Once the water garden was finished, I started work on my garden railway.  That is to say, I spent the next nine months (in Canada, we call this period "Winter") designing my layout using a computer program.  I was able to "try" hundreds of designs without purchasing any track!  

Next May, roadbed sections matching the LGB track sizes were cut from marine plywood and then given several coats of sealer. This made it quick and easy to lay out my layout.

Here's the upper loop in progress.

The next step was to snake a 4% grade down the mountain side and under some steps near the other end of the yard.

As you can see, my wife had already started the planting. Little did we know how little would grow in that particular location. Eventually, a type of Creeping Jenny found happiness there.

The track was staked up and our little LGB field loco roared up the 4% grade with no problems.

Now it was time to add the rocks. I ordered about six tons of rainbow granite and went to work.

We wanted our railway to remind us of Jasper National Park, where we used to live.

Only about half of the upper loop is on the upper level. The remainder curves out over the mountain side and will be supported by a proper bridge one day.

The upper level is just about done, and the mountain side is in progress.

I removed the roadbed while I tossed those 50-pound rocks around.

All done so far.

You can see how the rock garden extends the water garden landscaping.

The garden railway was meant to enhance the water garden and rock garden without over-powering either of them.

The upper loop is complete, but I am beginning to dig out a path along the bottom of the rock garden.  Wiring will be buried under the gravel pathway.

Even with a 4% grade, my yard wasn't long enough to drop the 26-inches from the upper terrace to the lower terrace.

The track snakes down and goes under the steps just beyond the bridge. The lower loop is raised 14-inches off the ground.

The swing has since been moved, and a Swiss layout is under construction in that area.

Visit my Garden Railroad website for more information!