The National Christmas Tree and Model Train
Published by Kathy on Thursday, November 03, 2005 at 8:23 AM.
For many people of any age, a Christmas tree just doesn't seem complete without a model train display running around its base. America's National Christmas Tree in Washington DC is no exception and for more than a decade now has had a train chugging along tracks at the base of the tree.
This year, 2005, will be the 82nd year that a tree has been lit and designated as the "National Tree." Lighting will occur at 5 p.m. on December 1st. The tree is found near the White House on the Ellipse. This year will offer entertainment of Ricky Skaggs, Maya Angelou, the United States Navy Band, CeCe Winans, VOENA Children's A Capella Choir, Dale Kristien, Merlin Olsen, and Brad Oscar.
If you plan to attend the opening ceremony for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, be advised that security will be as tight as with any other gathering in the city. You will need a ticket (given out at the visitor pavilion at the Ellipse. The tickets are free and are being handed out on November 5th starting at 8 a.m.) Keep in mind that the tickets are only for the opening ceremony with the dignitaries present and you will not need a ticket to simply go by to see the display at some other time.
Some other things to remember about security: Do not carry a backpack or duffle bag and do not carry any large container such as a cooler. Do not carry or allow children to carry real or replica ammunition or knives, etc. of any kind. Laser lights are not allowed. If you need to carry something like a diaper bag or use a stroller, it is permitted, but be prepared for a search of things like this. Oh, and one other thing is that you will need to use public transportation such as the metro because there is simply very little parking available this close to the White House.
So back to the model train display! Aristo Craft Trains from New Jersey came up with the idea eleven years ago (actually one of their managers, Mr. Frank) and they decided that if other trees looked unfinished without the model train, so did the National Christmas Tree. The National Park Service allowed it to happen and with the help of a model train club in the area, Mr. Frank built and operated that first display.
The train display will run in 2005 from the opening night ceremony right through to December 30. The display will run in all kinds of weather and it can be seen from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Volunteers help to clean the tracks and prepare the trains each year so that the train display can continue to make visitors young and old alike smile when visiting the National Christmas Tree.
One other thing to look for when visiting the model train display is the "Pathway of Peace" which is another Washington tradition for more than 50 years now. Around the large National tree, you will find 56 smaller trees that are also decorated. They represent the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and America's five territories.
This year, 2005, will be the 82nd year that a tree has been lit and designated as the "National Tree." Lighting will occur at 5 p.m. on December 1st. The tree is found near the White House on the Ellipse. This year will offer entertainment of Ricky Skaggs, Maya Angelou, the United States Navy Band, CeCe Winans, VOENA Children's A Capella Choir, Dale Kristien, Merlin Olsen, and Brad Oscar.
If you plan to attend the opening ceremony for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, be advised that security will be as tight as with any other gathering in the city. You will need a ticket (given out at the visitor pavilion at the Ellipse. The tickets are free and are being handed out on November 5th starting at 8 a.m.) Keep in mind that the tickets are only for the opening ceremony with the dignitaries present and you will not need a ticket to simply go by to see the display at some other time.
Some other things to remember about security: Do not carry a backpack or duffle bag and do not carry any large container such as a cooler. Do not carry or allow children to carry real or replica ammunition or knives, etc. of any kind. Laser lights are not allowed. If you need to carry something like a diaper bag or use a stroller, it is permitted, but be prepared for a search of things like this. Oh, and one other thing is that you will need to use public transportation such as the metro because there is simply very little parking available this close to the White House.
So back to the model train display! Aristo Craft Trains from New Jersey came up with the idea eleven years ago (actually one of their managers, Mr. Frank) and they decided that if other trees looked unfinished without the model train, so did the National Christmas Tree. The National Park Service allowed it to happen and with the help of a model train club in the area, Mr. Frank built and operated that first display.
The train display will run in 2005 from the opening night ceremony right through to December 30. The display will run in all kinds of weather and it can be seen from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Volunteers help to clean the tracks and prepare the trains each year so that the train display can continue to make visitors young and old alike smile when visiting the National Christmas Tree.
