The museum is hosting ‘Toys, Games, & Trains’ through this Saturday, January 5th.  The exhibit features a model railroad display by the Piedmont “S” Gaugers, along with antique toys and games….take a step back in time, slow down and enjoy the tiny scenery.

While you’re marveling, be sure to check out the museum’s gift shop for a treasure or two to take home – and know that a North Carolina staple or two – Old Salem Cookies and Cheese Stars are back and available for purchase!

The Kings Mountain Historical Museum is at 100 East Mountain Street, and their hours are 10a-4pm through Saturday, January 5th.

Enjoy!

Been working so long I wonder

Will I ever get back to my trains….

It seems to have been a lifetime

Since I’ve gotten some lube oil stains.

-

Not that I have all the time in the world

But I do have most weekends “off”…

Then club meetings will switch to Wednesdays,

That sure has happened enough!

-

I’m strategizing about my train set,

Adding staging tracks to the display….

Then hooking up power and cleaning the rails

And then sitting down to play.

-

Been thinking about selling an item or two

To finance some metal wheel sets….

If I can agree with myself what to do

(That’s as organized as it ever gets!).

—J. Caswell

Ron Matz was in Dundalk for a look at one of the biggest on the East Coast.

It’s a spectacular display. The Train Garden at the Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company includes nine trains and six levels. New this year, a tribute to mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and much more.

“Since this is the tenth year since 9/11 we have a big suspension bridge commemorating the firefighters and police officers lost on 9/11 in New York.  We even have patches of each police officer and firefighter who passed away on the bridge.  That’s really big for us,” said Wayne Nickel of the Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company. “We have the Orioles playing the Yankees, the Ravens beating up on the Steelers, the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon is new this year.  A local gentleman made it for us.  It’s made of clay. It’s a fantastic display.”

[worldnow id=6548429 width=385 height=288 type=video]

Bill Price is one of the volunteers who helps set up this mammoth display. It takes six weeks to make it happen.

“It takes a lot of work and a lot of devotion,” Price said. “The greatest reward is to see a child come in here and their face light up like a Christmas tree. That is our reward.”

You’ll see crab houses, a scene from Back River, the Colts’ No. 19 (Johnny Unitas) and trains galore.

“I take care of the track wiring. We have about 1,700 feet of wiring just for the tracks alone. I also do some of the wiring for some of the animation.  Thousands of feet of electrical wiring for the animation and the lights. It’s a lot,” volunteer Bill Eichner said.

The Wise Avenue Train Garden is free but they ask adults for donations so this Dundalk holiday tradition can continue.

“The people in this area have always been really good about donating to us and that’s why we plan on keeping this here for a long time,” said Nickel. “Attendance is up this year. Since we opened on Nov. 26, we’ve had 10,000 so far and we expect to go over 30,000 this year.”

“It’s tremendous.  We work right up until the last minute before we open.  Typically the last night before we open is an all-nighter.  It’s great fun, especially seeing the trains running,” said Eichner.

The Wise Avenue Train Garden is open though Jan. 8. For more information, click here.

http://www.facebook.com/v/201136676599437

Hagia Sophia miniture constructed of plant material

In 2010 the model railroad display at the National Botanic Garden in Washington, DC features famous structures from around the world. The structures in the display are built using plant materials and display amazing detail.

In this image you can see a modern train streaking across the top of the back drop from left to right. Towards the center right you can see a switch locomotive leaving the tunnel.

This image was captured without the use of a flash or a tripod. It was taken with a Nikon D300 using a Sigma 10-20 mm f/4.0-5.6 lens. ISO 1600, Exposure 1/15 sec at f/6.3.

Today is the first day of my annual spring break. If ever there was a major league perk in my line of work, spring break is it. In honor of this wonderful vacation, I thought it would be appropriate to share a photo that I shot a couple of years ago in the Durham Museum in Omaha Nebraska. This is the suspension of a train they have on display. I know next to nothing about trains, other than the obvious fact that they make for some wonderful images.This one, as you can see, is named for this week that is known as “Spring Break.”