals with some of these issues, but I just wanted to let you know we don't plan to fade away just because people with deep pockets but limited commitment seem to be doing just that.

In This Issue

The following content is linked to or included in this newsletter:

• Which Comes First, the Garden or the Train? - Some observations about the hobby so far and my conviction that designing the landscaping and a durable infrastructure is even more important than choosing your trains and designing the track plan.

• Waterscaping, Part 3 - Picking up where I left off construction last year, starting with an in-ground pond.

• Waterscaping, Part 4 - Adding the last portion of the waterfall.

• Planning the NEW New Boston and Donnels Creek RR, Part 5 - Planning the next addition to the railroad, an 11'x6' platform that will eventually support part of the "big" right-of-way.

Which Comes First, the Garden or the Train?

This article, which was originally published in April on our Facebook page, was noting some trends in the hobby that have only become more evident since then, including difficulty finding certain trains that were a mainstay of the hobby just a few years ago.

Also, many second-generation hobbyists are realizing that their railroads - like those of many of the first-generation hobbyists - are requiring so much maintenance that they will need substantial refurbishment if they are going to stay operational.

Garden Railroading is still a fun hobby, but I have always believed it would grow better and participants could stay active longer if the infrastructure - and the garden part of the hobby - weren't so often an afterthought.

https://familygardentrains.com/primer/traingarden/which_comes_first.htm

Waterscaping, Part 3 - After seven months of crazy long work hours, I finally got some free time to continue working on the railroad. Weather permitting, I often worked all the live-long day. This article describes installing two posts that will eventually support the last connecting pool, then digging the big hole for the in-ground pond. Breaking the soil was complicated by a three-month drought that turned the ground to something like concrete.

Click on the following link to see our progress as of mid-September, 2019.

https://familygardentrains.com/newbost/19_09_waterscaping_part3/19_09_waterscaping_part3.htm

Waterscaping Part 4 - Installing the last connecting pool, so the whole planned waterfall is complete except for dirtscaping and planting.

The process included checking the pump, extending the hoses, rescuing toads, building the platform, trimming the platform, testing the pool's location, etc.

Click the following link to see our progress as of mid-September, 2019.

https://familygardentrains.com/newbost/19_20_waterscaping_part4/19_20_waterscaping_part4.htm"

Planning the NEW New Boston and Donnels Creek RR - Part 5 - Once the major components of the water feature were installed and tested, we decided to add one more bit of railroad proper before our "Christmas Train Day," this November. The addition, about 5'x11', will allow us to put a small train and some scenery closer to eye level for youngsters. Eventually it will be part of the larger plan that will allow us to run our bigger cars and locomotives.

In addition, this article includes notes on building a similar raised platform starting from scratch, using either posts in holes, or Dek Block construction.

Click on the following link to see our plans for the next addition, as of late September, 2019.

https://familygardentrains.com/newbost/19_26_addition_planning/19_20_planning_part5.htm

Keep in Touch

Finally, please let us know about your ongoing projects. Ask questions, send corrections, suggest article ideas, send photos, whatever you think will help you or your fellow railroaders. In the meantime, enjoy your trains, and especially enjoy any time you have with your family in the coming weeks,

Paul Race

FamilyGardenTrains.com

To view the newsletter for December, 2018, click on the following link:

http://familygardentrains.com/fgt_newsletter/18_12_newsletter_gr.htm

To read more, or to look at recommended Garden Railroading and Big Indoor Train products, please click on the index pages below.