Pittsburgh Garden Railway Society

Phipps Conservatory

Garden Railway Project

revised 09-02-07

 

Click here to see photos of the track placement that took place on August 9, 2007

Click here to see photos of the deck that will be under the train layout - it is 25' x 50'

Click here for the Track Plan ( PDF format - new 7-18-07)

There are three loops: 

  • A Passenger Train (about 174 feet)

  • A Freight Train (about 148 feet)

  • An Ore Train (about 43 feet)

There will be a walkway completely around the layout so that visitors can see it from all angles.

Click here to see the Phipps Inventory

Click here for photos of Phipps 2003-2004 railroad

Click here for a draft of the list of things to purchase

Click here for photos of the test mountain

Click here for photos from the planning meeting that was held on 8-24-07

Click here for 414 photos from the Mountain Building session that was held on 8-31-07

Click on the thumbnails below to see larger images. 

These are Keith's photos of the area where the railway will be built - it is approximately 35' X 80'

(click on the thumbnails below to see larger images)

These photos were taken of the equipment housed in the basement of Phipps on March 20, 2007

(click on the thumbnails below to see larger images)

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These are the buildings that were stored at the Phipps Garden Center.

(click on the thumbnails below to see larger images)

Some spare logs and building parts

This is a tunnel entrance.
These shots are of the storage area in the basement of the new wing at Phipps.  The shelves hold more buildings, some rolling stock and the engines that were moved from the Garden Center

(click on the thumbnails below to see larger images)

Layout Platform Construction July 30, 2007
(click on the thumbnails below to see larger images)

Bill Fallecker, Al Hartman and Dave Bodnar helped Larry (the carpenter at Phipps) to complete the 25 foot by 50 foot plywood platform that will be under the layout.  The next step is to lay the track on the platform so that Larry can cut plywood strips that will go under each of the three track runs.

Layout Track Placement August 9, 2007
(click on the thumbnails below to see larger images)

A hardy group of PGRS members braved threatening skies, high temperature and humidity to lay out the track on the platform.  Thanks to Bob Groover & Charlie Christ for the photos!

 
Layout Planning Meeting 8-24-07

The first three photos show the passenger line's wood base. 

We are likely to have the former ticket booth seen below moved to the layout area.  It will house the power supplies and will provide a convenient place to store the engines and rolling stock when they are not in use.

This spot, to the left of the layout, is where the booth will go.