Backyard railroad

A garden railway is a model railway, a permanent or removable built outdoors as a model railroad layout and is usually suitable for passenger transport. The passengers are carried sitting normally on the vehicles. Widely used are the model track widths of 5 inches and 7 ¼ inches.

The Garden Railways as well as the garden model railways are normalized by the standards of European Model Railroads (NEM ), but not the parking railways.

• 3.1 In a garden built, solid investment
• 3.2 Temporary or mobile plant, separate from the garden ( isolated ) systems

Disambiguation

Garden railway as a model railway

In the garden paths, which are not suitable for passenger transport, the operation stands as a model railway in the foreground. For operational reasons are mainly model trains of nominal size 0 or larger, distributed with the track 0, 0m and 0e. Widely used in this regard are garden railway facilities of the gauge IIm, variously referred to with the track G, G for Garden Railway.

Parkeisenbahn

Garden Railways with model gauges, which are usually 15 inches ( 381 mm ) or more are designated as park railway. Park railways almost exclusively for the transportation of persons, but are generally also has a scaled-down replica of a railroad. In some cases, these rather an industrial train ( light railway ), Children's Railway or narrow-gauge railway sector. The travelers are thereby promoted sitting normally in the vehicles.

Similar gauges have grotto railways, haunted houses, and - in all other kinds of technology - roller coasters, allow quite different experience.

General

The tracks, the car park as well as the accessories of garden paths need to be robust and resistant to weathering. This gives a certain minimum size results in terms of scale or gauge.

A personenbefördernde garden railway is also designed so that it can move people. This requires a certain strength and stability. Since the development of such paths primarily in the United Kingdom had its origin, gauge is traditionally expressed in inches. In addition, also the scale is indicated in the vehicle models in many cases.

Garden Railways with a track width of 5 and 7 ¼ inches ( Europe ) or 7 ½ inches ( USA, Canada) are the most common. Unlike other Model Railways of the scale question but is given no special weight. So it is not uncommon when both vehicles with 1:8 scale than 1:4 are also operated together on a 7 ¼ inch track.

Due to the large scale of Garden Railways ( live steam models ) are frequently found here. In addition, many locomotives with prototypical engine drive there (mostly diesel hydraulic). However, the vast majority has an electric drive. In the latter, the driving current is not supplied as model trains on the track or the direction, but mostly sourced from entrained accumulators.

Plant types

Garden railway systems often consist of a circuit in which only at a single station, the training and boarding is possible. They can be roughly divided into two types, the assignment to a category primarily on the construction effort, and the integration into a garden landscape depends.

In a garden built, solid investment

Most in a landscaped, park-like gardens consuming integrated garden railway. High and low, flowering and non- flowering plantings are connected together with the tracks, tunnels, bridges, lakes and buildings into a harmonious landscape. The planning of the rail tracks, and garden design are in full alignment. The upkeep of the facility and the care of the garden are mostly consuming.

Orbits under 5 inch gauge are executed often elevated. Here, the feet of the passengers are below the rail level, mostly on special tread of the passenger cars. This allows the equilibrium at such a narrow track to keep. In the UK, there are also various 5 and 7 inches paths in this design.

Temporary or mobile plant, separate from the garden ( isolated ) systems

Temporary or mobile garden railway facilities are on tracks that have been laid by simple means, created with little or no scenery. Have garden railway systems of this type, often concrete slabs, an asphalt surface or only the lawn as a base. At exhibitions and fairs such plants are also found with easy on - and degradable materials. The maintenance is usually minimal. Occasionally, are also to be found Garden Railways who move as ride from event to event.

Switzerland

The scene of the persons transported Garden Railways in Switzerland is very pronounced and varied. Most garden railways have rolling stock that both are owned rail operator of the garden, as well as private rolling stock.

Since the maintenance of a garden railway layout can be very expensive, most assets of associations, foundations or private companies be worn.

A highlight of every garden railway fans is the annual steam festival in the Swiss Steam Park in Le Bouveret. This festival is used to exchange the manageable garden railway scene and is considered a special experience every garden railway fans. The Swiss Steam Park is currently the largest amusement park in Switzerland, when it comes to garden paths and houses one of the two existing in Switzerland, cog railway lines with a gauge of 7 ¼ inches.

List of garden railways

See list of garden railways