This is an overall view of the garden. It measures 13' x 21'. The first step was to put in the landscape timber border. I screwed them together with 4" drywall screws so that it will be easy to expand the railroad in the future. The track will be built on treated lumber at the height of the landscape timbers, then I will fill it in with peat moss up to the track level. This will give me the drainage I need.
The next step was to install the 50 gallon fish pond and flowing stream, the track is to cross over the stream and the pond.
Me working on building the rock stream to carry water back into the 'lake'.
This is my friend Dale who helped me find the rocks to build the stream. We searched river bottoms on a Saturday afternoon in two counties in southern Indiana to find the 'right' rocks.
This shows the first of the elevated track (about 7') sitting on the 28" posts that I am sinking in the ground. Getting the location right for the 1st two posts was the hard part, the rest of them should go in quicker. The posts go about 20" into the ground.
This is a closer shot of where the track crosses over the stream. Some day the 2x4 that the track is sitting on where it crosses the stream will be replaced with a real bridge. There will also be a 2nd bridge crossing over the lake.
I now have 21' of track put in place. I will not screw anything down tight until I have the whole loop done so I know it all fits.
One week after putting the first post in the ground, I almost have the first loop of track ready. I have to cut a couple of short sections of track to make it all fit, which is taking a lot longer to get put in place.
Here is the first official run on the ICVRR on 5/17/00. I borrowed a Bachmann 10 wheeler locomotive from my dad for the run. The first loop of track is ready, but not fastened down just yet.
Close-up shots of my dad's Bachmann locomotive making its way around the ICVRR for the first time.
Callie the Cat looking on as I run my own train on the completed first loop of track.
My own train running on the completed lower loop of track on 5/20/00.
Riding along in the gondola car behind the locomotive.
