Things to consider

when

creating a garden railroad. J. Shell, CEO, ROE&L RR

Press Release 2004

Exciting Times Ahead for The Odds Ends & Leftovers Railroad The President of the Odds Ends & Leftovers Railroad, Jim Shell, has announced the final approval of relocation and addition of new right of way from the Local and State Zoning Commission, chaired by Lorinda Shell. Final approval was given April 10th after two years of intense negotiations. The major obstacle was the backyard soccer field in the proposed new location for the railroad. As compensation, the OE&L agreed to relocate the soccer field with major improvements in seating, rest rooms and refreshment facilities. The old OE&L is going to be turned to run parallel with the fence. A sixty five foot section fifteen feet wide will run across the yard in front of the trees in the back of the yard. It will be an “L” shape. The plan is to keep the trestle and the waterfall. Management hopes to have a track plan ready for the new section by September, but if not, work will proceed over winter. Everyone is confident that rail service will be greatly improved which will bring new business to the area.

Photo by Peter Wine

The new Recycled OE&L steam line will originate at the rail head at Xenia in Greene Co. and head south to the rich farm lands of Brown and Adams County. The two major towns on the new line are Russellville in Brown Co. and Cherry Fork in Adams County. The line will go through Russellville servicing the sawmill and The Feed, Grain and Coal Company owned by Joe Myers. The line will terminate at Cherry Fork bringing farming equipment and supplies to the Farm Bureau Company. The new line will offer spectacular views to the passengers. The rolling hills of southern Ohio will provide for bridges and trestles over valleys and over the water ways of Eagle Creek, White Oak Creek and Cherry Fork Creek. Passengers will enjoy the sweet smell of the flowering trees and bushes of spring, the cool breezes

of summer, and the rich red, yellow and orange colors of autumn. Relocation of the old right of way started April 25th. Grading for the new line is scheduled to start September 8th, but could start in August providing relocation and final arrangements of materials goes well according to OE&L President Jim Shell. Logo for the new railroad

Recycled Odds Ends & Leftovers Railroad The new Recycled OE&L steam line originates at the rail head at Xenia in Greene Co. and head south to the rich farm lands of Brown and Adams County. The two major towns on the new line are Russellville in Brown Co. and Cherry Fork in Adams County. The line will go through Russellville servicing the sawmill and The Feed, Grain and Coal Company owned by Joe Myers. The line will terminate at Cherry Fork bringing farming equipment and supplies to the Farm Bureau Company. The new line will offer spectacular views to the passengers. The rolling hills of southern Ohio will provide for bridges and trestles over valleys and over the water ways of Eagle Creek, White Oak Creek and Cherry Fork Creek. Passengers will enjoy the sweet smell of the flowering trees and bushes of spring, the cool breezes of summer, and the rich red, yellow and orange colors of autumn. Xenia: The railroad arrived in Xenia in 1845. The Little Miami Railroad started at Cincinnati, going northeast following the Little Miami River valley through Xenia, terminating at Springfield. Xenia had 141 years of rich railroading history.

Russellville: The Cincinnati, Georgetown & Portsmouth Railroad (the Come Gentlemen and Push), in spite of its convoluted history, began as a narrow gauge steam line, but in 1902 was converted to standard gauge to run steam and traction on the same track. In 1905, the tracks were laid between Georgetown and Russelville, never to be completed to Portsmouth. Russellville got it’s first electric power through the traction power lines. My mother is from Russellville. She said you knew when the traction car arrived in town; the lights would flicker. My grandfather owned the sawmill, the feed & grain store and the coal company. Cherry Fork: Cherry Fork has no rail history. My father is from Cherry Fork. My grandfather drove a fuel oil truck for the Farm Bureau Location: back yard Size: “L” shaped, 45 feet by 65 feet Scale: G scale, 1:20.3 and 1:24 Theme: 1920-1940 Southwest Ohio, fictitious line connecting three real towns. Structures: Scratch built and modified kits

The new logo.

