Getting started in garden railways
Thinking about starting your own G Scale layout? Here's what I've learned along the way - what a starter set gets you, what it costs, and where to buy.
Why start with G Scale?
One garden, 25 yearsI got my first taste of G Scale aged eight, with a starter set of my own. What began as a circle of track round the Christmas tree slowly grew into a proper garden layout over the following 25 years - and along the way I picked up a bit of everything: mechanical engineering, electronics, and a lot more creativity and problem-solving than I ever expected from a "toy train".
It's a hobby that suits any family, young or old, and it's a friendlier way in than most people expect. If you're thinking about starting your own layout, here's what's actually involved.
What's in a starter set, and what does it cost?
LGB, the biggest name in G ScaleAlmost every G Scale starter set comes from LGB (Lehmann's Gross Bahn), the scale's biggest manufacturer. A typical set - locomotive, a few wagons, a circle of track and a power pack - costs around £350, with extra track packs from £110 to £145 to grow your circle further.
Track voltage tops out at around 20V, so it's safe for children to run themselves. LGB kit has a reputation for lasting decades outdoors in all weather - which is exactly what you want for something that's going to live in the garden.
A starter set works just as well on a small oval indoors, on a table or under the tree at Christmas, as it does outside. That makes it a low-risk way to try the hobby before committing to anything permanent - and easy to pack away again if you need the space back.
And it's genuinely a starting point, not a commitment - wherever you take it from there is entirely up to you. Some railways grow, bit by bit, into something like mine. Just as many stay exactly as they started: the same loop of track, brought out and set up round the tree every December, a nostalgic family favourite that doesn't need to be any bigger than it already is.
Where can I buy a starter set?
New sets, and growing your collectionMy online shop, Jersey only
I sell starter sets and track packs online, to Jersey only, for anyone looking to get started - with local delivery or collection at an open day.
Shop starter setsGrowing your collection
Once you're hooked, secondhand is the fastest way to expand without breaking the bank. I buy a lot of my own stock from Footplate - a UK dealer with a constantly changing range of pre-owned G Gauge locomotives, wagons and track.
Browse pre-owned at FootplateWhere can I get help and meet other enthusiasts?
You're not figuring this out aloneThe G Scale Society is a UK-based community of over 1,400 members, with a quarterly magazine and local groups around the country - well worth joining if you want to swap tips with other enthusiasts.
Closer to home, the Jersey Model Railway Club meets twice a week and covers multiple scales, including G Scale. They hold an exhibition every August, worth watching for if you'd like to see more of the hobby up close.
And if you're ever in Jersey, come and see the layout for yourself - I'm always happy to talk scale, track and everything in between with visitors on an open day.
Got a question before you take the plunge? Get in touch and I'll do my best to help - track, scale, or picking your first starter set, whatever you're wondering about.
Common questions
What is G Scale, and why start with it?
G Scale is the most popular scale for outdoor garden railways. It suits any family, young or old, and is a friendlier way into the hobby than most people expect - you don't need engineering experience to get started.
What comes in a garden railway starter set, and how much does it cost?
A typical G Scale starter set - locomotive, a few wagons, a circle of track and a power pack - costs around £350, almost always from LGB, the scale's biggest manufacturer. Extra track packs to grow your circle cost £110-£145.
Is a garden railway safe for children?
Yes - G Scale track voltage tops out at around 20V, low enough for children to run trains themselves safely.
Do I need a garden to start, or can I run it indoors?
Either - a starter set works just as well on a small oval indoors, on a table or under the Christmas tree, as it does outside. It's a low-risk way to try the hobby before committing to anything permanent.
Where can I buy a garden railway starter set, new or secondhand?
New starter sets and track packs are available online for Jersey delivery or open-day collection. For secondhand kit to grow a collection, Footplate is a UK dealer with a constantly changing range of pre-owned G Gauge locomotives, wagons and track.
Is starting a garden railway a big commitment?
No - it's a starting point, not a commitment. Some layouts grow bit by bit into something elaborate; just as many stay exactly as they started, brought out every December as a family favourite.
Come and see it for yourself
Nothing beats seeing a garden railway running in person. Come along to an open day, have a look round, and ask as many questions as you like.