By Peter Wine

Author  Bio The idea of a train during the holidays isn't limited to those of us in the hobby.

The holidays in Dayton, Ohio The idea of a train during the holidays isn't limited to those of us in the hobby. Whenever you go into a department store, toy store, hobby store or even discount store in November you'll see them. The holiday trains. They're everywhere. In all sizes and prices.

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But commercial train displays are a bit different. Then, the bigger the better. There is something truly magical about a big train running during the holidays.

I've been working with G-scale trains since 1996, when my wife saw a show on HGTV, and we went to a train show. But it was the fall of 2000 that changed things. I had been laid off as a computer help desk guru, and had some time on my hands. So I began working with nationally known garden railroad designer/builder Paul Busse. First, we went to the Chicago Botanic Garden, to build a special 3 train holiday display (where the kids at the Garden were making the buildings.) Then it was off to the SouthEast Pennsylvania Transit Authority's headquarters building for a major holiday display and the New York Botanical Garden. What a way to spend November!

Well, fast forward to 2002. I've been doing a number of things in the last two years, from building custom web sites for clients to building garden railroads for folks in the Dayton area. Choo Choo Fannin, one of the club members of the Miami Valley Garden Railway Society (MVGRS) convinced me that we could get some clients to do a holiday garden railroad at some local businesses. So the search began for which one(s.) We went to many places, but the one that worked out was the Webster Street Market in downtown Dayton.

Located in a railroad building, it's a great location! According to former Manager Chris Vendely, Requarth Lumber originally constructed the building in 1911 as the inbound warehouse for the Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, which was later bought out by the B&O. The building has undergone quite a facelift.

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Construction of this real garden railroad (except that it's on a bunch of tables...) began November 12th, when we moved the stuff that was in a holding area down the basement. By the 27th, and with the help of our sponsors, I brought in scenic rocks, dirt, ballast rocks and live plants, and tera-formed them into a magical scene.

One day at the Chicago Botanic Garden, we were doing construction of the holiday railroad on Halloween, and there were lots of children visiting the main train display, (the Jr. Railroad.) Paul Busse and I stayed after the end of the normal workday to see some of the children in their costumes.

Paul's face lit up as he watched the children enjoying the railroad he had created in April and May. I asked him how often he was able to see the faces of those who visit the train display he creates. He responded, "Not enough.!" I was to find out what he meant. During the next two years, I spent some time working with Paul, and as soon as construction is finished, and trains are running, and the locals have been trained, Paul and the crew leave town. We really don't get to see the results of what we do.

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That's different at the Webster Street Market. Part of my agreement with owner Sandy Mendelson was that I'd be able to sell my video "Holiday Garden Railroads Vol 1," and pictures, so I've been there every day. I always have a camera nearby, and get lots of pictures of the folks who come to see the railroad. It's really a great way to spend the holidays! The smiles mean a lot to me, and my wife Edy, who comes down every once in a while.

Compared to some of the displays that Paul does, this is a modest railroad. But I'm most proud of the fact that this really IS a garden railroad. At 15 x 15.5 feet, it takes up about one booth space in the market. I get to water the plants everyday, and they really are thriving indoors. (It helps to have a lot of glass adjacent to the railroad!) And I have every intention of growing the railroad over time, because this is not just a holiday railroad, but a permanent addition to the Webster Street Market. The bonus here, is that the Norfolk Southern and CSX mainlines run right by the Market, so it is possible to see 6 trains at once - 3 inside and 3 outside!

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The Webster Street Market Garden Railroad is one of four garden railroads that Dayton has during the holiday season. I've also been decorating the Stutzman's Nursery Garden Railroad (another year round railroad!) for the holidays. The members of the MVGRS built the railroad, and help maintain it.

MVGRS club members put up a holiday train around a tree at Groby's Garden Center, and a one-day railroad at Polen Farm on December 7th. Also on the 7th at the Meadowview Nursery was an open house for "the nice LGB layout made by them and lots of home grown unusual poinsettias and nice greenery. Oh, it's LGB American by the way......and it has sound and smokes!" as described by MVGRS Marketing Director, Frank Klatt.

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There is also the Kettering Tower Railroad, which has been embellished by the MVGRS and is set up each year by the building's employees. Finally, we have the Clifton Mill's 3 million lights and miniature village which includes a garden railroad (originally put in with the help of the MVGRS.)

For next year, I'm hoping to add one or two more garden railroads, as well as add to the railroad at the Market.

How can you get more garden railroads in your area?

First you have to have people to go out and talk to businesses, build the buildings and set up the railroad. The most important part is to start early. Most companies set their promotion budget and schedule early in the year, and if you wait until summer (or fall) you'll greatly increase the difficulty and reduce the chances of success. As difficult as it is to talk holiday in January and February, that's the time to get started.

If you already have a holiday garden railroad in your area, make sure you take lots of pictures, and include the people who come to see it! A company will want to see the atmosphere you can create, not just the railroad. In order to defray the cost of construction, I've been selling billboard space on the railroad, and of course sponsors get to be included in the brochures we hand out, and I have business cards from our sponsors available at the railroad. You have to look at what the company will get out of it as much as what you need.



Here's hoping you get to see a train this holiday season!

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