New Hope Valley Railway Garden Railroad

Construction of the Garden Railroad began in 2001, and like all areas of the museum, it is staffed and operated entirely by volunteers.

Today, the layout includes 10 operating tracks, totaling about 1,000 feet of track—the equivalent of nearly five miles of full-size railroad.

  • Lower Level: 3 main loops (Tracks 1–3), a button-operated handcar track, Toby’s back-and-forth line on top of the tunnel storage, and additional sidings.

  • Upper Level: 2 loops (Tracks 4–5), an over-and-under figure eight with a covered bridge (Track 6), a button-operated mine train, and the “Yellow Train,” which runs between a red barn-style shed and a large church.

  • Operation: Tracks 1–6 are run by volunteers using handheld remotes, while the other tracks feature interactive button controls for visitors.

We run a wide variety of G-scale trains (½ inch to the foot, or 1:24 scale), including classics like Santa Fe and CSX locomotives, as well as favorites such as Thomas and James. Freight, passenger, and specialty trains rotate regularly, so each visit brings something new.

The layout is filled with detailed structures—depots, platforms, barns, mills, log cabins, water towers, bridges, tunnels, and even a church. Scattered among them are people, livestock, and plenty of playful minions! A waterfall and pond add to the scenery.

     

Interactive features include:

  • A button-activated lighthouse, planes, and fire boat

  • Fire trucks that spray water

  • Sound effects (from livestock to steam engines)

Most of the plants are real and carefully maintained with pruning, bonsai techniques, and regular garden care. Wildlife—from snakes and rabbits to newts and even the occasional crayfish—sometimes pays a visit.

In 2018, Eagle Scout Joshua Johnston built and donated the red play-train structure near the layout. Please do not climb on the roof for safety reasons.

We add new features to the Garden Railroad each year, so there’s always something fresh to discover. For safety, only staff are permitted inside the gates or workshop, but feel free to ask questions—our volunteers love sharing the magic of the railroad.