A new Train Garden is on track to be dedicated Tuesday, Oct. 27, in The Oregon Garden Children’s Garden. Students and train club members will be on hand for the 11:30 a.m. ceremony.
Operating daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the electric-powered train whistles as it traces a loop inside a loop, passes through an arborvitae hedge tunnel, scales a miniature mountain and crosses a trestle.
At about 1/20th the size of an actual early 1970s Southern Pacific train that ran through the Silverton area at one time, the train consists of a diesel-style engine, two boxcars, two flat cars and a caboose.
Dwarf conifers and other mini plants have been planted along the rugged route.
“We wanted to add a more active element to the Children’s Garden that would put our miniature plants in context for the kids,” said Jeff Pera, assistant horticulture manager for The Oregon Garden. “We also see the miniature plants as inspiration for people who are planting in small spaces, such as patios or balconies.”
While The Oregon Garden’s horticultural team designed the train route, Pera said most of the credit goes to two regional train clubs that purchased the train and constructed the garden railroad. The two clubs, the Pacific Crossings Railroad Club of Salem and the Rose City Garden Railway Society Club of Portland, also raised funds for the project, which took about a year and a half to complete.
Because the train is powered by a low-voltage electric track, all of its components are weather safe, and the railroad can run year-round along its 120 feet of track. Potential plans for the railroad include adding small town or logging mill buildings to the layout; inviting train hobbyists to run their own trains on the track; and featuring special holiday trains at certain times of the year.
Tax deductable donations may be sent to The Oregon Garden Foundation.
