2019 National Garden Railway Convention - Update 1

Sunday was the first day of pre-convention garden railway tours, and we were able to make it to eight railroads. A wonderful variety of layouts and themes, and every one was a beautiful gem to be proud of. As there were eight I don't have time right now to do any of these railroad justice, but thought I would at least post a few pictures from yesterday. I'll post more pictures as time allows.

A row of houses behind a station along the Dunkley Northern Railway.

Also on the Dunkley Northern, a mine along the fence. I always enjoy seeing how people work fences into the layout, and seeing a mine train coming out of the fence as if it was the side of a mountain seems completely natural.

A beautiful station/hotel along the Beaver Cove Railroad, with a custom made steel bridge in the background made from rebar.

A key feature of the Beaver Cove Railroad is this bascule draw bridge. It is modeled after the Salmon Bay Bridge, originally built by the Great Northern Railway in 1914 and owned by BNSF today.

The Emerald Heights Railroad is nestled in an odd-shaped garden space with buildings on all side in a retirement community.

A curved bridge along the Emerald Heights Railroad

New plantings

Several weeks back I stopped by Tsugawa Nursery in Woodland, Wash. which has a great selection of dwarf and miniature plants and ground covers that work well in garden railroads. I wasn't looking for anything in particular but I bought a few things anyway. Sadly they've been sitting around waiting to go in the ground since then, as I wasn't sure where I wanted to place them. As fall is drawing closer I realized I decided to just get them in the ground, and I'll see how they winter over and then move them if needed in the spring.

The 2019 National Garden Railway Convention is just a few days away! Things will kick off this Sunday with pre-convention garden tours in the greater Seattle area. I can't wait.

Silver Thyme

Delosperma "Jewel of Desert Ruby"

Sedum makinoi "Ogon"

"Pink Ripple" Thyme

In addition to the plants I also picked up this half flat of local strawberries at Tsugawa Nursery. Some of these little jewels are still in my freezer, waiting to be enjoyed on a cold winter day when the heat of summer is a distant memory.

While I was planting ground covers, Alki was laying on the grass enjoying some late afternoon sun.