This year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of our most cherished displays—the Garden Railway. A seasonal feature that wows our guests during Autumn’s Colors and A Longwood Christmas, the railway consists of nearly 500 feet of track that showcases G-scale model trains paired with masterful horticulture and meticulously made miniatures of some of our most iconic landmarks. Steeped in tradition and Longwood legacy—while also delighting guests with new and creative additions each year—this project is full of many, many moving parts. Like much of the work we do here at Longwood, it is a collaborative effort among many of our teams. Each year, it comes together like a well-oiled machine … and results in a beloved display that is beyond worthy of a quarter-of-a-century spotlight.
Our iconic Garden Railway display features something new and exciting each year—and among what’s new this year is a miniature remake of our Chimes Tower and Waterfall. Photo by Marleigh Flanagan.
Each year, the structure for the Garden Railway is built from the ground up, starting with the placement of the roadbed for each of the four tracks. Then, our carpenters build up the infrastructure of the display while electricians work alongside them, installing the wiring for the LED lights and the electricity that runs the track. In preparation for the display, our soils and compost team creates more than 120 yards of mulch material and then places the material throughout the display. Finally, when the horticulture team begins planting out the display and our miniature models are placed, that magical pairing of fascinating infrastructure and natural beauty starts to take shape.
Outdoor Landscapes Manager Anton Ginella, who has overseen the Garden Railway for the past five years, loves the collaborative effort of this project. “It’s fun. I get to work with carpenters, electricians, plumbers, the Guest Services team, volunteers, horticulturists, the nursery team, the production team, and more,” says Ginella. “We all know going into it that we have a common goal, but everyone has their part to play. It’s a fun orchestration of everyone’s skills coming together.”
Apart from his work on the Garden Railway, Ginella primarily manages the Idea Garden and the west landscape including the Ornamental Kitchen Garden and the outdoor spaces of Longwood Reimagined. Here, he admires the new miniatures in the Garden Railway display. Photo by Holden Barnes.
Behind the creation of the Garden Railway in 2000 was Section Gardener Harold Taylor, who managed the Idea and Hillside Gardens and went on to be the Garden Railway lead for over 20 years. Now retired, Taylor’s work is continued by Ginella, Guest Engagement Railway Supervisor Mark Kosteski, and their teams.
Harold Taylor during the Garden Railway install in 2019. Photo by Ken Cangin.
Since 2016, Kosteski has served as the lead engineer for the Garden Railway—leading a team of 10 railway engineers and working with other members of the Longwood team to help ensure all stays on track. “Our main focus has been improving reliability over the years though the development of best practices, standardization, training, and creating an experience that exceeds expectations.” Given the addition of new engines and rolling stock, Kosteski shares, “when you combine the beauty of the Garden with the wonder of the trains, it creates a magical display that brings joy to all who see it.”
Prior to his work on the Garden Railway, Kosteski had no experience with trains, but he did have 38 years of experience running a manufacturing plant. His organizational, technical, and people skills come in handy. Photo provided by Mark Kosteski.
Garden Railway engineers (left to right) Chris Fabiano, Charlie Palmer, and Mark Delizio gather in the tent near the Garden Railway, which houses the engines and rolling stock used throughout the season and where maintenance and repair is performed. Photo provided by Mark Kosteski.
Our carpenters are highly skilled and essential to the Garden Railway display and ensure we have a smooth season. Pictured here is (left to right) Chris Nolan, Josh Waber, Bruce Vogel, and Stu Taylor. Photo by Mark Kosteski.
The display consists of four tracks, laid by the horticulture and railway engineering teams. Our carpenters elevate the track by using pre-painted and constructed wood supports and metal trusses. They then use a laser level to make sure the track setup is perfectly level, as the railway cannot operate if the track is not level.
This year, one of the goals was to create as many intersecting visual points along the tracks as possible, as seeing the trains crisscross and overlap over or under each other makes for a dynamic display. Photo by Marleigh Flanagan.
“What we try to do is create little vignettes throughout the display because you can’t see the whole railway at once,” says Ginella. Instead, you view the railway in bits and pieces, noticing something new at any angle you approach it. Miniature models of iconic Longwood spaces, areas of horticultural interest, and the ever-moving trains create different scenes throughout the display. The Garden Railway also adapts to the changing of the seasons, beginning with vibrant mums and hues for autumn and transitioning to evergreens as we gear up for A Longwood Christmas.
