I began my new garden railroad in 2013 shortly after the purchase of our house. In that time I have played around with different roadbed techniques and track plans. Satisfied (for now) with the current trackwork, I am finally expanding the line further west into territory previously planned for the railway. The track must pass through a low area before touching down to land again. To keep a reasonable grade (nearly level) it's been necessary to fill in an a area with stone leading up to a massive 80-ft long bridge. The steel bridge was provided by our friend Aaron at Silver Lake Fabrication. It is composed of 1/4in A-36 welded steel with pressure treated wooden towers for support. Once completed, there will be a support every 5ft. Bridge supports are set in crushed stone to allow for drainage and adjustments over time. On the other side of the dip, the mainline will end in a large reverse loop in which I will also build a freight yard and a branch line.
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Jeff and I (well, mostly Jeff) have been spending these gloriously mild days working outside whenever we can. Jeff's major project has been to cut down some trees on our property. Aside from clearing out a bit of land deeper in the woods, he's also cutting down a few trees next to our "garden." I say "garden" because it is a very, very sad garden. The previous owners had a small plot set up, and we've barely done anything with it. I did grow a few bean plants, squash, and potatoes there a couple years ago, but it's mostly been neglected. By taking down some trees, we'll get some more sunlight and also a better chance at a good harvest. We'll be building up some beds in the next few weeks as well. Stay tuned for that! I also spent some time in the front yard. We have a bunch of overgrown daffodils and other perennials next to our driveway. The woods have really overtaken them, so I dug a bunch up and put them in the gardens in the front yard. I have no idea if they'll do well, but it didn't cost anything but a bit of time and effort. It's worth a shot, right? It sure felt nice to dig in the dirt a little. What a joy to be doing this in March in New Hampshire!
Winters in New Hampshire are typically long and cold. The leaves are off the trees by November, and we don't have them back until about six months later. This year, we were blessed with a relatively mild and not-too-snowy winter, especially compared to last year. Still, by February most of us are really looking forward to warmer days. We had a sneak peak on Tuesday with temperatures in the low 60s, but this is how our (almost) three year old was dressed to go outside to play today: Isn't she cute? As far as railroading is concerned, Jeff hasn't has many chances to do much with the layout recently. He had some fun running trains during a recent snowy day, but that's about it. To be totally honest, he finally just took down our Christmas lights this afternoon. You're welcome, neighbors!
My big plans this spring include getting a few new chicks. We have a small flock (you can see the coop and run in the picture above) that we keep for eggs and for fun. I keep saying that I'm going to raise some chickens for meat, but I haven't gotten around to it quite yet. We are planning on upping our vegetable gardening game this year, though. I do not have a green thumb, but I have successfully grown potatoes and butternut squash. I'm looking forward to trying more! February might be cold and desolate, but it sure is a good time for dreaming about the future. It'll be here before we know it. It may seem strange to start a new blog about Garden Railroading in the depths of February. In many parts of the country, winter simply means cooler weather, shorter days, and fewer bugs. It means enjoying your outdoor trains with a light sweatshirt and a warm coffee. In New Hampshire, winter means this: So what's really going on here? Snow is falling at a rate faster than 1 in/hour with a total of 3+ inches predicted. Quickly, 3 inches turns into 6, and then it instantly it becomes 10+ inches! Soon the driveway will need to be cleared, the walkways swept, and the mailbox recovered. To most model railroaders, this time in between is an opportunity to work on some trains down in the basement. Maybe its a good time for an adult beverage, or an extra log on the fire? To the seasoned garden railroader, however, this is really the perfect time to pull out the old Russel snow plow! It's a chance to get some fresh air and little exercise! Oh, and isn't it widely known that train batteries need to be cycled periodically to keep them working at their best? Ah well, enough excuses, this is just fun! Have a look: So welcome to our new blog! My wonderful wife, Lauren, and I hope to inspire as many people as we can reach. I hope you look forward to reading more about how garden railroading fits in with our family. This hobby is really much more than just trains running around in the woods. There's a surprising amount of engineering going on here (mechanical, electrical/computer, civil, and agricultural). In the following weeks, we'll explore a few of these topics that come up in our garden laboratory. Beyond engineering, we have arts and entertainment. Open up your imagination to create spectacular garden scenes and unique models. Open up your garden to friends and family and spread the fun. ...Okay a few more pictures!!! Thank you for reading, and I hope you will continue to follow the saga of the Rockwall Canyon Railroad.
-Jeff |
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Jeff is an avid railfan with a love for the outdoors. He and his wife, Lauren, strive to promote garden railroading as a wholesome and educational family activity. They live in New Hampshire with their four young daughters. Archives
November 2016
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