The name of our railroad is the Redwood Creek and Tallulah Ridge RR. It has been a 10 year process collecting items, including buildings, engines, and rolling stock. We are now in a full speed ahead to get it operational.
But the line is a fictional line that got its name from the beautiful redwoods that provide cover and privacy in the two corners of the garden railroad. The creek is currently being created within the new water feature I am building. Tallulah Ridge gets its name from the big boulders in the center of the garden that give a scaled look of a dramatic rocky ridge. Dramatic is the operative word here because my wife, growing up, was nicknamed Tallulah because of her dramatic outbursts. This according to her parents. This was in reference to the famous actress of yesteryear named Tallulah Bankhead.
My wife Leslie, since being a teenager, has had the dream of publishing a book. This past year she saw that dream become a reality by publishing her first book titled “The Tie That Binds”. I asked her to write a book that had a back story to the railroad and something that would provide inspiration to some of its meaning. The book follows a husband and wife - Lawrence and Debrah from Wales. After a freak mine accident the couple decides to pack up their belongings and board passage to America with the goal of heading west to create a new life for themselves. Along the way they come across interesting characters (all with a semblance of a good friend or relative in real life) who travel with them and where they find a beautiful place to build the town of Little Paddocks. Of course the town must have a railroad with which to connect to the outside world. So not only does it provide goods and services, but also provides passenger service as well. The story itself has a bit of a spiritual overtone but is not preachy. I am very proud of her work, which she started when we were attending last years National Garden Railroad Convention in Santa Clara. I constantly found her in line purchasing more of the Little Folks characters to add to the railroad.
Initial inspiration for the railroad came from Walt Disney’s love for trains, and our love for the whole concept and ideals of Disneyland. It also has roots in the many logging era railroads, some in our own backyard such as the Railtown 1897 in Jamestown, and the Sugar Pine RR on the way to Yosemite.
I can’t wait for things to get to the point of an open house to share what we are doing and perhaps providing the impetus for others to do the same.
Thanks,
Richard
