The Virginia Creek Railway's chief engineer Willie Maikit, talking about tunnels "yer big railroads when they want to go through hills, well they build tunnels. But yer model railroads, now when they want to go through tunnels, well they build hills." At top left, a cedar and pressure treated plywood box is built over the track on flat ground. At top right, earth and rocks are added to make a rock garden. At bottom a year later, the rock garden in bloom gives the tunnel a reason for being.

The tunnel and rock garden were removed in 2001 to allow rerouting the line and rebuilding the tunnel with clearance for 20:1 scale trains.  The cedar and pressure treated plywood were in perfect condition after almost a decade under ground.

J.Banner photo montage