Garden Railway in Orleans

Lela and I had a visit to Barry's garden railway in Orleans Ontario.  The layout is a dog bone design with 10 Town/siding locations and one major yard.  The layout operates clockwise and can accommodate 5 trains operating from a train order switch list.  All the sidings are trailing.  Today we had 3 trains on the go.  One operated by Bob, the second by Lela and I and the third by Barry.

 Here is Barry at Shaanenville.  Most of the towns are named for family members.

 Barry combines his garden with natural foliage and some artificial features to produce a very nice green effect.  Bonnie is the gardener and Barry has done a great job in acquiring trackage rights through the property.

 Barry's train is passing by Trista West on the main.

 He is heading for Fountainview for his first switching job.

 Although the days run was based on narrow gauge. I only have my CP S3 Alco so that was a run what ya brung.

 We were lucky as the forecast was for storms, but, no rain just intermittent sunshine.

 In the far corner there is a nice little hand made tunnel.  My caboose had seen better days as it was left to close to the fireplace at Christmas time and even though it is a wood side prototype, the sides had a melt down. 

 Here are Bob and Barry in Trista Yard.  Although Bob looks deep in the plants he is on a small path that allows him access for uncoupling.

 On the fence side of the main, Barry can be seen switching out a gondola into Cora's Junction Siding.  Bob's locomotive is at the yard throat in Trista.

 Bob is marshaling his cars while Barry reconnects onto his train.

 Barry's steamer  is moving toward Trista while I am along the fence with my S3 heading for Shaanenville.

 Arriving at Shaanenville.

 I like Barry's artificial blue spruce conifers.  They never have to be trimmed and look really nice in the town setting.

Looking across from Fountainview, the large Cherry Tree dominates the mainline at Cherryhill Siding, providing a great deal of maintenance when the cherries fall from the tree.

 Lela is at the little bridge that Bonnie built so she could get into the back corner to garden and provide a pathway for Barry to follow his train into the corner turnouts.

 This is an interesting part of the railroad as there is a turnout at Cora's Junction next to the fence so that you can shortcut over a bridging route and back to Cherryhill siding.  Very convenient if folks are working in Trista Yard.

 Here Lela is checking her switch list at Fountainview to make sure the Dole Boxcar is the one we want.

 We are setting it out on the main and putting the other rolling stock back into the siding.

 Here is Lela at Spruce.

 Mt Kamaron Siding

 Bob's train stops at Trista West and is about to back into Shaanenville to do some lifts and drop offs..

 Lela and I are waiting on the main at the station.

 Shots of the two trains together.

 Lots of switching and kibitzing at this location

 Are we done yet

 later Barry arrives to do some more work at Shaanenville.

Remember the Cora Junction bridging track.  Here the foliage is impressive and Bob's locomotive is seen emerging from this sea of greenery.

What a great day for Bob, Lela and I.  Barry and Bonnie were great hosts providing us with snacks and beer along with an incredible three hours of train operations.  Nothing like having an outdoor model railroad and having the chance to spend some time with friends.