I guess I’ll have to at least plan for an outside rail road. The elevation change is about nine feet in forty feet of run. Maybe I’ll build a cog railway. 
Switch backs. What the heck, it’s only a 20-25% grade.
Or, a retaining wall and lots of fill d1rt.
I would think pictures are required. Dig, install retaining wall to hold back whats up above and fill to create another flat spot behind retaining wall created below. As Steve said, switchbacks and grades. Actually it sounds like a real railroad.
Whats wrong with building a high line?
I vote for a 9 foot tall trestle 
Ralph
Ralph Berg said:Note the difference between - "I vote for a 9 foot tall trestle" and "I'll build you a 9 foot tall trestle". Its just a few little words, but it certainly is a big difference.
I vote for a 9 foot tall trestle :D Ralph
Back and forth, with loops up on trestles. How wide a space?
Sounds like you need a build a RR event!
Okay, let me see…I have a 37’ run, 3 levels the first rises 2.7’ the second is another 3.6’ to the top level. Total projection is 40’ I wish I could scan the landscape plans, but the multifunction is less mulitfunctional lately.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/BYRR.JPG)
Now the trestle is only 7 feet tall. No duck under for the walk through
Build trestle bents or haul dirt 
Ralph
The drawing helps…but pictures would still be better.
Photos of the area in my back yard that will be available for a Garden RR. http://picasaweb.google.com/Bunky39/OutdoorRR# (Click the link then click “Slideshow”.)
David; Check amoung your friends and see if some one has a builders level or a surveyor’s auto level. Ask them if they will do a ‘topo’ in the yard. That will give you a picture of the vertcal differences in the yard and then you can figure where to run track and where to bulid the ‘9 foot trestle’ or maybe just a retaining wall (under 4 feet) to give you some ROW. And yes you will have long grades and lots of curves.
Paul
Neat…you could have a nice meandering RR with long runs.
Is this what you mean by a switchback RR? http://www.switchbackgravityrr.org/
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/sbmpi03.jpg)
Ay, ay, ay! A very good space to build a NA railroad which had enough money to do it the right way i.e. one more bridge won’t matter, a tunnel is better protection than a shelf through the canyon. Well, you get the idea.
NA railroad?? Das verstehe ich nicht.
David,
Great pictures. I’d start the trestle work at the height of the window to the right of the propane tank. Perfect window to go into the house and great height for loading trains or “steaming up” right outside of the window. It looks like a goal might be to work your way up the hill with “switchbacks” to the area right under the deck.
I think the postcard picture is of an “incline railroad” or “cog railroad”, totally different than a series of “switchbacks”.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/BYRR2.JPG)
Okay, I think I have a basic plan I can begin with as I build the terraces. With the track looping back on itself, I suppose I should go with battery power.
David Hill said:NA stands for NorthAmerican as in NAFTA. ;) :)
NA railroad?? Das verstehe ich nicht.
To start the excavation of the bank to lay the terraces in, I had to first weld some teeth on the bucket of the loader today. With that done I tried out the little John Deere to see if it would be able to tackle the job. It will be a slow go, but I think I can grade a level area for stacking the 24 to 36 inch stone walls. I simplified the original drawings based on existing conditions and amount of rocks and stones I have available on my property. I visited the nursery today to get some ideas from the woman that runs the place about dwarf plants for the RR. It will be a slow go, but I am making progress.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/dancinguy.gif)