I should explain the name. A year after we moved into a new development I started building my first garden railroad (17’x27’). I went to the contractor and asked if there were any materials I could have. He said anything in the scrap piles and leftover gravel. The houses were trimmed with cedar wood. Every time a house was trimmed, that night I was looking over the scrap pile. I scavenged rocks, dirt, a torn up cement driveway (mine) and wood. I have also bought some used rolling stock and buildings. So we named the railroad the Odds Ends & Leftovers. In building the new railroad, all the materials and plants from the old railroad are being used. Since nothing is left of the old railroad, I felt the name should be changed. Hence, The Recycled Odds Ends & Leftovers.

Recycled refresher Odds course Ends &inLeftovers railroad design Railroad When the backyard zoning board chaired by my spouse approved the relocation and expansion of the new Recycled Odds Ends & Leftovers Railroad (ROE&L RR), I realized that I would need a refresher course in railroad design. Garden Railways Magazine ran a series of articles from February 1997 to June 1999 called, “What makes a great garden railroad?”. Marc Horovitz asked a variety of outdoor railroaders to express their opinions on what makes a great garden railroad. I enjoyed seeing how each person(s) approached their railroad. The following are some excerpts taken from the series that are helping me design the new ROE&L RR: “Slow down, observe, enjoy and escape” “…tells a story, …invites me to linger,…touch my emotions and linger in my memory far beyond the others. (Judy Arrigotti, Folsom California, February 1998.) “Diversity, challenge, change, and more Design” “… Each garden always has some individual point that makes it great.” “ …the owners, who bring their unique abilities, interests, and desires into the creation of their garden railway” “. …creating a historic railway in miniature.” “Providing a ticket to dreams.” “…sparks a child’s imagination” “…Time …You deal with living plants that are constantly growing and changing with the season. Your line must weather…” (Paul G. Busse, Cincinnati,Ohio, June 1998). “Realism, plausibility, & fidelity to prototype” “…is a credible emulation of a real railroad in miniature and it exudes an aura of realism.” “…is a culmination of a lot of thought, research, planning, innovation, and work.” “…not an animated decoration in a flower bed.” (Herb Chaudiere, Edmonds,Washington, April 1998).

“The synergistic (working together) blend of plants and trains” “The railroad should harmonize with its garden surroundings and vice-versa.”“ plants as close to scale as possible.” “Keep things consistent throughout the the garden railroad and make the railroad blend with its surroundings.”(Dean Lowe, La Verne, California, April 1999). “Visual interest, hands-on fun, realistic operation, and style” Before the first shovelful of dirt…planning is done and decisions are made…are the result of good planning and much forethought.” “…visitors to view the line from many different vantage points.” “What is important is that all the parts consistently relate to, and support all the other parts.” “It’s not about how much you spend on it, it’s about how much you bring to it.” “Build an empire and they will come. Build it well and welcoming, and they will return.” (Bob Treat, with Rick Blanchard, San Diego, California, June 1999). A strong theme, easy access, and operating flexibility” “The railway has a reason for being and the trains have a reason for going from point A to point B.” “…easy access for garden maintenance and railway operation.”“…little scenes of human activity. …make it come alive…” (Jim Strong, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, August 1998). “Style, sound, character, and tranquility...” “The act of creating art is a matter of selecting the best of these components and arranging them to form the piece that is the most satisfying.” “Placement of plants, track, structures, rocks and walkways must all be carefully thought out.” “…noisemaking devices… which is distracting. …subtle approach to sound” “… a waterfall. …have a soothing effect.” “…low volume…gives the subtle hint that the railroad is at work” “…‘great’ are ones that leave me with a feeling that I’ve seen a complete entity.” “…be a place we can go to relax,sit back, and enjoy…” (Alan Olson, Denver, Colorado, December 1998).

