Spring 1999

The Unicorn Mountain Railway operated from 1987 through 1999.  The pictures on these next few pages chronicle all the fun we had in the 12 years we loveingly built and maintained our railway.  During it's construction the railway was featured in the January-February issue of Garden Railways Magazine and was on display during the 1992 and the 1997 National Garden Railway conventions.

In April of 1999 the railway was removed due to a move into our new house across town.  A new railway is under development, and soon you will be able to monitor our progress as we build a new, as yet unamed, garden railway.

The old Unicorn Mountain railway was a Gauge 1 (45mm) garden railway. The locomotives that operated on the railway varied in scale from 1/32 to 1/20.3. These scales represent a ratio of standard gauge (4' 8 1/2")and narrow gauge (3') to the 45mm gauge track. It is not unusual to see both scales operating simultaniously, although we do try to keep the associated scale rolling stock with the proper locomotive.

The railway is a family endeavor. It is our place to get away from the real world and enjoy the peace and sanctity of our backyard. It combines all of our collective hobbies into a single endeavor. Miniature gardening with dwarf varieties of plants, modelling, photography, video, and of course model railroading.

Through the next few pages from the left side of the table of contents you will see how we built our railway'empire' and how over the years it has continually 'evolved'.  The right side of the table of contents will chronicle the planning and construction of our new garden railway.