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Post by healey36 on Nov 10, 2024 15:23:14 GMT
From the TCA, a list of some of the holiday train displays (gardens) located in and around Baltimore: Holiday Train Gardens of BaltimoreIn addition, there is an excellent garden presented each year at The Shops at Kenilworth in Towson, Maryland. Well worth a visit. Know of some others? Post 'em here... |
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 10, 2024 18:58:56 GMT
The Arbutus Firehall typically has a medium sized HOLIDAY TRAIN display which is well worth the trip if you are in the general vicinity. The local TCA Chapter also uses this location for one of their train meets coming up shortly.
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Post by healey36 on Nov 10, 2024 19:24:47 GMT
I recall years ago going to a small meet at the Arbutus fire hall the weekend before Christmas. It was always fun. Good place to shop for vintage Christmas garden stuff.
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Nov 10, 2024 22:39:02 GMT
If you're on the south side of Baltimore, you might want to consider a trek (about an hour and a half) down to the RFC Train Garden in Cambridge, which is on the way to Ocean City. As I've posted a number of times on the forum, I've been working with the RFC crew to add to the already wonderful layout, and this year we're working on a depiction of downtown Cambridge, including my scratch builds of the old train station (featured in issue 339 (Dec.-Jan.) of OGR mag.), and the animated bascule bridge over Cambridge Creek, as well as other familiar local structures, such as the new holiday decoration of the model of the old fire station, which is now home to the train garden itself! The train garden is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, so drop by and help us celebrate -- we'll be holding open house most evenings in December! |
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Post by Adam on Nov 10, 2024 22:46:28 GMT
Almost makes me want to visit Baltimore, almost. Kidding aside, it looks like a wonderful display.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 10, 2024 23:22:21 GMT
While a bit further south by about 30 minutes give or take there is a nice holiday train garden in the Marley Station Mall. The new Mall owners tried to defacto evict the train club who put the show together with much higher rents but the negative press was so persuasive that good triumphed over profits.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 10, 2024 23:23:17 GMT
Almost makes me want to visit Baltimore, almost. Kidding aside, it looks like a wonderful display. What do you mean almost?!
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Post by healey36 on Nov 11, 2024 10:03:22 GMT
Almost makes me want to visit Baltimore, almost. Kidding aside, it looks like a wonderful display. Come on down, Adam; just be sure to wear the Kevlar liner in your sport coat if staying downtown. Are there any holiday displays similar to this up in Massachusetts? A friend of mine helps run one outside of Philly, and I recall going to one out on Long Island when visiting family when I was a kid. It’s not completely a Baltimore thing (at least I don’t think so).
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Post by healey36 on Nov 12, 2024 18:07:42 GMT
Pics from 2023's garden at The Shops at Kenilworth:  |
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Post by Adam on Nov 13, 2024 1:45:59 GMT
Almost makes me want to visit Baltimore, almost. Kidding aside, it looks like a wonderful display. Come on down, Adam; just be sure to wear the Kevlar liner in your sport coat if staying downtown. Are there any holiday displays similar to this up in Massachusetts? A friend of mine helps run one outside of Philly, and I recall going to one out on Long Island when visiting family when I was a kid. It’s not completely a Baltimore thing (at least I don’t think so). Those are some beautiful photos. If course I am kidding, I would love to visit and see the display. I'm not aware of anything similar up here, aside from what we see at the annual show at Amherst, but I know if smaller ones.
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Post by healey36 on Nov 13, 2024 2:45:18 GMT
I frequently hear that the Christmas “garden” is a uniquely Baltimore phenomenon, but I had my doubts. If I get the time, I plan to get out and visit a few this season.
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Post by atsda on Nov 13, 2024 15:25:09 GMT
I have not been to a holiday train garden in the area in years. The last time was to the Kenilworth layout. I am not sure if Tom Sellars and Toni Zingarelli are still involved with it. There is also one at Engine House 41 in Highlandtown on S. Conklin St – and at many other firehouse locations. If you want to see the big trains, don’t forget to visit the Baltimore and Ohio Train Museum and the Baltimore trolley Museum – where you can ride one of the old trolleys. Alfred
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Post by RFCTrainGarden on Nov 14, 2024 22:19:15 GMT
Yeah, we've been doing it since 1934, have documentation and photos from many years, and have been in the same building the whole time.
We've gotten coverage in the Washington Post, and both the chairman and co-chairman are TCA members, yet for some reason getting any acknowledgement from TCA continues to elude.
Visit rfctraingarden.org, there are photos and an incomplete history section (was going through library microfilm to build out the history when COVID hit, have not been able to get back at it).
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Post by highvoltage on Nov 14, 2024 22:23:39 GMT
I frequently hear that the Christmas “garden” is a uniquely Baltimore phenomenon, but I had my doubts. If I get the time, I plan to get out and visit a few this season. Calling an indoor display a train "garden" is uniquely Baltimore. But I'm sure there are hundreds more train "displays" scattered around the country.
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Post by RFCTrainGarden on Nov 15, 2024 2:07:00 GMT
I frequently hear that the Christmas “garden” is a uniquely Baltimore phenomenon, but I had my doubts. If I get the time, I plan to get out and visit a few this season. Calling an indoor display a train "garden" is uniquely Baltimore. But I'm sure there are hundreds more train "displays" scattered around the country. It's their being in firehouses and built by the fire departments that is unique.
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