Susquehanna Valley Garden Railroad Society.

Our club is loosely based out of York, Pa. While many clubs build railroads, I am proud to say that all of our layouts are scratch built each time. We are lucky to have 2 landscape designers , cooperating nurseries, and some serious builders in the club. This requires a lot of pre-planning and transportation issues as well as care for the live plants.

Most layouts are designed by Turk Russell or Randy Mower. We usually build 4 layouts a year and all of them have live plants, hand-layed track and are custom built around a theme.

We rarely have prebuilt modules and are best noted for our water features and logging train displays. We build layouts up to 25' x 50' in size. We have attended, as well as hosted, the ECLSTS every year since has been held in York, PA.

Our layout is the feature in the foyer when you first walk into the show. It usually takes about 5-7 hours to set up and get the trains running. This time does not include hauling in materials, such as mulch, flowers, moss and other live items which are brought in from the nursery on set up day.

All clubs have expenses such as trains, trailers, u-hauls but we have an added expense: The landscape job itself! Every time we do this we have to purchase new materials because our landscape materials are not re-useable.

We limit the set-up workers to around 20, unless the layout is large in size, because it can get crowded. We usually run 3-4 trains via track power using train engineer remotes. We always feature one kids favorite; Thomas the Tank Engine and his 2 coaches, Annie and Clarabell. Layout sizes for York are usually 18-20 x 20-24 feet in size. Whatever room Ron will give us to build with, we will useit all.

New Hampshire Garden Railway Society (NHGRS)

As a club, we are 80-100 members. We hold monthly meetings, seasonal open houses and partake in various shows. We follow the basic standard used around the country for the modular design. We assemble Big Green (name of the modular layout) 4-6 times a year for shows.

In August of 2000, four members attended the ECLSTS in New Jersey as guests of the Central CT G-gaugers (Dave Snow & company) with 12 modules. As soon as we hit the road to return home, we started a list of pros and cons regarding building and operating our own modular layout. We started building! I believe one member (with some modules)was a guest of Central CT in earlier years. We thank Central CT for their hospitality that first year! It really encouraged the growth of our own layout.

In 2001, ECLSTS was moved to York, PA and set in April. We attended as NHGRS. We had about 70 modules (owned by 9 individuals) which made up the mainline. At least 36 modules, plus leaners, had been built between August 2000 and April 2001 (mostly after Christmas).

The Big Green layout has attended every ECLSTS in York PA with 2004 & 2005 being the biggest (overall dimensions) for our layout. The number of mainline modules has grown to 107 pieces (and it did not include all available modules).

In addition, there are many 'leaners' which help to expand the scenes. Fourteen members own these pieces. Not only has the number of members increased, but the number of modules owned by many members has increased. And, more modules are being designed and built. The current mainline length is about 390', which is approximately 2.1 scale miles of track. And, there are two tracks! We like to boost that we have the largest G-scale modular layout east of the San Andreas fault.

From above the layout, it will look like a big G (for G scale!). I have attached a PDF of the layout that we use for set up. It depicts the placement of each module that will be used. A similar drawing is used for every show.

We usually block out the time during the day into 30 minutes slots for each track: mainline and branchline. Each attendee usually has a block of time on each track. During their time, they may run one train or more. A train may be just a railcar ore 50 cars or more.

Typically, there are at least two trains running on each track at a time. Since we run track power on the layout, often there will be a battery operated train as well as a track powered train. A few members only own track powered equipment so they run more than one at a time, often 2 or 3.

Set up time is typically 5-6 hours. It takes 3-4 to get the truck and assorted trailers unloaded, the modules setup and connected. Then we run the first two trains for testing purposes and some track cleaning. After that, the remaining time is used to set up the various scenes around the layout. This year we had about 30 helpers.

A few highlights that have occurred: in 2000, Aristo-Craft had a prototype of their SD45 (CSX livery)in New Jersey. We were able to pull 63 cars (that was all we had) on the Central CT layout. In 2001, Aristo_Craft pulled 100 cars on our layout with 3 new SD45s painted in Union Pacific livery on Big Green. In 2004 and 2005, the 'G' shape has finally taken shape.

