A garden railway on a little island
A G Scale (1:22.5) garden railway running on 138m (455ft) of track over bridges, through tunnels and around the pond.
The history
25 years in the makingThis started as a circle of track round the Christmas tree, more than 25 years ago. It stayed a dream for a long time before it became a garden.
Construction on this layout began in August 2021. Track was laid within a couple of months of breaking ground, and I had trains testing the line by March 2022. The first running BBQ, with friends round to watch the trains go and a burger in hand, came that May.
None of it sits straight on the soil. The whole line rests on over a tonne of Jersey granite and is raised a minimum of 60cm off the ground, so it drains well and stays clear of the worst of the garden.
A model railway is never done - there's always another project or idea in the works. It's one of the things that makes it such a fulfilling hobby.
The layout
Two loops, five stationsThe layout has two main running loops, upper and lower, joined by an incline, so I can run two trains unattended at once. A branch line splits off to a terminus station by the garden entrance.
There are five stations on the line, each named with a German-style play on the surnames of friends and family. The whole thing is set in a fictional corner of Germany, with connections running on to Switzerland and Austria.
The trains
DCC, digitally controlledThe trains are track-powered, run under digital DCC control from a handheld controller. That lets me set speed, direction, lights and sound individually for each locomotive on the line.
Rolling stock and track are mainly LGB, with some TrainLine 45, Thiel and Piko mixed in.
Eventually I'd like the layout automated and computer-controlled, so trains can run their timetables without me at the handset. That's still a project for another year.
Built to be outside
Rain, wind and Jersey weatherThe question I get asked most on the day is what happens when it rains. Nothing much - the buildings and sleepers are UV-resistant resin or plastic, and every rail on the line is brass, so nothing rusts sitting out in the weather.
Wind is the real hazard here, not rain. A good Jersey gust has been known to move a building clean across the garden. The trains come in and get stored away in poor weather, but everything else stays out year-round.
Keeping it running
MaintenanceLeaves, plants and the odd stray weed need clearing off the line regularly, or they'll happily take the track back for the garden.
Rail tops need polishing to keep good electrical contact. I've a dedicated cleaning locomotive for the job, special wheels and orange flashing lights - keep an eye out for it running on the day.
Getting started in G Scale
Fancy having a goG Scale suits any family, young or old, and it's a friendlier way into the hobby than most people expect. A starter set gets you everything you need to begin: a loco, a few wagons, a loop of track and a power pack.
If you're curious, ask one of the volunteers on the day - we're always happy to talk scale, track and everything in between.
I'm a proud member of the G Scale Society, and if you're a fellow member passing through Jersey, get in touch - I'm always glad to show a visitor round informally.
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