One other thing to look for when visiting the model train display is the "Pathway of Peace" which is another Washington tradition for more than 50 years now. Around the large National tree, you will find 56 smaller trees that are also decorated. They represent the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and America's five territories.
Basic Model Train Primer
Published by Kathy on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 5:14 AM.
One certainly doesn't need to be a child to enjoy the hobby of building and maintaining a model train layout. Many adults have this as their main hobby and spend a lot of time creating their "own little world" by way of their train layout.
If you are considering doing this for yourself or with a child, first decide what kind of layout you will have. The amount of space you have in your home, basement, etc. for the layout will most likely determine what kind of scenery you will concentrate on. The more space you have, the better it is because many model train enthusiasts enjoy eventually building things like mountain tunnels and expanding the layout.
So what kind of scenery will you have? Again depending on the layout size, you can build a country scene with trees, streams, and mountains or you can have a city scene with lots of buildings and vehicles. Some people enjoy coming up with something totally different from the norm and creating a futuristic theme, or the opposite . . . a scene from sometime in the past.
You can build a layout to look like another country or another totally different time period. This is where serious model railroading enthusiasts may be separated from those doing this activity just for fun. Of course there were no trains in ancient Egypt, but some model train people enjoy building pyramids, the sphinx, etc. for their model train to run past, as one example.
After you have decided what type of layout you would like to have, it will be time to buy your basic starter items. This includes your train and track, of course. You will also need the plywood or material you will be building the layout on.
Decide on your design and make sure that you have enough train track to make it happen. Do not attach the track to the wood or base you are using until you are positive that it is the way you want it to be.
Next you will want to decide which scenery props you will be buying or making. Mountains and tunnels are easily made with materials such as Styrofoam, plaster, plaster dyes and so on. Be sure to familiarize yourself with which accessories (i.e. trees, grass, etc.) you will be able to buy at the model train or hobby shop and which items you want that you may have to find a way to build or make yourself.
If you hadn't already read through some model railroad magazines or web sites, this is a good time to do that. You will find many excellent ideas on layouts and how to create that personal world you are striving for.
These places, whether magazine or internet, will help your project be a success without too much trial and error. For just one example, you will need to research how to make a mountain (and from more than one source!) before actually trying it. Often a mountain can collapse if everything needed is not taken into consideration and it is much better to avoid disappointments like that if at all possible.
Now it is time to decide on your grass, trees, and general scenery. Most important of all is to have fun; it's a great hobby!
If you are considering doing this for yourself or with a child, first decide what kind of layout you will have. The amount of space you have in your home, basement, etc. for the layout will most likely determine what kind of scenery you will concentrate on. The more space you have, the better it is because many model train enthusiasts enjoy eventually building things like mountain tunnels and expanding the layout.
So what kind of scenery will you have? Again depending on the layout size, you can build a country scene with trees, streams, and mountains or you can have a city scene with lots of buildings and vehicles. Some people enjoy coming up with something totally different from the norm and creating a futuristic theme, or the opposite . . . a scene from sometime in the past.
You can build a layout to look like another country or another totally different time period. This is where serious model railroading enthusiasts may be separated from those doing this activity just for fun. Of course there were no trains in ancient Egypt, but some model train people enjoy building pyramids, the sphinx, etc. for their model train to run past, as one example.
After you have decided what type of layout you would like to have, it will be time to buy your basic starter items. This includes your train and track, of course. You will also need the plywood or material you will be building the layout on.
Decide on your design and make sure that you have enough train track to make it happen. Do not attach the track to the wood or base you are using until you are positive that it is the way you want it to be.
Next you will want to decide which scenery props you will be buying or making. Mountains and tunnels are easily made with materials such as Styrofoam, plaster, plaster dyes and so on. Be sure to familiarize yourself with which accessories (i.e. trees, grass, etc.) you will be able to buy at the model train or hobby shop and which items you want that you may have to find a way to build or make yourself.
If you hadn't already read through some model railroad magazines or web sites, this is a good time to do that. You will find many excellent ideas on layouts and how to create that personal world you are striving for.
