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A Trip to Fernwood Botanical Gardens
Aug 26, 2009
By John Pedersen |
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I read with interest about the Fernwood Botanical Gardens new railway here at LSOL.com. We live about 45 miles from Niles, Michigan and make fairly frequent trips there as a couple of our best friends live there. So I went, now you can too.
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I read with interest about the Fernwood Botanical Gardens new railway here at LSOL.com. We live about 45 miles from Niles, Michigan and make fairly frequent trips there as a couple of our best friends live there. Barry and his wife are our camping buddies and also our hair dresser, so it was a perfect opportunity to kill two birds at the same so to speak. My wife Sharon had been to Fernwood a couple of years ago at Christmas time for a "tea party" and brunch. There is always something going on there almost all year, not just trains.When we left the visitors center and entrance we walked along a winding path toward the location of the Railroad and enjoyed the bog plants and wildlife that are along the path. A short way down we could hear the train horn (diesel) behind some tall plants and shrubs. We reached a clearing and on our left and down a hill was the railroad, about 10-12 feet below, so we had a bird's eye view.  
From that vantage point it looked spectacular. We followed the path to the entrance and went through the arch into the middle of it all.  
The trains run on 4 levels of track, one about 8-9 feet high, one about 5 feet high one about 1 foot off the ground and one on the ground.  
On the ground runs a "Butterfly" Eggliner on a point to point track.  The 1 foot elevation was running a diesel with a short passenger consist.  The mid level was a diesel freight consist and the high level was a streamline diesel and heavyweight coach. 
 All the trans run at a slow speed that is nice to watch and have good sound as well. The entire railroad has so many things to look at it boggles the mind. All the wood used is cedar that is used for roadbed or covering of the basic structures. The trestle bents are all small trees sticks or what ever was of needed size for construction, and well built as well as really neat looking.  Under the highest level track there are sensors mounted under the framework, so if there are no visitors the trains will stop running. When some one gets close all the systems operate for a while, I don't know what the timing is. I did manage to talk to the day's "volunteer engineer", and he did show me the control room after he spotted my LSOL.com shirt and hat. That area is off limits to the general public. In the 2 rooms under the "mountain" are the operating controls and storage shelves for the trains.  
You will notice if you look carefully that the tracks enter these rooms at all 4 levels so the trains can be stored inside at night or when not running. All of the operating controls are in one room in a closed panel. The track work is all sectional track with jumpers soldered over each joiner.
All of the buildings are made of natural materials well sealed against the elements and should last for years along with the railroad. There are all kinds of buildings, some are fantasy, such as Little Red Riding Hood's home.  The Old Woman in the Shoe  and several more. There are replicas of real buildings, the Niles Depot  
 Pears Mill, and a covered bridge.  There are many bridges on this railroad, a high arched truss bridge  an arch bridge by the 7 foot waterfall, 
A glass lined Howe Truss bridge, I assume is to keep little hands out.
The trains run on the top of the trestles and other open areas at all levels. There is so much to take in that you really need to go around several times to see it all. I still haven't been able to figure the track plan, but it is ingenious as the trains come and go and it seems to take a long time to pass the same spot again. The overall size is not huge, but is bigger than it first looks. You can get into the center and through the entire railroad by going through tunnels built in and over a small bridge. The railroad was designed by Paul Busse of Implied Imagination of Kentucky, a landscape architect and naturalist. Now I know we as model railroaders have good imagination or we wouldn't be building our own little empires we love and enjoy, but this is a cut above. If you happen to be in this area some time it is worth the time to visit this place, not just for the trains but for a great place to just a relax and enjoy nature and all the other attractions at this place. This is one you need to see for your self, Happy Railroading, John B Pedersen   
| Fernwood Botanical Gardens |
| Thanks John for a cool contribution. I've only seen a handful of pics before so it is great to see it in detail. Well done. Maybe it will inspire others who have garden layouts nearby. |
| Phill Lowe - 08/26/2009 - 05:26 |
| Visit to Fernwood Botanical Gardens |
| John, That is a very interesting concept of G-gauge railroading that is attractive to all ages and most interests. |
| Rick Henderson - 08/26/2009 - 05:40 |
| Fernwood Botanica gardens |
| See more information and a track plan on Fernwood's web site:http://www.fernwoodbotanical.org/webdata/Railway_Garden/Railway%20Garden.html#Top. it's a Paul Busse creation and really neat. |
| Richard Myers - 08/28/2009 - 13:54 |
| Fernwood Botanica gardens |
| See more information and a track plan on Fernwood's web site:http://www.fernwoodbotanical.org/webdata/Railway_Garden/Railway%20Garden.html#Top. it's a Paul Busse creation and really neat. |
| Richard Myers - 08/28/2009 - 13:55 |
| Fernwood |
| John, Thanks for taking the time to write the article along with the great pictures. Well done. We'll have to visit Fernwood the next time we visit family in NW, Ohio. |
| JD Miller - 08/28/2009 - 14:12 |
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