The Columbus 
Garden Railway Society's

Membership Information


The Columbus Garden Railway Society (CGRS) is an informal group formed for sharing an interest in running big-scale trains in an outdoor setting. CGRS began in 1992 with 5 members and now has more than 100 member households. 

We meet monthly throughout the year at members' own railroads or at other meeting facilities. Many members do not have a garden railroad; but they have joined CGRS to gather ideas. So can you!

CGRS is an active group with diverse activities: In past years we've held an annual banquet, constructed a portable display layout with live plants at Great American Train Shows (GATS),  the Rose Festival at Whetstone Park, and Affair-of-the-Hort at Inniswood Gardens.  

We operated a sale table and ran big-scale trains at Greenberg Shows and held  open garden railroad tours in conjunction with Columbus Parks and Recreation Department Open Garden Tours. In addition, each year we have a picnic/barbecue with one or two of our regular monthly meetings. 

Some years we do a weekend excursion to a railroad museum and to take a train ride. We generally include one or more non-rail events in the excursion.  Some years we offer plant-buying trips to out-of-town nurseries. Some years we have a joint get-together with other Ohio garden railway groups. An annual Holiday Party ends the year.

We're probably a bit unusual group in that we have no formal structure: we have no elected officers and no bylaws, just sort of a general guideline - Have fun! Dues are a minimal $24 a year.  

A monthly newsletter keeps members informed. Many of our members prefer to take a less active role and simply enjoy the monthly newsletter. 

Others look forward to our monthly meetings to gather ideas for their own garden railroads. Membership in CGRS is open to all interested persons. 

We invite you to join us!  For additional information call 614-885-0351.

Who Should Join CGRS?

   
m Anyone interested in big trains; it is not necessary to have a garden railroad. 
          Join CGRS to learn how to build one
   
m Gardeners looking to add a train to their established gardens
   
m Doll house collectors and other miniaturists wanting to have a train to provide 
          action to their collections
   
m Model railroaders interested in moving to a bigger gauge
   
m Homeowners and renters who want to add a train to their existing landscapes
   
m Families interested in a hobby in which the whole family can participate
   
m Anyone who wants to learn where to buy, shape, and maintain small plants 
          which are in proportion to outdoor trains

Membership & Name Badge Application Form
         To print, fill out and send in
             (Good for renewals
too!)