LGB Trains Make Great Garden Trains
LGB trains have been around for more than 40 years and are very popular in both the U.S. and Europe. These are also known as G scale, the big boys of model trains, although just how big depends on who you buy them from.
What is LGB?
LGB is a brand name that stands for Lehmann-Groß-Bahnen which (loosely translated) means ‘Lehmann Big Railway’. The company itself, Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk, has been around since 1881 but the LGB line didn’t come into being until 1968.
It is Lehmann’s indoor/outdoor G scale trains that have made garden railroading so popular. Although many people believe G scale means Garden Scale it actually stands for Groß the German word for big.
The ratio of LGB trains is 1:22½ but other G scales can range from 1:20 to 1:30 depending on the manufacturer. The one thing that is consistent among most manufacturers is the gauge of the track which is 45mm. Gauge is the distance between the two outer rails of the track. With the track gauge being the same, all G scale trains can run on them regardless of their ratio.
Garden Trains
Known for their durability, LGB trains are a favorite choice for garden trains. All components (track, locomotives and other rolling stock) work in the rain, snow and sleet which allows everyone to have their own garden railroad regardless of where they live. Check out this video and you’ll see an example of this.
These outdoor railroads work just like the indoor variety but there are some special situations that need to taken into account. Things such as dirt, leaves, fallen branches and even wildlife will present a challenge. For example, don’t be surprised if your train gets stuck in a tunnel you created, chances are some animal is using it for shelter or hibernation.
It’s easy enough to build a small pond to represent a lake and even build a bridge over it, or use rocks and dirt to imitate boulders and mountains. If you decide to add buildings or even a small village, however, they must be durable enough to withstand the elements.
If you are building your layout to scale you face other challenges, like grass and plants. In real life have you ever seen a blade of grass as tall as a train? Hopefully not, but it will happen in your garden if you’re not diligent with the yard work. And how realistic are rose bushes that dwarf your rolling stock?
Many people simply choose to make their garden trains part of the scenery and not the main focus of the garden itself. Of course there are enthusiasts who will go that extra mile and prune like crazy or use dwarf varieties of plants and bonsai techniques to make sure everything is the proper size for their LGB trains.