WHEN DOES YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE GO UP AND A TRAIN GO UNDER IT.

Thanks Steve.

Trainman60,  Thank you for pointing out the origin of the X in XMAS.  I too was aware of that.  Since we observe the religious meaning of Christmas first, my wife does decorate with both a religious theme and some non religious theme.  Trains are a part of that.  Last year I was working on a project with a group of Russians and Ukrainians.  They went back to Europe before December 25th and stayed until after January 7th.  

Country Joe,

Congratulations on retirement also.  It won't be too many more Christmases until I join you.  

After the tree goes up - and then it's a family decision as to whose trains and which gauge.

Thanksgiving weekend. Trains immediately after, although my youngest son handles those honors and switches them out likes it's a working layout. 

Tree goes up First week in December and the train with it.

Thanks Mark. I've been retired a few months and can say there is life after retirement and it's awfully good, but don't be in a hurry to get there. Life goes by way to quickly on it's own.

Excellent advice, Joe!

one doesn't want to wish his life away, especially at our ages!

Can't put the Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving weekend because I have a customer show the Friday and Saturday following.  But I suspect that we'll manage to get it all up the first week of December.  About six years ago we bought an artificial tree for the first time, but it's about 12 ft tall.  Not exactly the real thing but as I get older, it makes life a bit easier.(Gee, this will be my 80th Christmas, although I don't remember the first couple of them.)

 

Once the tree is up and decorated, I'll start bringing out the Snow Village buildings and arranging for our Christmas City.   And then, finally, a loop of Standard Gauge track and a couple of Standard Gauge trains, maybe also an "0" gauge trolley car or two.  I guess that this is not really the true meaning of Christmas, but it helps me capture the nostalgia of the Holiday Season.

 

Paul Fischer

"but it's about 12 ft tall"

 

This is no small task Paul. I give you a lot of credit at your "young" 79 years old. You will have to post photos when it is done. Our's is ten ft. and is no easy task just to put it up, never mind the decorations.

 

The 1st of December may seem like a long way away, but it will be here quickly.

Usually it goes up Thanksgiving weekend. But, I just bought a 9 foot artificial tree and I'm putting it up this weekend. Trains running the following weekend.

 

Bob

Retired on June 30th, this year.  Now, every day is Saturday!

Hey Bob, am I correct you will retire June 30th.   That's great.  ENJOY…….  

I put my Christmas tree up by Thanksgiving and take tree down during the month of March!!

Actually Steve, it's a done deal.  It happened, without any fanfare, on June 30th, this year.  It's a shame, but the company that I devoted my entire career to, didn't even give me so much as don'r let the door hit you in the _ss on the way out.  Great bunch of folks now running the ship.  No sour grapes, just a reflection.

Thanksgiving Weekend

PCT:  Now you caught me!  To be honest, I get my grandkids to help set up the tree.  Consists of five large sections and these two big kids can wrestle the darn thing up much easier than I once could.  But I do stand around and supervise!

 

Paul Fischer

Bob, I know that you probably won't believe it but when I retired it was not the way you would like it to be.I retired after twenty years on the job I had to go because of health reasons. Let me keep this train related. In 1998 I had a shop class build a layout from a large box of Marx Tinplate. That was fun…… I did get a bunch of cash from them to retire…….

For me its sometime after 11/12 (my daughter's birthdays) and Thanksgiving. The base of the tree is the layout so thetrains are up the same time the tree goes up!

Tree goes up early December, and stays through January.   Trains under the tree the next couple of days after the tree is up.  

 

This year, I have a 4'X8' in the dining room that I may decorate for Christmas, and leave the under-tree space for presents!   Christmas is wonderful!