All Aboard!

Sign that says in red lettering "All Aboard!"

Every year Eric and I have a tradition of going to the Trains at Northpark. We always enjoy it, and although the setup is pretty much the same every year, it’s part of our tradition.

Santa inside a wreath holding a birdhouse and a toy bear

Going to see the Trains benefits Ronald McDonald House, and you can see that there are even cars that with a donation can be painted with the donor’s information. There are so many donated train cars already running on the tracks that they’ve had to put the overflow here.

train cars on shelves on a wall

The exhibit is a bit like taking a tour across America. We start with San Francisco…see Lombard Street?

miniature Lombard Street and the Golden Gate Bridge

And the painted ladies (the houses – don’t go looking for trollops)?

miniature San Francisco with Lombard Street and the "painted ladies" row houses

When you move a little further along, you find the desert and some hobos. Did you ever read that book about the Boxcar kids?

miniature abandoned train car with hobos around a campfire

And there’s even a whole section for Dallas. See Reunion Tower?

miniature downtown Dallas with Reunion Tower

A riverboat…

miniature paddlewheel riverboat

And even the circus…

miniature circus with circus cars with animals and a ferris wheel

Don’t you love the striped big tops?

miniature circus with red and white striped tents

But my favorite parts are the winter in the city scenes… I love all the shoppers with their packages.

miniature shop with a guy climbing a ladder to decorate trees

Look at the little wreath on the wrought iron fence!

miniature horse and buggy

The National Tree in front of the White House….

miniature version of the Christmas Tree at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Even a vintage Winnebago trailer (I believe referred to as a Mini-Winnie)!

miniature scene of a park with a snowman and trees and a camper

And the cabs in New York City. Love the Volkwagon with the Christmas tree strapped to the roof!

line of miniature yellow cabs and one red car with a Christmas tree on top

Such an attention to detail in these scenes. And you could literally spend a long time looking at all of it, which is why I never complain that we go every year!

It’s also fun to see how the mall is decorated. I loved the reindeer hanging from the ceiling.

reindeer flying

Until next year!

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