(Enlarge) Nathaniel Skarupa, 2, of Burtonsville, gets a boost from his father, Stephen, during the Festival of Trains at the B&O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station on Nov. 29. They’re looking at a multilevel O-scale model train layout. (staff photo by Sarah Nix)

What is it about the connection between trains and Christmas, anyway?

Well, according to lore provided by no less a source than the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, it all began when locals of German descent started adding electric trains to the nativity scenes and ideal villages constructed beneath their Christmas trees. The train garden became a local tradition in firehouses as well as homes, but even those firefighters would have to admit that a train station is at least as suitable a venue.

As for everyone else whose roots aren't in this area, didn't all those kids -- all the boys, at least-- want train sets from Santa? And the girls, the little village set-ups? What's not to like?

In any case, both of our area train museums, Baltimore's own and the affiliated B&O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station, are doing the holiday proud with model layouts/train gardens, festive decor and, of course, visits from the Big Man himself.

Each venue offers its own attractions, too.

The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, the birthplace of American railroading, contains the oldest and most comprehensive collection of railroad artifacts in the Western hemisphere, including the oldest original American locomotive (1836); the oldest operational steam locomotive (1857); an operating replica of Tom Thumb, the first American-built steam locomotive; the world's first streamlined diesel and the most powerful steam locomotive ever built, as well as the reconstructed (post-snowstorm-collapse) 1884 roundhouse.

And more to the point for this article's purposes, it also claims the largest holiday display of toy and model train layouts in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Not only that, through Dec. 21 Santa will be a fellow passenger on rides at noon and 2 p.m. Saturdays and at 1 p.m. on Sundays. On Wednesdays-Fridays through Dec. 30, there's one ride daily, at 11:30 a.m., but without Santa.

In addition to the station's own layouts, local train clubs are setting up their own exhibits weekly. Holiday visitors can enjoy seasonal music as they tour and dress in vintage attire to pose with a similarly vintage train to have their photos taken at Dr. Coupler's B&O Railroad Photorium (starting at $18.95 plus tax). Especially for little ones are crafts, stories, videos and Santa's Secret Shop for their own gift-buying needs.

The Ellicott City Station (1831), specializing in railroad-related social history rather than equipment, is the oldest railroad station in America and the finish line of the famous race between the Tom Thumb and a horse, who won. This year, the 25th anniversary of its annual Holiday Festival of Trains is being celebrated with a mini-Thomas the Tank Engine layout in G-scale and a brand-new, custom-built, 360-degree, multi-level O-scale layout.

Because many of the station's regular activities are associated with the Civil War, on opening weekend Santa dressed in the clothes he wore during that era, a sort of "Uncle Sam-ta" suit with a jacket of stars on a deep blue field along with red and white striped pants.

"More adults ask about it than kids," says Kevin Rawlings, a sometime Civil War re-enactor with a real beard who can offer a little history lesson along with the more customary banter.

On weekends before the holidays, though, Santa plans to relax in the station's red caboose, and when he's back checking last-minute work at the toy shop on weekdays, children can drop off their Christmas letters in the station's telegraph office for speedy delivery.

Out in the car house, where the train garden is built anew each year, volunteers Larry Harrington, Tom Sellers and Tony Zingarelli have outdone themselves in honor of the 25th anniversary.

"This year, it's really cute. It has five levels, with a bus and a diner on Main Street," reports site manager Adele Air. And, of course, Thomas the Tank engine, as perceived and constructed by volunteer Jeff Tomecek, always pulls in the crowds.

Festivities at the Baltimore museum, at 901 W. Pratt St. (410-752-2490), run through Dec. 30. Hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for children 2-12 years old.

At the Ellicott City Station Museum, 2711 Maryland Ave. (410-461-1945), the fun keeps chugging on through Jan. 25, Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with extra open days Dec. 29-30. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children 2-12 years.

A combo ticket with reduced admission rates can be bought at either site; for just $2 more, you get entry to the other museum, valid for six months from the date of purchase.

Find more information at borail.org (including a coupon for $1 off admission for each member of the party during the festivities) and ecborail.org.

But please note: Both locations will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.

user comments (0)