Rose City Garden Railway Summer Tour

Today the Rose City Garden Railway Society had their annual summer tour.  They sell booklets with descriptions of each layout and detailed directions from one to another, so that you can spend a pleasant day visiting them.  The booklets are $10 each and are sold at both garden centers and hobby shops.  Members generously share their amazing projects with the public, and get to see the eyes of many children light up!  Last year we saw as many as possible, concentrating on the ones that are closest to each other.  Although every year there are some different participants, there were enough layouts we remembered from last year that we decided instead to visit the homes that were further out, as well as our favorite from last year.  Many hobbyists enjoy the trains more than the gardening, which leads to some very cool trains in uninteresting surroundings.  Last year there was also one home with a spectacular garden and a train that seemed like a bit of an afterthought.  This year the layouts we visited combined both elements rather harmoniously, with some really realistic and gorgeous layouts. More information about the Rose City Garden Railway Society is here:  http://www.rcgrs.com/