model train in and around a christmas tree

[Anonymous]

I would like to know if anyone has ever designed a christmas tree that had a model train that goes in and around a christmas tree. I am planning to build something like this. Has anyone ever tried?

Would apreciate any response

[SteamFreak]

A while back I read a thread where someone was asking for advice on how to do just that. I think he was doing it in N scale and was getting advice on how to build a stable platform that would support the tracks inside the branches about 1/3 up the tree, but I can't remember if it was this forum or the Bachmann forum.

[ttrigg]

Many of us have had trains running around the tree for years.  Myself, I've had, in the past, a simple sheet of plywood with 2x2 under frame running a "flat" HO set up where I would raid the "real" layout of a few buildings and such.  Then I moved to a 4ft square N scale multilevel, with mountains behind the tree and the tree platform built into the layout.  Now just have a 5 ft square of plywood, with 2x2 under frame, for the Large Scale stuff, no scenery or buildings, with the tree sitting in the middle of the platform.  I think that this was the last year for any of this as the wife wants to fill the underside of the tree with presents.  When this tree went up, the platform was under the tree but as the stack of goodies built up the tracks were covered and about the 15th of Dec., the train was put back in the storage shed.

I have never tried (or even thought about) running the train up inside the tree.  Since we have a tree full of antique European decorations I kind of doubt that the wife will allow anything to move inside the tree.