You are correct as I recall, Steve. I have seen pics taken in the late 1800s of railways in the garden--not much scenery etc, just tracks in the garden. Models have been made since the introduction of steam engines mostly 4" gauge and up- the gauges varied by sometimes just 1/8th of an inch. No standards in those days.
Great coverage by the Mercury! Our own Eureka Times Standard did an article on parts of two page covering our local garden railways a few years ago, it too was accurate (cos' they got the info from me--A-Hem!!). Strangley, I quoted in the Times Standard almost as printed by the Mercury: "Garden railroading enjoyed some popularity in the 1920's and 1930's. It was also stated that in Britain the hobby of garden railroading "goes back more than a century". I obtained this info from the Large Scale Model Railroad Association. Geoff. Yesterday the San Jose Mercury-News ran a two and a half page story in >its "Home and Garden" section about garden railroading. Interviewed and >featured, complete with photos, was Jack Verducci and his own Crystal >Springs Railroad. Two other local garden railroads were also featured. >Significantly it was reported that Jack ran only livesteam locomotives, >while other enthusiasts typically used electric power via track or >on-board battery. > >The full report included plugs for Garden Railways magazine, the Bay >Area Garden Railway Society (BAGRS), and LGB. LGB was credited with >inspiring the revival of garden railroading in the US, where, it was >reported, garden railroading enjoyed some popularity in the 1920's and >1930's. It was also stated that in Britain the hobby of garden >railroading "goes back more than a century". (Is that correct, Sir Geoff?) > >All in all, I was impressed with the content and accuracy of the >Mercury-News story. It even reported that Jack's locos generated steam >using butane or alcohol. > >Steve > > > >