Overall, everyone has had a good time playing trains together on Big Green. We have also enjoyed meeting those that we have met online at the ECLSTS.

Southeastern Garden Railway Society

The club had twenty people to help for set-up on Friday morning. It took about four hours before we had our first trains running. This was our third year as a group at the show and each year we have added something new.

There are approximately sixty five sections that make up the layout. This includes a yard down the center, numerous sidings, an eight foot trestle and several bridges. Out of the sixty five plus sections sixty of them are owned and built by four individuals, Ken Balentine, Glenn Cooper, Larry Paakh and myself, Mike Moran.

We have two main lines with trains running at all times, a train running in the yard doing it's thing and another at one of the sidings. We also have three trains sitting on mainline sidings.

Gateway Garden Railroad Club

The Gateway Garden Railroad Club is from the greater St. Louis area with about 75 families as members. These families mostly live in the area of Missouri and Illinois around St. Louis, but we have members as far away as Florida. We have probably 25 large scale garden railroads in different sizes and styles, inside and out. We also have a large modular railroad that we set up at the Train Shows in the Midwest. We had it at the Midwest Large Scale Show in Springfield, Illinois in 2004.

My wife Jan and I have attended the last 4 or 5 ECLSTS. 3 years ago we started bringing our John Allan ?Timesaver? switching modules. This has evolved in to a gathering place for friends from the Internet and as of late, a gathering place and central coordination point for members of the Gateway Garden Railroad Club, that we have convinced to come to the ECLSTS.

This year we had 4 families attend. That?s quite a bit, since we all have to drive at least 1000 miles, one way. We hope more will come next Spring. We advertise the fun of the ECLSTS as being the startup of Spring. We have pictures of members layouts on display at our modules.

The ?Timesaver? is approximately 13 feet by 31 inches and folds in half to fit in our van. It is a classic switching or shunting puzzle and we operate it all weekend, showing people that you can do more than run trains in a circle and you don?t have to have a lot of track. We allow young and old to try their hand at the puzzle and introduce them to all of the information and sites that are available on the internet.

At the 2005 ECLSTS, we passed out over an inch of LSOL brochures alone, plus many other sites and sources of information. We also use the ?Timesaver? to drum up support for ?Operations on your Garden Railroad? and between the ECLSTS and the Midwest Show last year, we have given a clinic on ?Operations? 6 times to Largescale Model Railroaders.

Central Connecticut G Gaugers Module Group

The CCTGG was established in 1998 by Dave Snow and Bob Gentile. Bob had moved from Florida to Connecticut and brought with him a 14' x 10' module layout. Over the years the group grew in size to our current membership of 18. The group displays at various train shows in Connecticut during the course of the year. Due to the compatibility of the modules to connect with each other, we can conform to just about any floor space dimensions.

Our average layout size is 26' x 14'. The CCTGG is, what I consider, a non-club club. We have no central meeting space, no regular meetings, no by-laws and no Officers. Our main source of communication is through the internet and telephone. We do assess a yearly dues fee of $20.00 per member to help defray the costs to transport the layout to the ECLSTS. Also, the payments that we receive from displaying at train shows, goes to paying the costs to attend the ECLSTS.

The CCTGG has the honor of being one of only two layouts that have displayed at the ECLSTS for all eight years. Bob Gentile rented a U-Haul and brought our 14' x 10' layout to the first show and manned the layout alone. I was unable to attend the show that year. Since that time, with the construction of new modules by Bob, myself and several others, and with the increase in membership, we now bring an operating display that is 78' x 30', and we usually have approximately 10 to 12 members in attendance.

It takes us approximately 6 hours to setup the layout, from start to finish at the ECLSTS. What is amazing is that it only takes 2 hours to tear down the layout and have it packed away in the rental truck. This year, thanks to one of our members, we were able to utilize a 16' and a 14' trailer, which saved us a considerable amount in rental fees.

