Garden trains – after the pool removal

Garden trains? What has this got to do with landscaping? Read further.

That pool in the yard has been an eyesore for many years and you have eventually decided to have it professionally removed. The question is what to do with all of that newly generated real estate and how to keep the kids entertained. As members of the American Society of Landscape Architects many of our customers contract us to stay on site to design their landscapes after the pool removal is complete.

Specifying a design possible of incorporating garden trains is something that we have been asked to do in the past.

We are able to provide the landscaping and retaining walls and design and plan out the layout. In other instances we can work with someone who already has a plan in mind.  In an existing garden we could build the natural stone retaining walls and excavate and provide power.  Some hobbyists may want to handle some of the finer details, others would want us to provide a complete turnkey package.

When considering garden trains the kinds of aspects that we would need to take into consideration include the following:

• Consider How Much Yard You Want To Leave in Lawn
• Consider where your focus Points Should Be
• Know Your Trees and Know Your Shade
• Consider the Yard’s Slope
• Consider Privacy
• Consider Water Runoff
• Decide HOW Your Focus Points Should Interrelate
• Balance Your Features
• Provide Vertical Interest
• Plan Access to Features
• Plan Routes Among Features
• Use Lines to Draw Attention
• Vary Textures to Draw Attention

Now that we have your interest piqued, where does one start with garden trains?

One of the most important aspects is the type of rail and track. This is one area where you must not skimp as this must last a long time under varying weather conditions.

Rail is usually made from either Brass; Aluminium; Stainless Steel or Nickel Silver. All these metals have their advantages and disadvantages but overall brass seems to have the edge. All of these can be mixed on your layout apart from aluminium which can apparently react adversely to other metals.

By far the most common sectional track is made from heavy solid brass rail mounted on injection molded imitation wood-textured sleeper  strips usually made from UPVC plastic with UV protection against the effects of the sun’s rays. Even longer lengths of flexible track trend to use multiple short sections of webbed sleepers.

Then there is decision about locomotives, rolling stock, figures, power etc. etc.

Take a look at this wonderful design by Dennis Cipcich.

Bottom line? If you reside in the greater Chicago or Denver areas, already have your own garden train design or need a turnkey job done all you need to do is contact us and we’ll get right back to you.