My Hanukkah train took the year off by staying on the shelf this year. It has gotten long over the years including the new car this year so I don't run it very often anymore. We have several Christmas trains as well with one round the tree.
Joe Staten Island West
We have a train under the tree, a Bachmann On30 PRR passenger set, and more Chirstmas village houses than will fit. I had plans years ago for a larger Christmas On30 layout, maybe in a year or two here in the new house.
But just like the old HO layout, the new HO layout currently in planning will provide display running as well as operating sessions. In display mode, 5 dedicated loops will provide lots of action.
I consider good display running just as important as good operating session design.
Sheldon
I love running trains during Christmas, specially after getting new trains!
I was planning on building a 4x8 Lionel Polar express set, but I ran out of time and money. No trains around my tree this year. But will do this next year.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
My typical Christmas layout enhancements were additions of Santa and a few of his helpers to street scenes.
I don't get up at ungodly hours to run trains, though. I used to stay up until ungodly hours for the same reason, though. More or less the same thing.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Sometimes to old alarm clock just goes off in my head and it is time to get up. That was the case this morning, so I hopped out of bed at 3:30 AM. and was ready to go. Did not have to go to work until 6:45 A.M., so what to do?
The train room is calling, and I've got two hours to play. With coffee in hand it was down the stairs, on with the lights, flip a switch to the layout and the street lights began to burn, signal lights marked their place after turning on the DCC Command Center and the F unit began its' start up process.
As I surveyed the layout you get the feeling folks are already up and going to work, or holiday shopping, only one day left.
No car cards, no schedules just running trains. After all Tony Koester says, "It's your railroad, have fun."
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Line, SC Marry Christmas-Happy Holidays to all.