It’s the place that made the model train most famous, the Christmas Tree.
So, what’s your Christmas Tree train and why?
Growing up, it was my dad’s Super Chief, just like the one he used to take to see my grandma in LA while he was in college in Toronto.
Now that I’ve grown and have my own place, it’s the GO Transit commuter train that my girlfirend and I took on our first aniversary, which happens to be exactly half a year after Christmas.
A large battery operated steamer with Santa and toys.
It was given to us by family and will be a tradition for us.
We didn’t have a Christmas tree train, but we did have a 6x12 foot HO layout in the garage, and since my gift was often train-related we would often end up out there at some point anyhow.
The closest thing this year is a relatively cheap (Life-Like) train set I’m giving an 8 year old nephew–the plot is to get him hooked early, then provide more excuses to visit the hobby shop for “gifts for the nephew” later…
I have a battery operated G scale on an oval track that I set up every year. We make tunnels out of empty wrapped boxes so that the train goes in and out of the gifts.
I’ve got an Old Lionel Steamer, circa 1946, that used to be my Dad’s. I set the track around the tree and set up my sound system and have tons of fun. A couple of my nephews now insist on having trains around their trees (Ha Ha, got them hooked already) Great sentimental value and everyone loves seeing it run.
John
I usually put up my battery opperated G scale steam locomotive. But, I think we’re gonna go with my new HO steam locomotive set this year…
No Train under the tree,
1 yr old puppy + 2 cats = dead tree and train.
Jay
We have a cheap, plastic, battery operated Dickensville train. Not too worried about the dogs or kids (neighbors, not mine) getting at it. In the past we have moved an extra dining room table into the living room and put the train, with a variety of buildings and ornaments, on white felt/cotton to create a snow scene.
-Jer
Under the tree I’m running a loop of standard gauge track with a Lionel #38 electric plus two loops of O27 track with Marx and/or Lionel running on them (I’m not sure which trains I’m going to have run on them).
I’ve also got a Dickensville train, like GerFust, which I run on a layout with ceramic Christmas villiage buildings that I set up on a board put on a table. With the Dickensville I have a Rio Grande set that’s made by the same manufacturer (New Bright). Under that layout I have a battery powered Christmas set by Toy State running, so I’ve got lots of trains out at Christmas.
I’m putting all of this up, plus the tree, etc. this weekend because that’s the start of Advent.
An Aristocraft PRR 0-4-0 switcher pulling three open vestibule passenger cars and a D&RGW starter set from LGB. Both in G gauge. Best solution to keeping the cats away from the tree devised by man.
Old 262 or 462 (I forget) Lionel from about 1943 or so. Still runs, and smokes (the good kind[:D]). Although I’m thinking of setting up my newly restored American Flyer HO. Heck maybe I’ll run a loop of flextrack next to the Lionel track?!? Wouldn’t that look funny [:p]
-Dale
Did this for the first time last year using a Lego trainset that I’ve had since I was about 8. Worked ok, apart from pine needles falling onto the track!
I have a Lionel Gold Rush Special set that my wife gave me several years ago when we were newly married. I put it under the tree with some extra Lionel track (No. 1 gauge) and a couple extra cars and a railbus made by Delton. I found a Santa figure in a Hallmark store that’s a good size to ride the rear platform of the caboose.
Merry Christmas,
Andy
I have a small outdoor oval running outside of the window my tree is near, so you can see it when ever you see the tree.
NYC Hudson 4-6-4 pulling three NYC passenger cars(IHC) on a oval of Life-Like Powerlock track.
I was actually accused of only helping with the tree so I could get a train up and running under it.
Imagine that! Dave
I used to have a crappy new bright train under the tree but when it broke I put an HO P2K sw9 and three cheap cars under it. BAD IDEA!!! It got all cathair in the axles of the loco . So remember, no small scales under the tree
no tree, but a set i got off of QVC last year… '50s era 2 oval (one elevated above the other)… was supposed to be just for Christmas, but it never came down.
Our Christmas tree train WAS an HO Bachmann set until the cats had their way with it. The search is on for a new Christmas tree train set, and this time it will be a scale or two bigger.
Merry Chrismas and Happy New Year
Russell
A circle of track and an HO Bachmann Happy Holidays Trolley slowly circling, as cats crouch waiting to pounce.
Doug, in Utah
the only train stuff i’ll be seeing on Christmas is what i have and what i might get for Christmas. i may surprise my parents by putting up my dad’s uncles old old metal train. the stuff dates back to probably 1940 or later i’m guessing. or if i ever get around to building my bench work (saw horses and 3 8 foot 2x4s under a 4x8 sheet of plywood. i may run that. hopefully i get MRR related stuff.