When I was little, it was always a special occasion when my uncle came to visit. He lived ten hours away, so we only saw him a few times a year, and half of those times, we traveled to see him and the rest of our family in Illinois. A visit from my uncle always meant that he would take me to see a few movies and maybe we'd walk around the mall and he'd buy me a new toy. But there was a downside to these shopping excursions. My uncle made model airplanes, and there was a hobby shop just a few minutes from all the mall and movie theaters.
As an eight year old, I couldn't think of anything more boring than staring at rows of boxes with airplanes on them. But then one day, I wandered a few aisles away from my browsing uncle and discovered the model train section. I was amazed by the world of trains that I had just entered. There was something universal about trains that I didn't find in airplanes. I saw them just about every week as my mom's car was stopped at the tracks on the way home from school or grocery shopping. Planes flew high above, always just out of sight.
I was drawn to the detail involved in the model trains. I had no formal concept of scale models, but I instinctively recognized the perfect proportions of the tiny wheels on each train and even the bits of shrubbery that graced the displays adding to the realism of the land the trains traveled. Time passed so quickly while I contemplated the miniature world before me that for the first time ever, my uncle had to convince me that it was time to go. After that day, I never again looked on those hobby shop visits as an unpleasant chore. I knew that the model trains would be waiting for me.
As an eight year old, I couldn't think of anything more boring than staring at rows of boxes with airplanes on them. But then one day, I wandered a few aisles away from my browsing uncle and discovered the model train section. I was amazed by the world of trains that I had just entered. There was something universal about trains that I didn't find in airplanes. I saw them just about every week as my mom's car was stopped at the tracks on the way home from school or grocery shopping. Planes flew high above, always just out of sight.
I was drawn to the detail involved in the model trains. I had no formal concept of scale models, but I instinctively recognized the perfect proportions of the tiny wheels on each train and even the bits of shrubbery that graced the displays adding to the realism of the land the trains traveled. Time passed so quickly while I contemplated the miniature world before me that for the first time ever, my uncle had to convince me that it was time to go. After that day, I never again looked on those hobby shop visits as an unpleasant chore. I knew that the model trains would be waiting for me.
We used to travel from Colorado to Texas every summer to visit my cousins. My cousins were two boys, about the same age as me, and their house was always a blast because they had a pool, they lived near the ocean, and they had an amazing model train village set up in one of their rooms.
The two boys each had very small bedrooms right next to one another, one with a red bedspread and one with blue; identical in every way, other than the bedspreads. But one year we showed up in our old Bronco after driving for 17 hours to find that they had moved in together. Both the blue and the red bed were crowded into two rooms and in the former 2nd bedroom they had set up a large plywood table with a model train village that covered most of the small 10x10 room.
The village was extremely detailed. These two boys were about 12 and 14 years of age, but they had put work into it that gave it a professional look. The model train was a small, narrow gage engine with a few basic cars and of course, a red caboose. But it wasn't so much the train that gave the village its appeal; it was the variety of landscaping, terrain, and villages.
On one side of the table there was a low-lying village by the sea, complete with tiny boats, docks, and blue-painted water. The model train tracks swept through the edge of town, not far from the harbor, with an old fashioned train station and loading dock situated just so.
As the train chugged along the tracks away from the seaside village, it passed a short beach before it began a small ascent up into the hills away from the sea. There it passed miniature forests, mountain glens and the occasional plastic deer or fox hiding in the trees. There was even an RV out for a campout next to a small picnic table.
The train meandered through the hills around to the far side of the table where it met with another village. This time the village was a mining town, complete with a painted-on tumbling river for gold-panning, saloons and a hotel on the main street, and a mine next to the tallest hill on the edge of the town. The train passed and slowed down considerably right next to the mine.
After the mountain town, the model train began a gentle ascent around toward the middle of the table where a beautiful valley opened up and there was a woodland lake with an old farmhouse near-by. Tiny people were situated outside the farmhouse: a farmer working in a miniature field and children waving from the porch of the house. The train slowed again as it passed by.
After circling the valley with the farmhouse, the model train then chugged back up a short hill past a road with a few model cars placed strategically in front of the flashing railroad crossing sign. The barriers would lower and rise as the train passed. After this, the model train once again descended back around to the front of the table where it began at the seaside village.
The terrain was truly beautiful and the details precise. Nothing was left undone; while watching the model train go about its scheduled course, one could lose himself in the trip, imagining he were actually on the train, seeing the sights on a life-sized scale. I used to watch the train for long periods of time, delighted when it slowed at the right times, always watching to see if the railroad crossing barriers lowered on time. It was peaceful, with the only sound as that of the chugging train that blew a small whistle when it approached the mine and when it passed the road.
