"G" Gauge Garden Railroad
Frequent museum visitors know that the "G" gauge garden railroad at the Texas Transportation Museum is one of the most delightful places at the museum. It is operated by the "San Antonio Garden Railroad Engineers Society" or SAGRES. "G" gauge, or large scale outdoor model railroading, is the fastest growing area in the world of railroad enthusiasts. SAGRES operates the largest outdoor "G" gauge complex in the state of Texas. They currently run trains on no less than seven active loops at their popular site which occupies over an acre. They have two loops, plus multiple sidings, on the original layout on the ground. There are two small loops at child height at the "Island of Sodor" which was purposely built for the benefit of younger children. It is here they will find "Thomas The Tank Engine" trains such as Percy and all the rest, including, of course, Thomas himself. The latest addition to their operations is a large elevated set of tracks. This was installed and wired up in 2011. A lot more work needs to be done to make it look more attractive but that just comes with the garden railroad territory.
Picture from the "GOLDEN SPIKE CELEBRATION" held to mark the complete restoration of the original ground layout, Saturday October 7, 2017.
This ceremony marked the end of a two year project to completely refurbish the original "G" gauge ground layout at the Texas Transportation Museum by SAGRES (San Antonio Garden Railroad Engineer Society) members. The rebuilding project added a total of 448 feet to the old # 2&3 layout. It involved a total redesign and rebuilding of the track beds. The main lines have 7 trestles of which 6 are custom made. The crown jewel is a 20 foot trestle over the huge gorge on the far side of the layout from the yard area. The tracks now measure 1,343 feet, the equivalent of around ten miles in full scale. See dedicated section below for images of the new layout.
Garden Railroad Activities
Garden railroading is a hobby with something for everyone in the whole family. We can only scratch the surface of all the activity that goes on at the garden railroad at the museum. You really need to come out and see it for yourself. Parents of young children love it because the kids can run and follow the train around the huge layout. We see an awful lot of sleepy looking kids and happy moms and dads down at SAGRES.
Visitors and Volunteers at the SAGRES Garden Railroad
As you can see in the pictures below, SAGRES members - and they are always looking for new ones - are some of the busiest volunteers at the Texas Transportation Museum. It takes a lot of work to build and maintain something this worthwhile. They also take their mobile layout out to a large number of events around San Antonio. Even if you don't think of yourself as a model railroad enthusiast, we know that you will enjoy seeing these large scale trains out in the open.
General Views of the Garden Railroad
Three Garden Railroad Layouts
Original twin track layout on the ground
Thomas The Tank Engine "Island of Sodor"
Elevated triple track layout
G Gauge Garden Railroad Locomotives and Rolling Stock
Circus Train operated by Ben Saenz
Alaska Railroad train donated by Dave Botts
"G" Gauge live steam days at SAGRES
SAGRES regularly invites "G" gauge live steam operators to bring their trains to the "garden." The response is always very gratifying for all concerned, including our delighted visitors.
"G" scale shay locomotive donated by the Lockwood family
SAGRES Mobile Layout at Other Locations
SAGRES is willing and able to take its mobile layouts to events in and around San Antonio. Parks, the botanical gardens, Sunset Station and even Alamo Plaza, no destination is too difficult and no other attraction draws attention like an operating "G" gauge train.
Garden railroading is everything you want a hobby to be - exciting, engaging, detailed, absorbing, hard work and relaxing - fun for the whole family, whether you are a kid of seven or a kid at heart at 70.