Highlandtown Train Garden

Raffle Winners!

2012-01-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the 2011 Highlandtown Train Garden Raffle Winners. The Panera Bread Gift Certificate was awarded to Mark Morreson of Baltimore. Mark will be enjoying a free loaf of bread at Panera every month for the next year. The Lionel Polar Express Train Set will be running around the Christmas tree at the home of Scott Kelly. Scott picked up his prize at the fire house where he had his photo taken by Jackie Watts, editor of the Baltimore Guide. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all of you who purchased tickets. We raised $1,203 in this year's raffle and those donations will go towards making next year's garden even more spectacular. Our thanks also to Panera Bread and MB Kleins in Cockeysville.

Thanks, G&A!

2011-12-31T13:11:00.000-08:00

A special thanks to the G&A Restaurant for providing our train engineers and volunteers with gift certificates for some great hotdogs and hamburgers while they work at the garden. Much appreciated! Consider stopping by yourself for lunch or dinner when you visit the garden. They are only a short walk from the Conkling Street Fire House and open M-Sat from 7 AM to 7 PM.

Treasure Hunt Challenges Young & Old

2011-12-30T12:55:00.000-08:00

Pick up a copy of this year's treasure hunt as you enter the train garden. Challenge yourself to find all of the items in the garden as you walk through. Can you find the Coca Cola Truck making a delivery? A hot rod car on a flatbed train car? Frank Zappa in a Santa Hat?

This year we even have a picture version for the pre-school crowd. They have 14 things to spot in the garden, but have no trouble finding their friend Thomas The Tank Engine.

Open New Year's Day!

2011-12-29T12:54:00.000-08:00

It's not too late to see the 2011 Highlandtown Train Garden. Thanks to our volunteers, the train garden will be open on New Year's Eve and on New Year's Day this year from 11 AM til 5 PM. On December 29th & 30th and January 2nd & 3rd stop by between 3 pm and 8 pm. The last chance to visit the fire house to see the garden will be Tuesday, January 3rd from 3 pm til 8 pm. The raffle drawing for the Polar Express Train will be on January 1st.

More Visitors! and some Great Photos!

2011-12-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

We like counting the number of visitors to the garden and this year's numbers are way ahead of last year's. This week we'll be hosting a number of students and their teachers from local schools. Thanks to all of the volunteers who have responded to the request for train garden greeters. It's not too late if you'd like to help. (see link to the right) The garden is open every night this pre Christmas week from 3 pm til 8 pm and on Christmas Eve from 11 am until 5 pm. We'll close Christmas day, but be back in business on Monday, December 26th.

Thanks to Bob Dewey for the photo. If you'd like to see 44 more of his great pictures, visit BOB DEWEY's PHOTOS

Patterson Park Boat Lake, Ducks and all!

2011-12-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

Volunteer, Bernie Deasel, created the Patterson Park Boat Lake complete with a board walk, island and wildlife. I overheard a visitor on Saturday say "that's where I caught my first fish". Great job, Bernie!

Original Pagoda Plans Used for Model

2011-12-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the Friends of Patterson Park for lending us copies of the original builder's drawings of the Patterson Park Pagoda, the detailing in the new model in this year's train garden is the real thing. Volunteers Mark Supik and Jeff Levine painstakingly scanned, laser engraved, pealed, cut and sculpted the Pagoda from wood and acrylic. Check out the the roof supports!

D.J. Liquidators, formerly known as Epsteins

2011-12-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Longtime Highlandtown residents are thrilled to see Epsteins Department store back in Highlandtown. Now occupied by D.J. Liquidators, the building between Eastern Ave & Bank Streets holds many memories for Highlandtown shoppers. Today's busy DJ Liquidators always has more than 4 cars in its parking lot these days. Thanks to the generosity of its owners, the building has served over the past year as the staging area for the train garden. The entire display was stored there over the spring and summer, the new sections constructed there and then moved to Engine Co. 41 on Conkling Street just before Thanksgiving. Thanks for your hospitality, D.J.'s! And thanks to volunteer, Terry Maillar, for recreating the building for the garden. Even the fire escapes! You'll also see Terry's handiwork in Patterson Park, more about that later.

Mr. Boh is Home

2011-12-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

Only in the Highlandtown Train Garden will you find a scale model of the Brewery Buiding. Thanks to the craftsmanship of volunteer Ted Baccala, the newest section of the train garden now provides a home for winkin' Mr. Boh. Great job, Ted. Hours and hours of work, I'm sure!

We Miss You, Joe!

2011-12-11T12:52:00.000-08:00

Great to have you visit the garden last weekend, Joe. We miss you! We've got a chair at the raffle ticket table ready for you as soon as you're up on your feet. We haven't broken any ornaments so far this year, so hurry back.

The Hometown Tourist on Dan Rodricks Midday

2011-12-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

It was great to hear Highlandtown's Susan Allenback, the Hometown Tourist on Dad Rodricks Midday on WYPR Thursday. She was talking train gardens and had great tips for finding all of the best ones in the area. If you missed the show, you can hear it here. You'll hear her sing the praises of the Highlandtown Train Garden, especially for the new additions of the local features of the Brewery Building, Epstein's (DJ Liquidators) and Patterson Park. She also suggested this website for finding other great gardens in the Baltimore area. Grandpa's Holiday Train Garden.

RAFFLE PRIZE - Lionel Polar Express Train Set!

2011-12-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

Again this year, we'll be selling raffle tickets to raise money for next year's garden. This year, we've got a great prize for the model train lovers out there. An O Gauge Lionel Polar Express Train Set from M.B. Klein in Cockeysville, complete with transformer, track and all of the accessories. Here's a link to a description of the train. Tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5. You can buy them from the volunteers at the table as you leave the garden. The drawing will be on January 1st and the lucky winner will have a great train running under their tree next Christmas. Thanks to Panera Bread in Brewers Hill, there will be a second prize this year. A gift certificate for a loaf of bread each month for the next year. If you've tried their breads, you know what a treat this will be. So.... buy those raffle tickets!

