The Season's Upon Us...

Mine currently is the MTH Lionel Celebration Tinplate.

My son received the Army Troop Train for his first Christmas, in 2000, so that became our official Christmas tree train. I may run others under there during the early part of the season, but the Army train will be there for the main event.

I run the polar express and the Canadian Pacific Holiday train. But any train would do. I was even toying the idea of purchasing tinplate set for some nostalgia.

@BillYo414 posted:

..it's that time of year! At least it is according to the radio station I heard playing the holiday tunes. I can hear Frosty the Snowman in October but I have to wait ALL THE WAY till Thanksgiving to hear Alice's Restaurant

Anyway, I spent my hard earned odd job money on a Lionel Polar Express set as a teenager years ago. The book was a favorite of mine as a kid and we didn't have a train to go around the family tree. So I remedied that. I got my own place now but the Polar Express is going to stay at Mom and Dads house.

What is everyone's favorite train for under the tree?? I'm considering just running my little 0-6-0 around the tree this year unless I found a good deal on a Christmas set. I feel like there are more sets to pick from than I remember as a youngster so I'm interested to hear what people run (holiday themed or not) and what they like.

Not a bad choice on the 0-6-0t. I can see that one under the tree pulling my assorted flats with Christmas items.

@Scrambler81 posted:

My son received the Army Troop Train for his first Christmas, in 2000, so that became our official Christmas tree train. I may run others under there during the early part of the season, but the Army train will be there for the main event.

The best trains around the tree is one with a story behind it!

Nothing but Tinplate for me under the tree, especially my bright red 256 -

@MartyE posted:

The best trains around the tree is one with a story behind it!

At risk of going overboard: My Mom was continuing a tradition started by my Dad. Each grandson gets a train for his first Christmas. All of my nephews’ trains had long since disappeared, so I built the tree layout to make danged sure ours stayed relevant. My boys were the last two, and their trains still get out and run regularly. That is what led me to switch from HO to O.

With all my stuff packed up, I decided that I had to search through the boxes and segregate out the Christmas stuff.....

I went through ALL the containers and found everything for the holidays......

....and these two little elves helped me!

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

With all my stuff packed up, I decided that I had to search through the boxes and segregate out the Christmas stuff.....

I went through ALL the containers and found everything for the holidays......

....and these two little elves helped me!

Peter

Awwww.  I love that kind of help.

I truly enjoy the Christmas season but it's just too early for me to get into it yet...or is it?   Typically, we do not put up the tree nor start our annual Christmas movie marathon until December begins at the earliest.   A few weeks ago while talking to my son who's away at college he mentions that this year we need to set up the tree the day after Thanksgiving and watch our first Christmas movie that evening.  This is because he has to go back to college that Sunday and won't come home until December 17th (last year, his college did the last week of instruction and finals remotely due to the pandemic).   As many of you are aware my son has ASD and the holiday 'routine' is a huge part of who he is.   Last night I actually decided which of the annual Hallmark ornaments I'm going to purchase (I'm a sucker for them) and made sure I had enough Magic Cords for the ones with motion.   I actually find myself looking forward to getting started early this year which is a complete 180 from my entire life.  I guess all of your enthusiasm is rubbing off on me. 

-Greg

@Greg Houser posted:

I truly enjoy the Christmas season but it's just too early for me to get into it yet...or is it?   Typically, we do not put up the tree nor start our annual Christmas movie marathon until December begins at the earliest.

It is most definitely too early. My tree doesn't go up until the week of Thanksgiving. I used to only put it up the day after Thanksgiving but I got roped in to driving the tractor for the shuttle at a Christmas tree farm. I don't mind it at all but it does mean I dont have as much free time for setting up the tree.

I mostly just started the topic because I'll need to be shopping around for a train here shortly if I am getting one. I'm eyeing that Winter Wonderland Express 1923150. We'll see. Part of me thinks I ought to just use the equipment I got.

No word yet from Daffy Duck, the Proclaimer of Srasons.

Getting to be 87 today in H-Town.  Still too hot.

@Dominic Mazoch posted:

No word yet from Daffy Duck, the Proclaimer of Srasons.

Getting to be 87 today in H-Town.  Still too hot.

I'm cracking up!!

@BillYo414 posted:

I'm cracking up!!

Great, Doc!

'Way too early to set up, BUT NOT too early to purchase equipment, buildings, etc.  Don't wait till Thanksgiving to buy what you need, or you may not get it till February.

A reminder from your magazine editor:

I have just completed pre-production work on our December2021 issue, and, as always, I do my best to give that issue a special holiday treatment each year. I hope you folks will enjoy this year's effort in that regard.

But the "reminder" here is that I need our readers and forum members to provide me with Christmas-related photos and layout features for next year's 2022 December issue. Please keep the magazine in mind if you are planning to create a special Christmas or winter type display this year, and be sure to take plenty of hi-resolution photos that you can submit to the magazine. If you have any special ideas, suggestions, or questions, just contact me at editor@ogaugerr.com. I would truly enjoy hearing from you.  

I’ll probably set up the Christmas layout after Thanksgiving, as it goes up quickly, transitioning from Area 51 layout. The Polar Express will be the star of the show!

I forgot to answer Bill's original question!  Ever since the new LC+ Polar Express was released with snow on the roofs of the cars it's been this train under the tree with characters attached as in the movie.   The impetus for the change from a tinplate set was my son suggesting it to me.  He's not into trains at all but ironically the Polar Express is his favorite movie as he identifies with Hero Boy's character becoming self-aware of how he is different from others around him.   It's the last movie we watch every year in our Christmas movie marathon and no matter how late it is on Christmas Eve (or Christmas morning) we always watch it before going to bed.   He's since told me when he's on his own he's going to run one every year under the tree.  He doesn't know it yet, but when that time comes he will be getting mine - he'll appreciate the reasons for doing so.

-Greg

This will be the third year that I will set up our small circle of track around our small Christmas tree.