The Railway

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The Exbury Gardens steam railway follows a one and a quarter mile circular route and is a wonderful way see the gardens.

The railway track follows a route through a myriad of colours and scents guaranteed to assail the senses in summer. After leaving Exbury Central Station, the route skirts the existing garden to enter the new Summer Lane Garden. Here an exciting route, including a bridge, tunnel and causeway, has been designed to travel through a series of individual themed gardens based on character, texture and colour.

A marvellous collection of plants featuring tranquil blue and silver blooms and foliage, hot reds and yellows, a fern dell and apple orchard are arranged around a central water feature overlooked by sculptured grassy banks.

Passing out of the Summer Lane Garden, the train travels on through a wooded area, to reveal glimpses of the Rock Garden and glades. (All the trees in this area were completely destroyed in the 1987 storm and they have now self regenerated.) The route cuts through more woodland, to reveal a curving timber viaduct, with fine views over the Lily Ponds.

The train then passes through a plant Nursery and a Pumpkin Patch and on to a second lake, home to "Hump-phrey, The Lake Moss Monster." Close by is a Sunflower Field at its peak in summer, before the train passes the famous Domesday Yew. A halt, Exbury North, in the American Garden enables visitors to hop off the train and explore this area of the garden before returning to Exbury Central on foot or by train.

The railway track covers one and a quarter miles with a journey time of approximately twenty minutes.