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Train network built in front garden

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-30 11:43

Eric Marshall, 68, spent three years crafting the network, which features trains, stations, bridges, houses and a cable car.

The garden of his home, near Thirsk in North Yorkshire, has become a tourist spot, generating £500 in visitor donations, which Mr Marshall has donated to Macmillan Cancer Support this year.

Eric Marshall, from Bagby North Yorkshire, who has transformed his front garden into a miniature town, which includes four working trains, waterfalls and a working cable car. [Agencies]

The former printer said: "I've always had an interest in railways.

"I was born within 50 yards of the main London-North East railway. As a kid I used to go trainspotting.

"A few years ago I went to a railway exhibition and saw the model trains running around and I thought that would look nice in my garden."

Mr Marshall started building the railway three years ago.

"I make all the houses and stations from plywood and the tiles on the top are made from cedar wood.

"All the tiles are stuck on individually, so everything is more or less weather proof.

"I use anything I can find around the house, like floor tiles - I never throw anything away."

Although his garden has become popular, Mr Marshall's wife Jean, 65, was unimpressed at the disappearance of her garden.

Mrs Marshall, a retired supermarket worker, said: "I loved my garden, my lawn and my flower beds.

"But it has been nice the coaches pulling up and we are now doing a bit of charity work for Macmillan Nurses and I am quite enjoying it."