Everything that you see on the layout, except for our power supply and controllers, are member owned. We are considering an expansion of our module curves from 8' to 10' to accommodate the larger engines and rolling stock that are coming out. This will be our next club purchase.

The Washington, Virginia, & Maryland Garden Railway Society (WVM GRS) had its early beginnings in 1986 when a handful of garden railway enthusiasts started meeting at each other's homes to run trains and build garden railways. In 1987, the WVM GRS was formally founded with a governing Constitution and By-laws. One month after the founding of the WVM GRS, the society held its first public exhibit at a local nursery in Columbia, Maryland. This display brought more members into the society. Displaying trains in a garden setting is just one of the Society's regular display activities.

To promote the idea of putting a train in the garden the WVM GRS participates in local train shows and civic events. Some of the notable displays that the WVMGRS has participated in include:

In 1989, the WVM GRS was called upon to assist in the National Geographic Society with an exhibit entitled "All Aboard, The Romance of Railroading". The G-Scale display for the three-month exhibit was designed by WVM GRS members and constructed by National Geographic staff and WVMGRS volunteers.

In the summer of 1988, the WVM GRS created a temporary garden railway for the Ronald McDonald House Family Reunion. This event brought families together who have shared the trauma of critical and life threatening childhood diseases and accidents. The exhibit created a wonderful atmosphere to help comfort families and entertain the children.

In 1992, the WVM GRS hosted its first major event, the 8th National Garden Railway Convention. The event attracted over 1500 attendees from around the world.

In 1994 a permanent garden railway was installed in the foyer of the National Institutes of Health Children's Inn. This donation by the society entertained children from all over the U.S. who receive acute medical care and treatments at the institute.

In 1996, the WVM GRS brought the true meaning of Christmas to a special group of 30 disadvantaged children at Children's Hospital in Washington DC by hosting a party for them complete with a visit from Santa Claus and lots of train related presents.

Again, in 1997, the WVM GRS hosted the 13th National Garden Railway Convention. This time, over 2000 attendees from around the world attended this event.

In 2001, 2002, and 2003, the WVMGRS was asked to participate with the United States Botanic Garden Holiday Display by designing, installing and maintaining an extensive garden railroad display.

In recent years, the WVMGRS has participated twice in the Maryland Fall Home and Garden Show, with one display being the feature garden of the show.

In general the Society is composed of approximately 110 friendly member families (approximately 150 individuals) who enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow hobbyists amd enjoy educating the public about our wonderful hobby: Garden Railroading.

Attending the 2005 ECLSTS.

How many times? The WVMGRS has been participating with the ECLSTS since 2001. The 2005 show marked our fifth anniversary.

How many people? Approximately 18 members were involved in the setup of the display, with a total of 28 members supporting the display over the course of the 3 day show.

How long to set up? It took approximately 144 hours (18 people x 8 hours each) to build the ECLSTS display on site. Additional hours were spent by several club members

How many feet of track? Approximately 675 feet of track were laid for this particular display in a 26' x 50' area.

How many trains? This display included 7 operational tracks running a total of 9 trains. An additional series of tracks were incorporated within three of the main operational tracks to facilitate the switching of different rail cars to a few industries in the display. This switching operation used battery powered locomotives under radio control. The WVM also included a figure 8 track which contained a "Thomas the Tank Engine" train to allow our younger visitors to control their own train. Most of the trains were operated by conventional DC power supplies. One track was under the control of a LGB MTS system while another was under the control of a NCE DCC system.

How many individual modular make up the layout? The WVMGRS is not a modular club. Instead, we are a Garden Railway Society with the majority of our members having railroads in their gardens and the desire to share their enthusiasm with others. The WVMGRS puts on approximately 10 displays throughout the year and each display is custom designed for the particular show. Our dedicated members provide the energy to always present something different for the viewing public. At most of the weekend shows, we try to work with natural materials and use plants as applicable to bring color and a natural touch to our displays. We usually add a water feature to further create an outdoor effect. The WVMGRS also puts on longer term displays for the Maryland Fall Home & Garden Show and the United States Botanic Garden, among others, where true gardens are created with multiple trains.

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