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Back in 1999, I was living with my parents while I got back on my feet after getting laid off, I decided to set up my Lionel track in a long dogbone style setup going under the front of the Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun seeing the train racing back and forth across the room.
In 2002, I had my Lionel running around the perimeter of my living room. At Christmas, I had the one corner curve modified so that the tree could fit in the corner of the room with the train running in front of it.
In 2003, I’d purchased some more Lionel cars and a locomotive from my late great uncle’s estate. To accomodate the longer train and the Nativity scene, I had the track come from behind the couch on the right and continue behind the tree. It then turned in the corner and then came out under the tree next to the Nativity scene to continue back around the living room.
This is the entire Hallmark Lionel ornament collection from 1996 through 2011.
This year’s tree is in my office, like it has been since 2008 so that my cats can’t get to it. It’s inside the oval that the Lionel runs on in the room.
Of course, with only the 900 lights on the tree lighting the room, you can see why I’ve been nicknaming it my “Clark Griswold Tree”.
Kevin
Why the polar Express of course ! in O gauge. Its great . We have a tradition. Set up the tree, decorate, install the train, watch the movie , which we all love. : )