Several days later, on our long drive back to Colorado, I watched the scenery go by out the car window, remembering my miniature vacation with the model train. We passed wheat field, cotton fields, small towns, large cities, and campgrounds. As we made our way north, we climbed into the foothills, passed rivers and streams, and saw life-sized railroad crossings. We even had the pleasure of seeing several real-life trains on our trip and they made me smile.
I haven't had much opportunity to ride on life-sized trains, and when I have, it usually hasn't been for pleasure, but rather, for the necessity of getting somewhere in a timely fashion. But there is pleasure to be found in riding a train the old-fashioned way, watching the trees, meadows and small towns go by, seeing a view only available to those on the track.
But if the opportunity isn't possible, the next best thing is a model railroad. When you take the time to set up your own model railroad in a spare room or basement, you can take the old fashioned vacation of your dreams without leaving your own home.
The two boys each had very small bedrooms right next to one another, one with a red bedspread and one with blue; identical in every way, other than the bedspreads. But one year we showed up in our old Bronco after driving for 17 hours to find that they had moved in together. Both the blue and the red bed were crowded into two rooms and in the former 2nd bedroom they had set up a large plywood table with a model train village that covered most of the small 10x10 room.
The village was extremely detailed. These two boys were about 12 and 14 years of age, but they had put work into it that gave it a professional look. The model train was a small, narrow gage engine with a few basic cars and of course, a red caboose. But it wasn't so much the train that gave the village its appeal; it was the variety of landscaping, terrain, and villages.
On one side of the table there was a low-lying village by the sea, complete with tiny boats, docks, and blue-painted water. The model train tracks swept through the edge of town, not far from the harbor, with an old fashioned train station and loading dock situated just so.
As the train chugged along the tracks away from the seaside village, it passed a short beach before it began a small ascent up into the hills away from the sea. There it passed miniature forests, mountain glens and the occasional plastic deer or fox hiding in the trees. There was even an RV out for a campout next to a small picnic table.
The train meandered through the hills around to the far side of the table where it met with another village. This time the village was a mining town, complete with a painted-on tumbling river for gold-panning, saloons and a hotel on the main street, and a mine next to the tallest hill on the edge of the town. The train passed and slowed down considerably right next to the mine.
After the mountain town, the model train began a gentle ascent around toward the middle of the table where a beautiful valley opened up and there was a woodland lake with an old farmhouse near-by. Tiny people were situated outside the farmhouse: a farmer working in a miniature field and children waving from the porch of the house. The train slowed again as it passed by.
After circling the valley with the farmhouse, the model train then chugged back up a short hill past a road with a few model cars placed strategically in front of the flashing railroad crossing sign. The barriers would lower and rise as the train passed. After this, the model train once again descended back around to the front of the table where it began at the seaside village.
The terrain was truly beautiful and the details precise. Nothing was left undone; while watching the model train go about its scheduled course, one could lose himself in the trip, imagining he were actually on the train, seeing the sights on a life-sized scale. I used to watch the train for long periods of time, delighted when it slowed at the right times, always watching to see if the railroad crossing barriers lowered on time. It was peaceful, with the only sound as that of the chugging train that blew a small whistle when it approached the mine and when it passed the road.
Several days later, on our long drive back to Colorado, I watched the scenery go by out the car window, remembering my miniature vacation with the model train. We passed wheat field, cotton fields, small towns, large cities, and campgrounds. As we made our way north, we climbed into the foothills, passed rivers and streams, and saw life-sized railroad crossings. We even had the pleasure of seeing several real-life trains on our trip and they made me smile.
I haven't had much opportunity to ride on life-sized trains, and when I have, it usually hasn't been for pleasure, but rather, for the necessity of getting somewhere in a timely fashion. But there is pleasure to be found in riding a train the old-fashioned way, watching the trees, meadows and small towns go by, seeing a view only available to those on the track.
But if the opportunity isn't possible, the next best thing is a model railroad. When you take the time to set up your own model railroad in a spare room or basement, you can take the old fashioned vacation of your dreams without leaving your own home.
Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club. . . A Tradition!
Published by Kathy on Monday, May 09, 2005 at 7:36 AM.
By Kathy A. Schaeffer
For some reason, model trains and Christmas seem to "go together like a horse and carriage." The sentiment is no different in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, because in this central Pennsylvania old coal mining town, the model railroad display takes visitors back to the past every December. . . back to the days when the rail ruled, and back to a much less hectic period of time.
