The Model of Craftsmanship

Our remarkable Garden Railway has delighted guests of all ages for 24 years now … and how this multi-level world in miniature all comes together is no small feat. Each fall, a talented and dedicated group from our Horticulture, Facilities, and Guest Services teams take a blank slate of land just east of our Beer Garden and transform it into an amazing blend of horticulture, engineering, and fun. Not only do they ready it, but then they also maintain and update it throughout its October through A Longwood Christmas display. Amid its textural plantings that shift through the seasons, as well as its steam and diesel locomotives that chug along its tracks, the Garden Railway proudly showcases a collection of models. These models beautifully represent and recreate many of Longwood’s most beloved features, the Brandywine Valley, and the farm that Longwood founder Pierre S. du Pont purchased in 1906 and then transformed into Longwood Gardens—all in miniature. One new—and exceptional—model you’ll see this year is that of our soon-to-open West Conservatory. The story behind this model—and its maker—is one to tell.   

Since 2021, volunteer David Wagner has been at the helm of caring for our collection of 15 Garden Railway models, meticulously restoring and repairing them—and even replicating a handful that were in such need. This year, he has also designed and built his first original model—the new West Conservatory. Wagner—a retired engineer who started woodworking strictly as a hobby 35 years ago—works in his workshop. There, when he’s not working on Garden Railway models, he primarily crafts furniture, with many of his pieces donated to local nonprofits for auction.  

Wagner has long been familiar with Longwood and has even shared his talents with Longwood when working on the larger-than-life wooden ribbons that served as part of our 2019 A Longwood Christmas display. Sharing talent with Longwood runs in the family—Wagner’s wife, Helen, is a Horticulturist Assistant in our Idea Garden. 

When it comes to his work with the Garden Railway models, Wagner not only cares for them—he thoughtfully and skillfully readies them for many, many more years of enjoyment. Of Longwood’s total collection of 15 Garden Railway buildings, 14 are originals or original concepts dating back to the beginning of the Garden Railway—making many of them 24 years old—and created by Paul Busse and his team from Applied Imaginations. The models are purposefully constructed using as many natural materials as possible, from bamboo to birch bark, pinecones to acorn shells, moss to cork. 

Taking into account their age, their natural materials, and the conditions in which they are exposed throughout the months of October through January, the models require upkeep—and ingenuity. Wagner has made many contributions as such—for one, he came up with the idea to install a working exhaust fan in the Main Conservatory model to combat interior condensation, which not only put undue wear and tear on the model, but prevented guests from seeing what was inside. Wagner has also refurbished and installed lights in many of the models, livened up the Italian Water Garden model with more realistic pools to fiber optic cable sprays of “water”, and helped weatherproof the models against the elements. To Wagner, it’s a labor of love. “The main reason I work on these models is I like to work on something that is challenging to me,” he shares. “Hopefully others get enjoyment out of them, just as much as I do.” 

In January 2024, Longwood Outdoor Landscapes Manager Anton Ginella—who oversees the Garden Railway’s creation each year—approached Wagner with a new project: designing and building his first original Garden Railway model, to represent (and celebrate) our soon-to-open West Conservatory. Working from architectural drawings, drone photos, and in-person visits, Wagner started the effort by making full-fledged drawings of each of the West Conservatory’s architectural elements and sections, honoring the size and scale of the West Conservatory itself when planning for the model. 

From there, he started to build, using as many natural materials as possible, including bamboo skewers, birch bark, and cedar. The West Conservatory’s glass panes are represented in acrylic, while the water on which it seemingly floats is poured acrylic. It’s also lit from within, making the model glow when nighttime falls. The result—just like all of Wagner’s work—is thoughtful, meticulous, and beautiful, and something one should most definitely see in person. To Ginella, Wagner’s attention to detail and research that he puts into the work goes exceptionally far. “David elevates the display, plain and simple,” shares Ginella. “From the research he puts into each model to the way he approaches each restoration, each repair, and each build, he stays true to the building he is representing—and that means a lot.”

You will find the new West Conservatory model on the northern end of the Garden Railway display—a deliberate placement so that those walking along the pathway can see it from the start. Other models featured include the Peirce-du Pont House and Main Conservatory, as well as the Red Barn, which is based on Longwood’s Webb Barn (built in 1929 east of the Italian Water Garden to house Longwood’s dairy herd). You’ll also see the Memory Home, based on the Baldwin House, a home on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia where a young Pierre S. du Pont took notice of a glass conservatory attached to a house—and said to be the inspiration for his lifelong interest in gardening under glass. 

Be sure to take notice of the Brandywine Valley-inspired covered bridge, as well as the general store, also on display.  Wagner has helped restore each of the six additional models featured in this year’s display, save for the covered bridge.

“Each year we change the display a little bit to keep it dynamic and fresh,” shares Ginella. “When we design the display, we choose the buildings we want to include first, followed by our woody plants, then our herbaceous plants, and then our uplighting. The models, and what they represent, drive us in many ways.” 

The end result? A whimsical, wonderful seasonal display that simply shines. “It’s a real joy to work on a display that we’re proud to share each year,” shares Ginella. Wagner echoes the sentiment—“I go to the display from time to time and hear guests say to each other ‘I wonder how they did that?’”, he shares. “And I stand there and smile.”

Editor’s note: Experience the beauty and craftmanship of our Garden Railway, on view now through January 12.