Desert & Rock Garden RR

The Desert and Rock Garden RR was started in 2004 at our summer home in Payson, Arizona. As we are only at that location during the summer months, our construction and operating time is quite limited.

Since we wanted a water feature, we started our layout by building a mountain over a tunnel. At the top of the mountain we installed an upper pond to act as a source for our waterfall and stream. The stream then feeds into the lower pond where we located our recirculating pump. Water restrictions in Payson limited us to a 50 gallon system so our pond is not very large.

Our yard is covered in crushed rock as water restrictions preclude new large garden areas. The yard is about 60 feet wide by about 25 feet deep which backs into a wooded area. The yard surrounds a cement patio which is 12 feet wide and 10 feet long.

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We laid our Aristocraft stainless steel track by trenching about 4 inches deep and filling with crushed fine gravel. Switches were supported by paving blocks and wired to our control box which we made from a large cooler which contains controls and power supplies. This is a water tight method of protecting your control area so you do not have to install the controls each time you operate.

Our initial layout was all at ground level and we soon discovered the advantage of raising you track for easier access. We later added a raised track section which tied in as a spur line and allowed us to service our steam engines without the bend over problem.

Another later addition, based on experience, was the addition of a traim shed along the side of the house where we could store our consists ready to run. This was the result of the unpleasant time consuming need to carry out engines and cars and trying to get them all assembled on rail. We certainly learned as we grew.