refresher course in railroad design A great garden railroad tends to have most of the following qualities: Landscape Scenic blocks for separation and to loose sight of the train. Randomly placed, subtle greenery. Interesting and varied terrain. Track and track plan flows easily through the terrain, not with jerky movements. Realistic track work. Large flowing curves. Trains, freight and passenger operation, branch lines, industry spurs, passing sidings. Movement of goods, example, wood from the saw mill to the barrel maker, barrels to the winery. Structures: scratch built or kit bashed. Individual scenes that gives the train somewhere to go. Structures added to support the activity of the

railroad. Conclusions: If it brings you pleasure and you find it a joy to share with family and friends, then yours is a great garden railway. (Paul G. Busse, Cincinnati,Ohio, June 1998). Illusionist making suggests and letting the viewers mind fill in the details. (Paul G. Busse, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2012). “They have all been built to satisfy some need or creative urge to express ideas, or for a deep-down desire for fun.” (Alan Olson, Denver, Colorado December 1998).

Things to consider when creating a garden railroad

Jim Shell

My approach to garden railroading: 1. I am a model builder, planes, cars, ships, HO railroading, moved to garden railroading in 1994. 2. Have fun in creating a realistic representation. 3. Whatever form your railroad takes, proto-type to whimsical, make it fun and enjoyable for you. A. A ticket to imagination. 1. Take your visitors on a journey. 2. Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. opening the door to a different place. 3. Outer Limits, We will control. Imagination, Allusion, Time and Distance Every episode of the Outer Limits started with the following statement. “There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to THE OUTER LIMITS”. When visitors enter your world you are in control. You will control their thoughts, emotions, taking them to another time and to far off places. B. Give your railroad a name. Design a logo. What’s in a Name A name gives identity. It can help the builder and visitors connect to the railroad’s purpose. C. Give your railroad a focal point of interest. 1. My railroad’s focal points are the waterfalls, the stream, the trestles and structures 2. What will your visitors remember about your railroad? D. Give your railroad a story to tell, a reason to exist. 1. An indoor HO railroad was built to represent one day in time on the Denver & Rio Grand Railroad. 2. Have product to move. For example: move trees to sawmill, lumber to barrel factory, barrels to winery - Moon Shine Line E. Have a plan: look at lots of pictures. Make a wish book with pictures and drawings. 1. The Cincinnati, Georgetown & Portsmouth RR with a trestle over White Oak Creek 2. Ohio River & Western RR with trestles instead of embankments. 3. A trestle over the rock formations. 4. See the last page for an example.

Things to consider when creating a garden railroad

Jim Shell

F. Blend the landscape, track and plants 1. Scenic Blocks - used to section off the railroad.

This early photo shows the view blocks on the old OE&L RR. The blocks keep your attention to the area in front of you. This layout was 19x24 feet. The combination of the two levels and the view blocks forced you to walk around the perimeter to discover everything that was there and to make the layout feel bigger

2. Create different viewing points to make people move around. 3. Have easy access to work on the railroad. 4. Find plants suitable to the scale. I’m not a gardener. 5. On the mainline, create the largest curves possible. 6. Create scenes of activity to give the railroad life. a. Russellville 1. Fern Beard never shifted his truck out of second gear. 2. Goozle Glase, odd jobs 3. Bill Rabbit Foot Medicine Show came once a year. b. Cherry Fork 1. Nertz Howe, Hooter Hotterman - farmers 2. Smile Gaffin, was a blacksmith, now operates a garage. 3. My dad’s newspaper route - gas station paid him with a pint of ice cream. 7. Run trains in different direction a. Lower level - upper level b. Double mainline - have trains passing head on. G. Don’t be afraid to make changes along the way.

White Oak Creek Trestle on the Cincinnati, Georgetown & Portsmouth Railroad, Georgetown, Ohio

The Billman Trestle on the Ohio River & Western Railroad west of Lewisville, Ohio.

The Myra Canyon trestles located near the city of Kelowna, British Columbia.

The above three photos were the inspiration for the creation of this section of the ROE&L RR.