Another piece of the puzzle is the inventive work led by volunteer and woodworking hobbyist David Wagner, who cares for our collection of 16 Garden Railway models from our Italian Water Garden in miniature, to our replica of our historic Main Conservatory to a shimmering West Conservatory model.
In 2024, the Garden Railway featured Wagner’s first made-from-scratch model—the West Conservatory, which has returned for this year’s display. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
This year, he has created another brand-new model—an intricate depiction of our Chimes Tower, Pear-Shaped Basin, Waterfall, and Eye of Water set amid our Hillside Garden. Among the thoughtful elements of this new model is a real waterfall that flows from the Eye of Water, through the Hillside Garden scene, and then cascades into a mini Pear-Shaped Basin. Wagner has installed a heating element within the model, which will keep the water flowing from October to January.
David Wagner in his home workshop, beside his new, work-in-progress Chimes Tower and Waterfall model. Photo by Marleigh Flanagan.
Wagner likes to think outside of the box with his designs. On the hill above the mini Chimes Tower, he added pine cones that he painted to look like evergreens. Photo by Marleigh Flanagan,
Wagner began this project in February of this year, after he and Ginella brainstormed new Longwood features Wagner could add to the railway. “I like challenges,” Wagner says. “This whole waterfall feature was an interesting challenge … I hope people look at it, think it’s pretty neat, and wonder how it works.”
The new Chimes Tower and Waterfall miniature is seamlessly blended into the railway display. Photo by Marleigh Flanagan.
So, what else on the track is new this year? Lots of little delights ready for you to spot for yourself—from sharply-designed, new train sets, to newly added models to our vintage car collection, to a special 25th anniversary set, and more.
This year, we are adding a bit of European flair with this set based on the Swiss crocodile locomotive. This set made a brief debut in our 2024 Garden Railway but has come back as a constant feature in this year’s display. Photo by Mark Kosteski.
A new Shay Engine train has also been added to the display this year. In life-sized form, this was the kind of engine that hauled lumber up mountains—and on our track, it pulls log cars. Photo by Mark Kosteski.
And what remains the same year after year? Much of our Garden Railway display is made of nostalgic pieces that people of all ages love and want to revisit each year. “What never changes is Thomas the Tank Engine,” says Ginella. “He’s such a favorite.”
“When I started here 10 years ago,” says Kosteski, “I didn’t know anything about Thomas the Tank Engine. I had to go watch the Thomas cartoon to learn all about the characters—because kids would come up to me and quiz me on it.” Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
A memory that sticks out for Kosteski happened two years ago, when a gentleman came to the Gardens to donate a Pennsylvania steam engine, one of the first ones ever made. “He was a real train buff, and it was one of the first engines he ever bought so it was very special to him," says Kosteski. “We asked him if he would like to see (the steam engine) run on the tracks. We got it running and it was a really special moment.” Kosteski explained how when they tried to run it the following day, it was clear that it was in need of repairs. “I figured it ran that first day for a reason,” he says.
Once this Pennsylvania steam engine was donated to Longwood, the engineering team found specific parts to get it back to tip-top shape. Photo by Cathy Matos.
“When visiting the Garden Railway, our guests recall fond memories of having trains growing up or of visiting the Garden Railway in previous years,” says Kosteski. “What I love about this job is that we help create these memories that will be cherished by our guests and their family and friends for years to come.”
And these memories go way back for everyone—Longwood team members and guests alike—having been an annual attraction since 2000. Taking a look back at some early photos of the display, the wonder and joy the display has brought can be seen even from the start.
In 2003, the Garden Railway made an appearance at a Garden Fest, fascinating young train-lovers. Photo by Larry Albee.
From the beginning, the railway has always been a delight for kids. This photo was taken at the 2003 Garden Fest. Photo by Larry Albee.
This 25-year milestone is no small feat, and this year everyone involved in the Garden Railway project is especially appreciative of the work they do and for the legacy that this display has crafted.
“To me,” says Ginella. “twenty-five years shows a lot of things. At Longwood, you can become a part of something with an impact that goes beyond just one year. (This) is another legacy item to pass on to future generations of aspiring horticulturists and train enthusiasts.”
“The more you get familiar with Longwood,” Wagner said. “The more you come to realize it has a very, very long history. And here (the Garden Railway) is proof of that.”
We also have you, our guests, to thank for 25 years of this beloved display—and we are so pleased to once again share it with you. The Garden Railway is on view now through January 11.
