Why I’m Building the Edison, Echo & Time Railroad
Every railroad has a story. This one begins with my dad.
The Edison, Echo & Time Railroad is more than a model railroad in my backyard — it’s a tribute, a time machine, and a love letter to memory. The name is fictional, but the inspiration is profoundly real. Edison W. Patissier, the character at the heart of this railroad's imagined world, is a tribute to my father.
My dad was the kind of person who made you feel like the most important person in the world. He was kind, authentic, honest — and always up for an adventure. A landscaper by trade, he had a gift for transforming outdoor spaces into places that invited you to linger, explore, and dream. The last place he ever landscaped was my home in Alamo, California.
Years ago, when my wife and I were still dating, she gave me a G scale train. She knew that I’ve always loved trains — I can’t even explain why, but I do. When we looked out at a particular area in that Alamo backyard, we both knew it needed something special. That’s when the idea for a garden railroad took hold. My dad loved the idea. Together, we spent countless hours planning it and building it. It was one of those rare projects that combined so many of the things we loved — creativity, hands-on work, being outdoors, and simply spending time together.
The only regret we had was that the property didn’t allow for a larger layout. We did what we could with what we had, and it was a joy — but we always imagined what we might do if we had more space.
Years after my dad passed away, my wife and I decided to downsize. The new house would be our “forever home” — the place we plan to grow old together. As we began redesigning our new backyard, I realized something unexpected: this space actually did lend itself to a bigger railroad. And not just any railroad — one that could carry forward those memories and take them somewhere new.
I’m now approaching retirement, and I’ve always known I’d need meaningful projects to keep my hands and heart busy. I’m a woodworker. A builder. Someone who likes to make things — especially things that invite imagination. This garden railroad lets me bring together so many things I love: trains, design, storytelling, craftsmanship… and most of all, connection.
Building the Edison, Echo & Time Railroad is a way to stay connected to the memory of my dad. It's a way to continue our shared adventure — to honor the times we had and to build something lasting in the time I have ahead.
And maybe, just maybe, it will become a place where others can feel that same sense of wonder and connection. Because that's what great railroads — real or imagined — are all about.