Explore the tiny trains of Tucson
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Photos courtesy of the Miller familyGary and Peggy Martin's garden display -
Photos courtesy of the Miller familyJohn Carmichael and Philip Pappas's garden display -
tucsongrs.orgThere are 10 locations to visit in this years 'Rails in the Garden' tour. -
Photos courtesy of the Miller familyVisitors view Gary and Peggy Martin's garden display -
Photos courtesy of the Miller familyGlen and Janet Mitchell's garden display
Hosted by the Tucson Garden Railway Society, the annual event "Rails in the Garden" will be held this weekend.
The open-house tour will include 10 destinations around town where visitors can sneak a peak into the world of tiny trains and modular large scale model railroading. Many of the displays include miniature towns, mountains, waterfalls and people.
Rick Gast, a volunteer at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum and long-time member of the garden railway club, takes part in the tour every year.
"You not only see beautiful houses and beautiful back yards," said Gast, "but beautiful railroad setups."
The TGRS works with the community to set up model railroads around town to spread their love of trains. Permanent model railroads have been set up at the Tucson Children's Museum, Diamond Children's Medical Center, Tucson Botanical Gardens and Tucson Medical Center, according to their website.
One of the club's main goals, according to Gast, is to educate the public and share their model railroads with the community.
"The club tries to change sides of town every year. Last year's (event) was on the East Side of town and now this year it's on the West Side and North all the way up to Saddlebrooke," said Gast.
There are detailed maps of the self guided tour locations on the TGRS website.
The gardens will be open both Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event is free, donations to benefit the Tucson Community Food Bank will be accepted.