If you are anywhere near Northumberland County, a trip to the Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club's layout found on East Independence Street in Shamokin is well worth the trip. If you are familiar with the Shamokin and Sunbury area the way it was in the 1950s era, it will be even more enjoyable because that is what's represented in this huge display done in HO scale.
The club was formed by fourteen men in 1978 and soon they were starting to build a display that could be transported around to different locations. It was 10 x 22 ft. in size. After that, a larger layout was started and named the Pennsylvania and Anthracite Southern Railroad. A custom had begun and it just kept expanding year after year.
Construction of the layout that is currently shown to visitors during the holiday season began in mid 1986. Club members, in order to help guests get an idea of where various points of interest were located, started building some landmark buildings that were in the area in the mid 1950s. Each holiday season that they opened the display to the public, more people came, and more ideas were offered to them for things to add to the display. It was exciting for people to see buildings that were recognizable. For some of the older visitors, memories of the buildings were recalled for the way they looked in the 50s, and for younger people, many of the same buildings were recognizable as they still look and are standing today.
Interest in the exhibit as well as word about its existence spread rapidly over the years. Today, more than four thousand visitors stop by to view it each holiday season. Some of the guests simply love model trains and watching them run on such a grand level. Others enjoy remembering how the area looked fifty years ago. And still others are drawn because of that ever-present "horse and carriage" thing concerning model trains and Christmas. Many of the baby boomers viewing the layout remember playing with model trains especially during the holidays, and the older visitors often share tales about the Christmas trees of old not being complete without having a working model train on the floor beneath its branches.
The current display, "The Shamokin Lines" is 3,000 square feet in area. The display's representation starts at the Pennsylvania Railroad yards in Northumberland, the model trains continue to Sunbury across the Susquehanna River, and past Shamokin and Mt. Carmel. The presentation sports 1,400 feet of railroad track and hundreds of local buildings and landmarks.
Shamokin is located 65 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg, 85 miles from the Pocono region and Scranton, 127 miles from Philadelphia, and 100 miles from the Penn State home of State College. Be sure to check with the club for the schedule because the display is only open certain nights of the week near the holidays. To date, entrance has been free with a donation box available.
Generations of children have looked forward to having a model train set up beneath the Christmas tree. For as long as there have been railroads, there have been children playing with train toys. Even in Victorian days, children pulled toy trains with strings. There's something about that clicking sound a train makes on the tracks, or the train whistle blowing that brings out a feeling of nostalgia in many folks when thinking about trains.
The German toy maker, Marklin, started manufacturing the model train we recognize today (complete system with tracks, etc.) in 1891. Three different gauges of these tinplate trains were made in the beginning and then the O gauge was added a few years later. In a relatively short time, other manufactures and some from the United States such as Lionel, Ives, and American Flyer started making their own lines of model trains and the tradition of model railroading had begun.
For some reason, model trains and Christmas seem to "go together like a horse and carriage." The sentiment is no different in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, because in this central Pennsylvania old coal mining town, the model railroad display takes visitors back to the past every December. . . back to the days when the rail ruled, and back to a much less hectic period of time.
If you are anywhere near Northumberland County, a trip to the Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club's layout found on East Independence Street in Shamokin is well worth the trip. If you are familiar with the Shamokin and Sunbury area the way it was in the 1950s era, it will be even more enjoyable because that is what's represented in this huge display done in HO scale.
The club was formed by fourteen men in 1978 and soon they were starting to build a display that could be transported around to different locations. It was 10 x 22 ft. in size. After that, a larger layout was started and named the Pennsylvania and Anthracite Southern Railroad. A custom had begun and it just kept expanding year after year.
Construction of the layout that is currently shown to visitors during the holiday season began in mid 1986. Club members, in order to help guests get an idea of where various points of interest were located, started building some landmark buildings that were in the area in the mid 1950s. Each holiday season that they opened the display to the public, more people came, and more ideas were offered to them for things to add to the display. It was exciting for people to see buildings that were recognizable. For some of the older visitors, memories of the buildings were recalled for the way they looked in the 50s, and for younger people, many of the same buildings were recognizable as they still look and are standing today.
Interest in the exhibit as well as word about its existence spread rapidly over the years. Today, more than four thousand visitors stop by to view it each holiday season. Some of the guests simply love model trains and watching them run on such a grand level. Others enjoy remembering how the area looked fifty years ago. And still others are drawn because of that ever-present "horse and carriage" thing concerning model trains and Christmas. Many of the baby boomers viewing the layout remember playing with model trains especially during the holidays, and the older visitors often share tales about the Christmas trees of old not being complete without having a working model train on the floor beneath its branches.
