Garden Railway

Garden Railway

Dates & Price

On View September 30, 2023–January 7, 2024

During regular Gardens Hours

Weather permitting


Free with Gardens Admission

Timed Admission Tickets required


September 30–October 28, 2023

Timed Reservations required for Members after 3:00 pm Thursdays–Saturdays

Reservations not required for Gardens Premium Members and Innovators


October 29–November 16, 2023

Reservations not required for Members and Innovators


November 17, 2023–January 7, 2024

Timed Reservations required for Members every day from open to close during A Longwood Christmas

Reservations not required for Gardens Premium Members and Innovators

Visit the Gardens Year-Round and Attend this Event for Free

On view through our Chrysanthemum Festival and A Longwood Christmas seasons, a perfectly fanciful blend of horticulture, engineering, and lighthearted fun awaits guests of all ages with this very special display located outdoors near the Terrace Restaurant.

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. Read our blog post to learn more.

Come explore and make new memories with us.