Columbus Garden Railway Society

Coming Sept 13, 2026

The Columbus Garden Railway Society
2026 Fall Garden Tour
is going to happen, come:

Rain (bring an umbrella), Shine (bring a visor),

Scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
Hours: 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Scroll down to review the 2025 tour
Check back the first few days of Sept. for final tour

1 The C,S,T & J Railroad – Owner: Craig & Audrey Bigrigg

(V 1.0 started 27 years ago, V 2.0 in 2005)

The C,S,T&J is a large multi-track railroad with two mainlines featuring modern diesel-powered freight and passenger trains. There are also two short lines with a wider mix of steam and diesel equipment. With the addition of the second short line and a trolley line this year there is now over 1500 feet of track.

Whether your interests include the Santa Fe Super Chief, modern intermodal trains or Thomas the Tank chugging along we think you find something you like.

Many shaded viewing areas, a Gazebo with comfortable seating, or an enclosed porch with a bird’s eye view of the entire layout. Partial wheelchair accessible. 10 feet of elevation change required to see everything.

2 The Raccoon Creek and Gully Railway – Owner: Gary Buchanan ** new for 2025

The layout time frame is based in the period from 1920 to 1930 and most of the equipment and structures are based on prototypes from that era. The layout is based in southern Ohio and runs between the fictional town of Summit to Bucksport on the Ohio River. It’s main function is to transport coal from the mine at Rockhill to the barge loadout at Bucksport. There will eventually be a number of other industries along the line. The layout is still a work in process in some areas. All of the structures on the line are scratch built except for one. Six of the structures are based on East Broad Top buildings, one from the ET&WCN and the rest are free lanced. The layout includes a dual gauge interchange. There are several scratch build locomotives and most of the locomotives have been modified in some way to improve performance or appearance.

3 The Sweet Hollow RR – Owner: Don & Deb Sweet

The layout has 300 feet of track, running three loops with battery power. It has many dwarf conifers and miniature perennials surrounding farm buildings, a campground and a replica Gettysburg train station.

4 The Hacker Express RR – Owner: Jed & Michelle Hacker

This European-themed garden railroad brings to life the breathtaking scenery of Switzerland’s Rhätische Bahn (RhB) meter-gauge railway in the canton of Graubünden, complete with tourists boarding the scenic rack-railroad to the fictitious peak of Der Korkenzieherberg. Throughout the afternoon, enjoy live Alpine horn demonstrations that add an authentic Swiss flair.

If you’re feeling a touch of mal du Suisse—a longing for the Alps—this is the perfect stop to lift your spirits. The layout is framed by a meticulously landscaped garden, featuring an array of miniature trees, plants, and succulents.

Parking is available along the curb on either side of Schrock Road.

5 The Acorn & Oak Railroad – Owner: Stew and Marcia Flaherty

The Railroad travels varied areas – a small town, a logging camp, a fishing camp, and a manufacturing plant/freight plant. Steam engines from the past circle a huge oak tree – hence the railroads name.

6 The Forest Park Garden RR – Owner: Tim & Lisa Dove

Started in 2018, our garden railroad was named for the neighborhood where we have lived since 1984. Tim has been a model railroader in N, HO and O scales since a young boy. Lisa is a master gardener through the OSU Extension and responsible for the garden designs. We both enjoy our hobbies and decided to merge the two. The back yard now includes; a dog bone loop of 200 plus feet, a crossover loop of 230 feet through the side yard and a fence line point to point of 90 feet. Come and see our work on the gardens, the waterfall/ koi pond and train routes.

7 The Crawford Valley RR – Owner: Alvin & Beverly Mann

Since 2005 the Crawford Valley Railroad has served the towns of Crawford and Lily Pad Junction. The train winds its way past the Elk River’s upper and lower falls as it feeds into Lily Pad Lake. The river feeds the Millstream to run the waterwheel at James Frame Mill. The Elk River sawmill is supplied with timber from the surrounding mountains and delivered by the Shay engines designed for the job. The town of Lily Pad Junction boasts diverse industry from farming to wood working and textiles of all sorts. The 1880’s community knows how to work hard and enjoy their leisure as well. Don’t forget to stop by town gazebo and listen to the local jug band. In the town of Crawford, time has moved on to the 1920’s. Motorized vehicles are every where and the newest fascination is the moving pictures house. As you look across the way you will see the community where Thomas and Percy live. The people and children here depend on them to make deliveries and get them from home to work, the park and the country. Come join us for a relaxing afternoon when life was lived at a slower pace and the sound of the steam engine’s whistle sent a thrill through your spirit.

8 The Mad Apple Express – Owner: David & Sherry Bush ** new 2025 layout

Step back in time to the Old West at the Madeline Apple Garden Railway!

Now in its 6th consecutive year on the Columbus Garden Railway tour, the Madeline Apple has transformed into a bustling western town complete with trains rolling through frontier streets and lively scenes from days gone by. This year’s layout features an all-new third loop, maximizing the charm and action in our cozy Clintonville backyard. Two trains still cross over the double-level waterfall and koi pond, while a third makes its way through a tunnel and around a farm. Come relax by the pond, watch the bears fishing in the stream, and enjoy the trains weaving through the wild west.

Be sure to grab a scavenger hunt to see if you can spot all the surprises tucked around the town!

9 The Marhefka Express – Owner: Ron & Deb Marhefka

Our garden railroad setup is an example of a smaller layout. The track is a 14 X 20 ft loop with a sideline by the train station. The buildings represent a small farming community, with a variety of flowers and ground coverings.

10 The Kiousville, Palestine & Warnersville RR – Owner: Briane & Connie Spangler

Our railroad is named The KPW Line, the Kiousville-Palestine-Warnersville Railroad which we started in 2006. It is about 1,000 feet, with three main lines that encircle two ponds and a sunken patio and a third loop around a lighthouse that sits over a underground lake (septic tank). There’s also a trolley that runs down the middle of the street where the town will be constructed once the depression is over. We have an inside trains storage yard. We run steam and diesel engines and a railbus. We also have a rock garden and four flower gardens that the trains run through. We use track power for the locomotives – all of which are radio-controlled. PLUS we have a live steam engine.

11 The Inniswood Metro Gardens RR – INNISWOOD METRO GARDENS

The Inniswood Metro Garden layout was built in 1998 and was restored in 2021, and features many miniature hostas. Trains run every Saturday and Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM, May thru October by metro park volunteers.

12 Easton Express RR – Owner: Easton Center (in front of Brio Italian Grille)
Easton Town Center, 3951 Easton Square Place East, Columbus, Ohio 43219

Easton Express is a 1100 square foot railroad built in 2005. Trains run 12 hours a day seven days a week.