These places, whether magazine or internet, will help your project be a success without too much trial and error. For just one example, you will need to research how to make a mountain (and from more than one source!) before actually trying it. Often a mountain can collapse if everything needed is not taken into consideration and it is much better to avoid disappointments like that if at all possible.
Now it is time to decide on your grass, trees, and general scenery. Most important of all is to have fun; it's a great hobby!
I read an article in the local paper several months ago about a unique project in a special education class. In the class the teacher really focused on using the students' interests to bring daily lessons to life, and it just so happened that one of the teacher's students was in love with trains. So it became the teacher's quest to bring trains into the classroom.
It's all well and good to read books and watch videos about trains, but sometimes you need something a little more hands-on. So naturally, the best way to bring trains into a classroom is to install a model train display.
Of course, model trains can be expensive, so they had relied on members of model railroading clubs and other benefactors to provide donations, and of course, they were more than happy to support the love of a young hobbyist when it was such a good cause. But once they had the basics, they didn't need a lot of money to round out their display. With creativity and ingenuity, they were soon building their own villages and scenery for the trains, developing important math and reading skills along the way.
While it started with just one student wanting to learn more about trains, soon everyone was enthralled by the subject. They were having so much fun, they never realized they were learning at the same time. The student who originally brought his love of trains to the class blossomed in this new environment because he suddenly became the subject expert on this newly important topic. His increased confidence and newfound love of school was even more valuable than any specific school skills he may have gained.
At the time of the article, the students were trying to raise money to pay for a bus to take them to Crossroads Village, a local park that focuses on colonial life but, more importantly, offers train rides on the Huckleberry Railroad. While model trains are entertaining and educational, sometimes your love for the vehicles makes you want something life-sized.
As a former educator, I was inspired by the article because of the way the teacher used something like model trains to engage her students in learning. Hearing about the appeal of the model trains to these students also made me think back on the few times I've seen a model train set. I've always been interested in miniatures, and these trains were miniatures at their best. I know that it's never too late to start a model train hobby. Maybe someday I'll have to indulge in the iconic image of the train around the Christmas tree.
Whether you're a parent or a teacher, consider adding a model train to your educational repertoire. Students will delight in the tiny world that they can create. Along the way, they can learn about ratios, proportions, measurement, economics, the science of trains, and almost any other topic you can relate to the models. Working with such small pieces requires fine motor skills, and student develop patience when creating tiny accents for their trains involves painstaking work.
It's all well and good to read books and watch videos about trains, but sometimes you need something a little more hands-on. So naturally, the best way to bring trains into a classroom is to install a model train display.
Of course, model trains can be expensive, so they had relied on members of model railroading clubs and other benefactors to provide donations, and of course, they were more than happy to support the love of a young hobbyist when it was such a good cause. But once they had the basics, they didn't need a lot of money to round out their display. With creativity and ingenuity, they were soon building their own villages and scenery for the trains, developing important math and reading skills along the way.
While it started with just one student wanting to learn more about trains, soon everyone was enthralled by the subject. They were having so much fun, they never realized they were learning at the same time. The student who originally brought his love of trains to the class blossomed in this new environment because he suddenly became the subject expert on this newly important topic. His increased confidence and newfound love of school was even more valuable than any specific school skills he may have gained.
At the time of the article, the students were trying to raise money to pay for a bus to take them to Crossroads Village, a local park that focuses on colonial life but, more importantly, offers train rides on the Huckleberry Railroad. While model trains are entertaining and educational, sometimes your love for the vehicles makes you want something life-sized.
As a former educator, I was inspired by the article because of the way the teacher used something like model trains to engage her students in learning. Hearing about the appeal of the model trains to these students also made me think back on the few times I've seen a model train set. I've always been interested in miniatures, and these trains were miniatures at their best. I know that it's never too late to start a model train hobby. Maybe someday I'll have to indulge in the iconic image of the train around the Christmas tree.
Whether you're a parent or a teacher, consider adding a model train to your educational repertoire. Students will delight in the tiny world that they can create. Along the way, they can learn about ratios, proportions, measurement, economics, the science of trains, and almost any other topic you can relate to the models. Working with such small pieces requires fine motor skills, and student develop patience when creating tiny accents for their trains involves painstaking work.
