Saturday, November 19, 2022

I just learned that the San Diego Garden Railway Society installed a train set in the radiology department of the San Diego’s Children’s Hospital





While out of the way, the display is quite visible in the waiting room of the Radiology Department. The train is set in motion when a passerby trips an electronic eye.

in 2006 a new, (they also did this in 1994) indoor, large-scale layout was unveiled in the waiting room conceived and designed by San Diego Garden Railway Society’s (SDGRS) resident art director, Bob Treat, and built by members of the club.

The first was opened back in January of 1994. That layout faithfully served its purpose for many years, but eventually wore out in spite of ongoing maintenance. Frankly, it was dirty and far too noisy. We began receiving complaints from the hospital’s staff and they quit running it.


After hosting the 16th National Garden Railway Convention in 2000, the SDGRS board of directors and convention committee considered ideas regarding what should be done with the proceeds we had realized from the convention. Among other things, it was decided that the hospital’s layout either be refurbished or completely rebuilt. Bob Treat, an award-winning art director, volunteered to come up with a design and present it at an upcoming board meeting.

Bob’s design was totally different from the original layout. It was pure whimsy and fantasy. Furthermore, this design had a specific purpose. His concept was that the layout would represent a journey from an apprehensive, rocky area to a calming, pastoral area, much like what the children at the hospital go through. Trains would travel through the entire color spectrum, from the jagged red and purple mountains to the rolling green and blue hills. Bob’s concept and design were unanimously approved

Ain't that cool!?!? 

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