Train Gang railroad display opens Thursday
Karen Mansfield
Train Gang of Washington County member Donald Coulson describes some of the O-gauge Lionel trains that comprise the charitable organization蘑菇视频 winter train display. Visitors can see the 45-foot-long exhibit, which includes several unique villages, at Washington Crown Center throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
Karen Mansfield
Gary Phillips, a member of the Train Gang, makes sure the display蘑菇视频 NASA-like launch operates with no glitches.
Karen Mansfield
Donald Coulson of the Train Gang of Washington County describes some of the O-gauge Lionel trains that comprise the charitable organization蘑菇视频 winter train display. Visitors can see the 45-foot-long exhibit, which includes several unique villages, at Washington Crown Center throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
Karen Mansfield
Gary Phillips, a member of the Train Gang, makes sure the display蘑菇视频 NASA-like launch operates with no glitches.
Karen Mansfield
Steve Mitch, a member of the Train Gang of Washington County, places 鈥渟now鈥� on one of the train displays.
Karen Mansfield
An incline, reminiscent of Pittsburgh蘑菇视频 inclines, is a part of the Train Gang of Washington County蘑菇视频 holiday train display at Washington Crown Center.
Karen Mansfield
A drive-in movie theater is one of the displays visitors will see at the Train Gang of Washington County holiday display at Washington Crown Center.
Karen Mansfield
The Train Gang of Washington County蘑菇视频 Christmas train display at Washington Crown Center.
Karen Mansfield
A drive-in movie theater is one of the displays visitors will see at the Train Gang of Washington County holiday display at Washington Crown Center.
Karen Mansfield
The Train Gang of Washington County蘑菇视频 Christmas train display at Washington Crown Center.
Karen Mansfield
The Train Gang of Washington County蘑菇视频 Christmas train display at Washington Crown Center.
Karen Mansfield
The Train Gang of Washington County蘑菇视频 Christmas train display includes several unique villages and towns, including this nod to Washington Health System.
Karen Mansfield
The Train Gang of Washington County蘑菇视频 Christmas train display at Washington Crown Center.
One of Washington County蘑菇视频 beloved holiday traditions is returning.
The Train Gang of Washington County has kicked off its Christmas run at Washington Crown Center. The train layout will be on display through Dec. 23.
The Train Gang蘑菇视频 miniature display has been a holiday staple for about a decade, delighting children and adults with its 45-foot-long interactive, animated trains and delightful villages.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a novelty for kids 鈥� they grow up with soccer balls or video games. When a toddler or a youngster walks into the room, wide-eyed, and they see the lights and hear the whistles, the magic of the season starts,鈥� said Joe Jack, one of the Train Gang蘑菇视频 founders who, along with a passionate group of train enthusiasts, maintains the display. 鈥淎nd older people say, 鈥楾his reminds me of when I was younger.'鈥�
The Train Gang also is a charitable organization, and it donates all of the proceeds it collects from donations throughout the holiday season to local charities.
Said Jack, 鈥淲e鈥檙e a small club, all of our money goes to charity. We entertain people as good as we can, and we are a charitable effort, so we give back to our community.鈥�
Jack said the permanent train set-up took about two months to create, and Train Gang members spent the days leading up to the kickoff meticulously fine-tuning the displays.
Steve Mitch, a Train Gang member who lives in Wheeling, W.Va., said the display is a labor of love for members.
鈥淢y grandfather got me hooked on trains when I was 8,鈥� said Mitch, who worked at Oglebay Park and oversaw the park蘑菇视频 train display for at least 30 years. 鈥淓verybody here loves trains and enjoys doing this.鈥�
The vast majority of the trains are Lionel O-gauge trains that date as far back as the 1920s.
Visitors will see steam engines, diesels, passenger trains, freight trains, and more, zipping through several towns and villages. They鈥檒l be treated to elaborate displays that include a circus, a NASA-style rocket launch, football and baseball fields, an incline reminiscent of Pittsburgh蘑菇视频 iconic inclines, and downtown Washington sites including the Observer-Reporter building and WHS Washington Hospital.
And there are plenty of lights, train whistles and the click-clacking of trains along the tracks.
Children can also get a bird蘑菇视频-eye view of a special, interactive display designed specifically for kids.
鈥淜ids love it. Once they get here, they don鈥檛 want to leave,鈥� said member Donald Coulson.
The Train Gang is looking for volunteers.
鈥淚f you like this old-fashioned thing that we do for charity around Christmas, then we can use you,鈥� said Jack.
Train display hours vary, and will be closed on Mondays.
The display will be open Nov. 26 and 27 from 2 to 8 p.m. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 19, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 2 to 8 p.m.