The current display, "The Shamokin Lines" is 3,000 square feet in area. The display's representation starts at the Pennsylvania Railroad yards in Northumberland, the model trains continue to Sunbury across the Susquehanna River, and past Shamokin and Mt. Carmel. The presentation sports 1,400 feet of railroad track and hundreds of local buildings and landmarks.
Shamokin is located 65 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg, 85 miles from the Pocono region and Scranton, 127 miles from Philadelphia, and 100 miles from the Penn State home of State College. Be sure to check with the club for the schedule because the display is only open certain nights of the week near the holidays. To date, entrance has been free with a donation box available.
Generations of children have looked forward to having a model train set up beneath the Christmas tree. For as long as there have been railroads, there have been children playing with train toys. Even in Victorian days, children pulled toy trains with strings. There's something about that clicking sound a train makes on the tracks, or the train whistle blowing that brings out a feeling of nostalgia in many folks when thinking about trains.
The German toy maker, Marklin, started manufacturing the model train we recognize today (complete system with tracks, etc.) in 1891. Three different gauges of these tinplate trains were made in the beginning and then the O gauge was added a few years later. In a relatively short time, other manufactures and some from the United States such as Lionel, Ives, and American Flyer started making their own lines of model trains and the tradition of model railroading had begun.
Model Trains at the Brandywine River Museum
0 Comments Published by jorty on Wednesday, May 04, 2005 at 1:09 PM.
By Victoria Miller
If you're looking for an incredible model train display, look no further than The Brandywine River Museum's annual holiday train display. Located in suburban Philadelphia in Chadds Ford, PA., the museum showcases an awesome train display every holiday season. If you are a train lover and live near or are planning to visit the Philadelphia area during the holiday season, you should make it a point to check out this incredible display.
The museum is famous for their extensive collection of Wyeth art (original paintings by N.C. Wyeth, his son Andrew and his grandson Jamie dominate the wall space in this museum-- in fact, an entire floor of the museum is dedicated to the Wyeth family artwork) but every November the museum opens up its second floor to showcase their gigantic model train display. Usually the display can be viewed during the entire holiday season-- generally for the week before Thanksgiving through the first week of January.
Traditionally dubbed "A Brandywine Christmas" the model train display is just one of several special exhibits that the museum offers during the holiday season (other displays include antique dolls and dollhouses and vintage holiday book illustrations). Features of the O-gauge train display include five running trains and a fifty plus car freight train. There are a couple thousand feet of track and a realistic looking miniature village complete with lit Christmas trees. The Herr's potato chip factory is part of the landscape, as are a neighborhood of houses, a church and skaters frolicking on a pond. There's even a mountain that includes a Christmas tree farm and if you look really close you may just see Santa's sleigh flying high in the sky. Little ones will love this display and there is even a real live conductor on site.
The museum is located on US Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA and it opens at 9:30 AM every day except Christmas day. The day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year's are generally the most crowded days, so try to get there early to avoid the crowds. For more information on the train display you can contact the museum at 610-388-2700.
If you're looking for an incredible model train display, look no further than The Brandywine River Museum's annual holiday train display. Located in suburban Philadelphia in Chadds Ford, PA., the museum showcases an awesome train display every holiday season. If you are a train lover and live near or are planning to visit the Philadelphia area during the holiday season, you should make it a point to check out this incredible display.
The museum is famous for their extensive collection of Wyeth art (original paintings by N.C. Wyeth, his son Andrew and his grandson Jamie dominate the wall space in this museum-- in fact, an entire floor of the museum is dedicated to the Wyeth family artwork) but every November the museum opens up its second floor to showcase their gigantic model train display. Usually the display can be viewed during the entire holiday season-- generally for the week before Thanksgiving through the first week of January.
Traditionally dubbed "A Brandywine Christmas" the model train display is just one of several special exhibits that the museum offers during the holiday season (other displays include antique dolls and dollhouses and vintage holiday book illustrations). Features of the O-gauge train display include five running trains and a fifty plus car freight train. There are a couple thousand feet of track and a realistic looking miniature village complete with lit Christmas trees. The Herr's potato chip factory is part of the landscape, as are a neighborhood of houses, a church and skaters frolicking on a pond. There's even a mountain that includes a Christmas tree farm and if you look really close you may just see Santa's sleigh flying high in the sky. Little ones will love this display and there is even a real live conductor on site.
The museum is located on US Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA and it opens at 9:30 AM every day except Christmas day. The day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year's are generally the most crowded days, so try to get there early to avoid the crowds. For more information on the train display you can contact the museum at 610-388-2700.
