Train Kept a Rollin’

by Rick Brown

As a boy growing up in what was then a small village 20 miles southwest of Cleveland (Olmsted Falls), I would lay in my bed at night and listen to the click-clack of trains in the distance. The darkness and faint whistle blow were soothing. Now if your house is right BY the tracks … not so much. People say you get used to it. I do not want to find out.

At Christmas time an electric train under the tree fascinated me. It still does. As an adult, I went through the aggravation of trying to temporarily set up an HO scale set. This gauge is more for model railroading than once a year fun. And I learned the hard way after a few years of crawling under the tree to put separated track back together and get the train back on it's tracks. Believe me, this activity does not put a man in the true Christmas spirit!

So I finally broke down and bought a Lionel. These trains are “O” gauge and have a less realistic looking 3-rail track. But trading a bit of realism for the pleasure of not having to mess with the train is well worth it. Hours can be spent listening to the romantically realistic click clack instead of a ranting Rick taking Jesus’ name in vain during his birthday celebration.

This past September I noticed an article in the paper about a “Garden Railway Tour” in the Columbus area. The Columbus Garden Railway Society puts on the tour annually and for 2011 had some 17 garden stops. So Yvonne and I set out on a beautiful fall day to look at some backyard trains. And in our four-hour jaunt we managed to make it to only 4 of the gardens. It was well worth it and whetted our appetite for next fall.

These trains are G Scale (Garden?) and are much larger than the popular HO and O sizes. None of the trains, cars, or accessories cost what one might call inexpensive. I assume this is a lifestyle for people who love electric trains so much they are willing to pay the expense and deal with the bickering that surely comes with it.

The four gardens we visited (in order) included: The Ketchams in Clintonville, The Ablers in Worthington Hills, The Duggans in Dublin, and finally the Hills in Grandview. Unfortunately my camera began dying at the last stop, which had one of the more elaborate displays. But here they are for your enjoyment and Christmas time fun! And don’t forget, electric trains are not the only way to enjoy the holidays. There is also the Santa Train by the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway an easy day trip from Columbus.

http://www.hvsry.org/

As well as train opportunities all over the state!!
http://www.ohiorailtourism.org/

And for more information about the Columbus Garden Railway Society go to:
http://www.dj-inabox.com/cgrs/cgrs1.htm