Holiday Train

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train came through town today.   The grade school kids were so excited as they got to see it, along with quite a few adults.  The cars on the train are all decked out with Christmas lights.  It was hard to see that the lights were lit.  It would be beautiful if it came through at night.

The Canadian Pacific Railroad has been running these trains since 1999 and generated $5.6 million and 2.5 million pounds of food for community food shelves.  They have two trains-one in the U.S. that will rumble through 8 states and the other through six Canadian provinces.  Our little town is home to a Canadian Pacific depot and maintenance center.

Here is the train coming into town.  See the US and Canadian flags.

It was cold and windy and I had to walk a long way down the track to get these pictures. Most of the time the sun was shining right in my eyes.

The train has14 cars decorated with the lights.  A modified boxcar opens into a stage for entertainers.  I had to get right up close to the cars in order to see the lights.

 

A look at a passenger car and the modified box car. 

Once they opened the door I couldn't get very close as all the little kids were standing right up front.

 

It was too cold to stand there any longer.  I hope you enjoyed seeing the Holiday Train.

I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Happy Holidays!

Barb

Dept. 56 Mantel

I don't have a mantel, but I decorate the entertainment center each year with my Department 56 houses.  I have many more than there is room for so I just use my favorites.  I really had a hard time getting good pictures.  The day was dark and gloomy and the night pictures were blurred.  But you can get an idea of what it looks like.

Here's a full length view of the entertainment center.

A close up view.

The lights look so pretty at night but the pictures didn't turn out good at all.

I do like the one of the Old North Church.  I wish the rest of them had turned out this good.

The house on the left below was given to me by a friend and that's what started the collection.

The Chatham Inn below is not a Dept. 56 house.  I think it's a Lenox, But it is one of my favorites because it brings back memories of the Daniel Webster Inn where I had lunch once while visiting Cape Code.  There was also a Chatham, MA that I visited and a lighthouse.  Somewhere in my photos archives I have a picture of the lighthouse.

 

I see I didn't get the cord hidden on this one.  You can't see it while standing on the floor but I was standing on a stool when I took the picture.

Two more for you.  I like the tall skinny ones.

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas mantel entertainment center.

Linking up with My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for the Christmas Mantel Blog Party

 

Why not check it out to see how others are decorating their mantels this year.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas

Barb