Holiday train displays: What nostalgic dreams are made of

As Christmas approaches, some have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. While others see a classic locomotive chugging full steam ahead. 

An American tradition

"Toy trains are a holiday tradition," said Bill Mefford, EnterTRAINment Junction public relations manager.

"There's always been a close tie between America and trains particularly during the holidays. For the older generations, it's how they remember people coming home, especially the troops. The train stop was a special place."

Now as the year 2017 draws to a close, toy train displays are a "special experience" for many families. 

According to Mefford, EnterTRAINment Junction's displays, now running for their ninth year, is a must for the holidays. Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday now through Sunday, Jan. 1. Special extended hours are offered on special dates,  visit entertrainmentjunction.com for details and prices.

Visitors entering EnterTRAINment Junction, Mefford said, immediately encounter a holiday-themed Main Street area, a 1930s cityscape trimmed in seasonal lights and decorations. Main Street has a sidewalk café, gift shop, several party rooms for holiday parties and Junction Hobbies & Toys.

Among Mefford's favorite displays are the three free holiday train displays just off Main Street inside EnterTRAINment Junction’s large Expo Center in West Chester Township.

"Here visitors will find three unique holiday train layouts, including a Lionel train display originally exhibited at the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis," he said. "There is also an HO-scale holiday train display featuring the ever-popular Department 56 buildings and villages. The third train display is set against a beautiful winter wonderland backdrop and was created by members of the Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway Society."

With the purchase of a Do-It-All ticket, visitors get to enjoy 80,000 square feet of holiday fun, all under one roof, all in a climate-controlled environment. This includes the world’s largest indoor G-Scale model train display.

"In the imaginative Journey to the North Pole-themed walk-through attraction, visitors are transported to an amazing winter wonderland with snowy landscapes on the way to the North Pole," Mefford said. "It even snows."

The walk-through features a post office, a sleigh house, a reindeer barn and an elves’ workshop where Santa’s helpers are busy making toys. Guests meet Mrs. Claus, who offers children a holiday cookie, then, down the hall and into a study, where he is – jolly ole Santa himself, awaiting children to listen to what they want for Christmas.

A local love

Behringer-Crawford Museum's beloved toy trains have rolled in again for the 26th year.

The displays are available to view through Jan. 14 with 250 feet of track and more than 30 guest-activated displays plus Polar Express readings, a Charles Dickens display, special holiday exhibits and more. 

Readings, which include crafts, refreshments and a visit from Santa, are included with museum admission, but space is limited. Register at education@bcmuseum.org or call 859-491-4003. Visit bcmuseum.org for complete information.

"I think the love of holiday toy trains stems from a time when trainsets were a popular gift for children and often set under the Christmas tree," museum Director Lisa Risch said. "We've been continuing that tradition. We started with just a simple train under a tree and now have expanded to a much larger scale."

According to Risch, the train displays are 100 percent community volunteer operated. "It's because of the volunteers, we've been able to offer this year after year to our community," she said.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday, except Christmas Eve when it will be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

New this year is Wahoo's Winter Wonderland, a kid-sized, animated exhibit based on the children's book by Kenton Hills author Diana Grady, “The Holiday Adventures of Wiley Wahoo & Me!”  

The three-room display follows two canine friends as they explore seasonal activities throughout Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, featuring local landmarks including the Fountain Square Ice Rink, the Suspension Bridge, the Carroll Chimes Bell Tower in MainStrasse Village, the Newport Aquarium, Behringer-Crawford Museum and more.

Guests who bring a new toy or gift for infants through teens to donate to the Steinford Toy Foundation by Dec. 15 will receive one free child’s admission per paying adult. Toys should be unwrapped. Gifts for teenagers are especially needed, Risch said.

Risch said the thing she enjoys most about the trains display is that "when people come in, they slow down. This local holiday tradition enables people to take a deep breath and a break from the real world. Here they're just with their family having fun."

Where else to view holiday toy trains

The Cincinnati Choo Choo Holiday Show at Krohn Conservatory, 10 a.m to 5 p.m. through Jan. 7. The 2017 Holiday Show will bring you back in time to holiday festivities in the city and remind you of the best family traditions. The train display and historical buildings, created by Applied Imagination, will immerse visitors in sights and sounds of chugging trains and splashing water, with trains overhead and trolleys at your feet. 

Holiday Junction featuring Brickopolis at the Museum Center, through Dec. 31. Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends and the Super-O interactive layout trains will return this year. In addition to a variety of train layouts of different sizes and themes, the riding train will be back, letting riders chug along through a winter wonderland.  NOTE: The Duke Energy Holiday Trains will not be on display this season. The Duke Energy Holiday Trains will reopen in their new gallery in 2018.

Holly Days at Heritage Village in Sharonville, noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 9-10. Travel back in time to feel the warmth and beauty of a 19th century holiday season. Some of the historic buildings will be decked out with traditional decorations from the 1800s. See the village come alive with storytelling, craft making, model train displays, music, holiday treats and more.

City of Erlanger and Cincinnati Northern Model Railroad Club Train Display, 1-9 p.m. Dec. 8; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 9; and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at Erlanger City Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave. Free. Features model trains, virtual reality ride, sound system in several locomotives, and information on Erlanger's railroad history.