Celebrate the tradition of our whimsical, wonderful Garden Railway.
A fanciful blend of horticulture, engineering, and lighthearted fun awaits guests of all ages with this very special display located outdoors near the Beer Garden.
Each fall, members of our Horticulture, Facilities, and Guest Services departments team up to achieve the not-so-small feat of creating this multi-level world in miniature—complete with a beautiful seasonally changing plant palette. We proudly showcase our collection of dozens of locomotives, steam engines, diesel engines, and specialty engines—as well as the ever-popular Thomas the Tank Engine and many of his friends—as they rumble along nearly 500 feet of track amid textural foliage, flowering plants, and woody plants.
The Garden Railway is presented by
Read our blog posts to learn more
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The Model of Craftsmanship
October 9, 2024
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.
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Full Steam Ahead
October 7, 2020
Full Steam Ahead
Each fall, a multi-departmental team made up of members of our Horticulture, Facilities, and Guest Services departments together achieve the not-so-small-feat of creating this multi-level world in miniature.
Explore Our Garden Railway
What starts as a blank slate of land just east of our Beer Garden becomes a textural, detailed display showcasing a varied collection of steam and diesel locomotives.
The railway’s tracks are all elevated two to five feet off the ground and must be supported by trusses and wood planks staked into the ground.
Our team of railway engineers place the approximate 500 feet of track, complete with trestles and bridges crafted in-house.
They then unpack the railroad equipment, make any needed repairs, and clean and lubricate all of the locomotives and cars to get them ready for the season.
Transformers, receivers, and a device that controls the speed and direction of each train support the running of the railway.
Horticulture takes several days to apply mulch and adorn the display with trees, stepping stones, and fencing.
Next come a variety of foliage, flowering, and woody plants ...
... transforming the worksite into our amazing Garden Railway.