From a circle round the Christmas tree to a real garden line

The story starts more than 25 years ago with a loop of track wound around a Christmas tree. It stayed a dream for a long time, until owner Curtis Stanier moved into a house with a garden big enough to grow one. Construction began in August 2021; track was laid within a couple of months and the first trains were testing the line by March 2022, with a first 'running BBQ' with friends that May.↗

Nothing sits straight on the soil. The whole line rests on more than a tonne of Jersey granite, raised a minimum of 60cm off the ground so it drains well and stays clear of the garden. Like any model railway, it is never quite finished – there is always another project in the works, which is part of its ongoing appeal.↗↗

The layout: two loops, five stations and a fictional corner of Germany

Across a garden footprint of roughly 119m² (about 1,280 ft²), the railway runs on 138m (455ft) of track forming two main running loops, an upper and a lower level joined by an incline, so two trains can run unattended at once. A branch line splits off to a terminus station beside the garden entrance.↗

There are five stations in all, each given a playful German-style name based on the surnames of friends and family. The whole scene is set in an invented corner of Germany, with lines running on toward Switzerland and Austria, then dotted with miniature buildings, tunnels, bridges, a waterfall and a pond where the Koi are a favourite with visitors.↗↗

Watching the trains go

The engines are track-powered and run under digital DCC control, letting the operator set speed, direction, lights and sound for each locomotive individually. Rolling stock and track are mainly LGB, with TrainLine 45, Thiel and Piko mixed in. On a busy day you will see several locos moving at once – and, just like the real thing, some waiting in stations for others to pass.↗↗

Keep an eye out for a special cleaning locomotive with bright orange flashing lights that polishes the rail tops to keep good electrical contact. The line is built to live outdoors: the rails are brass so they never rust and the buildings and sleepers are UV-resistant resin or plastic. The real enemy is not rain but a strong Jersey gust – wind has been known to nudge a building right across the garden.↗

An open day out, with a purpose

The garden opens for full open days a handful of times a year, running roughly 10:00 to 17:00, with ticket prices around £3–£5. Every penny from the entry fee and the Railway Cafe goes in full to whichever Jersey charity has been chosen for that day. Between open days, smaller pop-up setups appear at events around the island.↗↗↗

It is a relaxed, hands-on sort of day. You can stay as long as you like and simply watch the trains from the seating; kids can join a scavenger hunt scouring the layout for its little details, with a sweet treat for a prize; there is usually a small extra layout at the entrance for younger visitors to play with; and seasonal themes – from Christmas and Halloween dressing to festive 'Winter Wonderland' days and guest appearances from Thomas and friends – keep each visit different. Volunteers in maroon t-shirts are happy to explain the layout or talk you into starting G Scale yourself.↗↗↗↗

The goodwill is real: since 2022 the project has raised over £29,000 for local causes across 16 open days and welcomed more than 3,000 visitors, with around 450 people through the gates on a single day. Owner Curtis Stanier was nominated for a Pride of Jersey award in 2024 and is working toward expanding the site into a larger, more permanent family attraction.↗↗

Planning your visit

Because the railway is built in a private garden with limited space, the site is only open to the public on announced open days, so there is no point travelling to the road without a ticket. Book a slot online for the date you want; the day runs in one-hour slots to keep the flow comfortable, with a set number of adult tickets per slot and child tickets valid for any slot. The exact address and directions arrive with your booking confirmation.↗↗

It is well suited to families – the garden is good for kids, and the entrance and parking are wheelchair accessible. Tickets are refundable if you cancel more than 48 hours ahead, and members of the UK-based G Scale Society receive free entry to open days. If you want to go a step further, businesses can even sponsor a custom wagon, with the money added straight to that event's charity total.↗↗↗

A short note on what you will find: this is a single enthusiast's garden railway rather than a big-ticket theme park, so it shines as a couple of hours of pure charm, curiosity and play – and the knowledge that your afternoon is funding a local good cause.↗