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Trains around the tree

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  • Member since
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  • From: Eastern Ohio
  • 615 posts
Posted by cnw4001 on Thursday, November 24, 2005 8:54 AM
When practical, not every year.

If you're in Cincinnati stop by the Cinergy lobby between now and December 31 and you'll see lots of trains around the tree. The B & O O gage layout which has been there at Christmas for more years than I remember.

Dale
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Posted by dgwinup on Thursday, November 24, 2005 9:18 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

Where do all the presents go??? or do you put a snow plow on the engine and plow your way through all the gifts, sounds like fun !!!!


That was always my problem! No place to put presents with a train around the tree. So I solved my problem a few years ago - - I put the train IN the tree!

An N scale circle of track, mounted on 1" foam, painted and ballasted. The foam was cut so it resembled a 4-spoke wagon wheel and was installed between upper and lower sections of the artificial tree. The first year I used it, no one noticed the track in the tree until I powered it up and the little steamer came chugging around to the front.

Unfortunately, when I was taking the tree down last year, I damaged the track. Haven't decided yet if I will fix it for this year's tree. Sure was cute, though. Bachmann made a set specifically designed for use in a tree and I've watched e-Bay all year looking for one but was outbid on every one I saw. I also watched for a G scale set that I could put under the tree, but the bids went too high for my budget. Didn't see much in O scale that I could afford, either!

It would be nice to have it in the tree this year because my 3 year old grandson loves trains. He was too young last year to pay much attention to the train in the tree. We're going to a train show tomorrow so it should be an interesting day!

Darrell, quiet...for now
Darrell, quiet...for now
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Posted by nbrodar on Thursday, November 24, 2005 10:18 AM
Of course. Some of my eariest memories of trains around the tree.

Nick

Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 24, 2005 2:07 PM
No because I have no Children.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 24, 2005 6:25 PM
The year that there ain't a postwar (or contemperary) Lionel under my tree is the year I die!
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 24, 2005 6:43 PM
I ave a marklin set my wife won at a train show last spring that I pl,an on putting under the tree this year.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 24, 2005 6:50 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dgwinup


...Bachmann made a set specifically designed for use in a tree and I've watched e-Bay all year looking for one but was outbid on every one I saw. I also watched for a G scale set that I could put under the tree, but the bids went too high for my budget. Didn't see much in O scale that I could afford, either!

Darrell, quiet...for now


I too have been watching eBay for that Bachmann N scale set and have been outbid. Asked my LHS and they said they don't have anything to put Nscale track up in the tree. Seems there would be more of a market for this kind of gadget. I have 3 cats and a black lab so I think the train would last 3 seconds if on the ground.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 24, 2005 7:33 PM
i might put a train around the tree if i do i'll use my like-like power-loc track so the loco isn't running in carpet fibers have no idea what train i'd run.
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Posted by cnw4001 on Friday, November 25, 2005 2:28 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

i might put a train around the tree if i do i'll use my like-like power-loc track so the loco isn't running in carpet fibers have no idea what train i'd run.


You can also use clear plastic under the track to keep the carpet fibers out of the train running gear.

Dale
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  • From: Mass
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Posted by trainfreek92 on Friday, November 25, 2005 3:51 PM
not this year[V] i prefer all year round running though. also about a month ago we had a newbie that wanted 2 run his trains up the tree!!!! Tim
Running New England trains on The Maple Lead & Pine Tree Central RR from the late 50's to the early 80's in N scale
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Posted by ARTHILL on Friday, November 25, 2005 6:59 PM
I have to settle for the train around the great family dining table. Haven't done the tree thing for 50 years. You guys make me homesick. Makes me wish I had bought the HOn30 passager set for $60 bucks.
If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 25, 2005 7:35 PM
I'll be putting a train around the tree this year...or is the tree just the excuse to set up the trains in the living room? I'm actually using the Bachman ez track system for the Christmas display. My Mother (a disney nut) bought me the Hawthorn Villiage Disney train last year as a gift (1 car a month for 8 months), and so I had a simple loop...this year I just got done adding DCC to the engine, and will also include the bachman North Pole Express (also just added DCC). With a few switches, some sidings, should be complete by the time New Years rolls around... [:D]
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Posted by SP9811 on Friday, November 25, 2005 8:23 PM
Got a Athearn SP GP40M-2, "scratch" built Christmas cars, using Athearn flats and gons, and a cupola crummy. And a Athearn pack.
Thom
My SP Forum... http://sptco.proboards107.com My SP blog... http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/blog.php?u=1464 Southern Pacific Lines SP 9811 SP 9824 SP is my railroad SPH&TS #R2180 California Republic
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Posted by twcenterprises on Friday, November 25, 2005 8:31 PM
Not this year, the 16 month old son is too much of a handfull for HO scale. Probably next year, tho'

Brad

EMD - Every Model Different

ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil

CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 5, 2005 12:53 PM
Just got my train set up under the tree (we had the day off) hooked up my power-loc track into a figure eight with 2 sidings running the john deere train set and cnw steam passenger train
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Posted by jjbmish on Monday, December 5, 2005 3:21 PM
You Bet! I'll be putting my Dad's old Lionel up around the tree just as soon as the tree is up. The cat's (x3) don't like the train so they tend to stay away from the tree. (well when it's running) And the dog loves to watch it go by. Even though the kid's no longer live at home, it was always my thing to do the train! I'll put it up as long as I can under my real (not artificial) Christmas Tree.

John

Merry Christmas
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Posted by rrgrassi on Monday, December 5, 2005 3:30 PM
You bet! Alternates between childhood plastic Lionel, or daughter's Bachmann G scale. This year, it Lionel!
Ralph R. Grassi PRR, PennCentral, Conrail, SP, Cotton Belt, KCS and ATSF. My Restoration Project. Fairmont A-4: SPM 5806 c:\speeder\spm5806.jpg
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 5, 2005 4:31 PM
Click here to see what will be around my tree:
http://www.mth-railking.com/detail.asp?item=10-1211-1
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Posted by vsmith on Monday, December 5, 2005 6:04 PM
Be setting up tonight, G gauge custom bent 36" circle of track, 3 dedicated decorated cars and maybe a dedicated decorated engine this year, well see how busy I am this week [;)][:D]

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 5, 2005 7:51 PM
shouldn't we all
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Posted by BRVRR on Monday, December 5, 2005 8:15 PM
You bet. A plastic G-scale Rio Grande with radio control. It's already set-up in the family room. My grandson has been running it for the past few days. Tomorrow or the next day it goes under the tree in the living room when my wife finishes decorating the tree.

Remember its your railroad

Allan

  Track to the BRVRR Website:  http://www.brvrr.com/

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Posted by PennsyHoosier on Monday, December 5, 2005 8:57 PM
Trains go up this weekend with the tree. This year I'll be running both a Lionel and some of my nostalgic HO stuff.
Lawrence, The Pennsy Hoosier

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