Garden Railroading is the Train to Catch for Family Fun

by Garden Trains Association

Garden trains are a quickly growing hobby in the U.S. Photo by Peter Wine.	This summer give dad a gift that will get him off the couch, back on track and into the garden - with the whole family as his crew. Combining two of the hottest hobbies - gardening and model trains - garden railroading is the fastest-growing family hobby in North America, according to the Garden Trains Association. (www.gardentrains.org)
"This is a fun hobby that gets the whole family hooked," says Randy Kennie, president of the association. "People love it. It's grown-up play time, but outside in the fresh air and sunshine."
Garden railroads, similar to what Dad played with as a kid, are large G-scale model trains about 5 inches high and 25 inches long, but instead of running inside, the trains wind through backyard forests of dwarf conifers, over little man-made streams or around miniature mountain ranges. The hobby began in Europe decades ago, but it recently caught fire in this country. The Garden Trains Association says there are about 38,000 garden train enthusiasts and some 1,000 garden train clubs in North America. All Aboard For About $200
Garden railroading provides fun for the whole family. Photo by Peter Wine.	It's easy to get started. All you need is a space about five feet square and about four feet of track. For as little as $200, you can have Dad up and running in a weekend. "Most people get into gardening on a small scale and build over time. It's more fun when the set develops over the years," notes Kennie. If you think garden trains
aren't something dad would enjoy, consider that the hobby attracts men in their mid 50's. With an estimated half of the enthusiasts women, garden trains are a great outdoor activity for dad, mom and the whole family. Current trends point to young families crossing over generations, with the whole family involved in making decisions. Come On, Baby, Do the Locomotion
Some garden trains are very elaborate. Photo by Peter Wine.	It's best to know a little bit about garden trains before getting started. There are annual outdoor train shows, conventions and displays across the country, the biggest being the Garden Railway Convention in Cincinnati, June 26-30 (www.gcgrs.org). For a list of events in your area, visit www.gardenrailways.com. Visiting the Garden
Trains Association Web site at www.gardentrains.org can provide a wealth of "getting-started" information. Other Whistle Stops June 8 through Oct. 27: Chicago Botanic Garden - (847) 835-5440 or www.chicagobotanic.org July 25-28: West Coast Regional Meet, California - (650)341-4088 or pdoochie@aol.com Sept. 7-29: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa - (610) 388-1000 or www.longwoodgardens.org