Sneak Preview Opening Delights Sponsors

2011-12-10T08:32:00.000-08:00

The night before the official opening of this year's train garden, sponsors and their families had a chance to catch a sneak preview of the garden. Over 40 Highlandtown businesses sponsored this year's garden. When you visit, look for their signs on storefronts and their billboards along the tracks. They made this year's garden possible. Visit their websites (see the list to your right) and better yet, visit their businesses over the holiday. We thank them all!

All the facts.....

2011-12-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

Highlandtown Holiday Train Garden chugs into its third season with a new look and local landmarks
Open Fridays, 3-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 3-Jan. 2 at Engine Company 41, 520 S. Conkling St.

For weeks now an all-volunteer crew of model railroading engineers has been expanding and improving Highlandtown’s public train garden. The trains start running on Saturday, Dec. 3rd, at 11 AM at Engine Company 41, Highlandtown’s firehouse at 520 S. Conkling Street. Baltimore Fire Chief Jim Clack is expected to be on hand to send the trains down the track.

Over 2,000 visitors to last year’s garden were delighted to see model trains and streetcars travel along the track to pass by animated carnival rides, Santa’s workshop, and a miniature Highlandtown with storefronts representing landmarks like Hoehn’s Bakery, Stella’s Bridal Fashions, National Lumber and Hardware and the Frank Zappa statue.

This year, volunteers have expanded the layout to a 32 x 8 foot two-level platform. They have constructed precise replicas of the Natty Boh building, DJ Liquidators, the Patterson Park Pagoda and the Boat Lake.

The train garden will be open to the public Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays, 3-8 p.m., from Dec. 3 – January 2 with extended hours the week before and after Christmas. Free admission, donations gratefully accepted.

A pre-opening sponsors' reception will be held Friday, December 2 from 6 to 7 p.m. Members of the press are welcome to attend. The project is funded with donations from more than 40 Highlandtown businesses that have, in addition to cash, donated lumber, decorations, printing services, train layout supplies and food for volunteers.

The project, is a cooperative effort of the Baltimore City Fire Department, Highlandtown Main Streets and Southeast Community Development Corporation.

December 3rd Holiday Kick-Off in Highlandtown!

2011-11-26T11:58:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the Holidays on Main Street!

Saturday, December 3rd Holiday Kick-Off

Spend the day on Highlandtown's Main Street with FREE activities for the whole family. Check out our seasonal shopping spots and pick up a few gifts, too!
Follow all of our holiday fun on Facebook!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:30am	Holiday Double Feature
	Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue
	Start the holiday season with a screening of two beloved family-friendly classics: The Best Christmas Pageant Event and How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

11:00am-5:00pm	Train Garden
	Engine House 41, 520 Conkling Street
	Find your favorite neighborhood landmarks...IN MINIATURE! Natty Boh! Frank Zappa Statue! Patterson Park's Pagoda! FREE! To see the train garden schedule click here.

11:00am-4:30pm	Santa House
	Conkling Street at Eastern Avenue
	Check The Highlandtown Merchants Association presents the annual Santa House! Stop by our quirky cottage in Highlandtown to visit Santa and his merry elves!

12:00-7:00pm	Holiday Pop-Up Info Shop & Art Gallery
	401 & 403 Conkling Street
	Check out our one-day pop up shop! We’ll transform an unoccupied store front into a fun, new shopping spot! We’ll have holiday treats, unique gifts, and items from local merchants. We’ll also be giving out a list of the seasonal shopping spots in Highlandtown AND a special “Train Ticket,” a coupon which will be good for discounts from participating merchants through December 31! Cash only, please.

3:00pm	Maria Broom StoryDancer with Jali D, the Drum Talker
	Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Avenue
	FREE! Songs & Stories in Honor of Kwanzaa Effervescent, fun, amazing--Maria Broom dances her way thru a vibrant griot performance, and Jali D's drumming sounds out the voice of Africa in this pre-Kwanzaa celebration for the whole family.

3:30pm	Essay Contest Award Ceremony
	Engine House 41, 520 Conkling Street
	Local students recieve awards for essays on "If I couldn't get there by car, I'd..."

4:30pm	Conkling Street Plaza Holiday Lighting
	Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue
	Kick-off the holiday season with friends, businesses, and neighbors.

4:45pm	Unsilent Night
	Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue
	No singing required! Bring your ipod or boom box! We’ll all press play together to start Phile Kline's Unsilent Night masterpiece and walk down Main Street to share the music!

5:00pm-7:00pm	Pop-Up Gallery Reception
	401 & 403 Conkling Street
	FREE reception of art installation, organized by ha! and the UMBC CADVC featuring video feeds of collages by area students.

2011-08-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

Don’t Miss the Train!

2011 Sponsorship Opportunities

Engine Co. 41’s Train Garden, a new Highlandtown Tradition, Year 3!

Thanks to the generous support from local businesses, organizations, the Baltimore City’s Fire Department and many dedicated volunteers working with the SECDC, Highlandtown will again have its own train garden on Conkling Street in December of 2011.

We’re On Track! Work is underway and ‘on track’ for a grand opening on December 3rd.. Volunteers are already busy assembling the layout. Last year’s garden was a huge success, attracting 2,276 visitors. 25 local sponsors were featured with billboards and storefronts right in the garden. Visitors to last year’s garden were delighted to find their favorite Highlandtown businesses featured on buildings, billboards, and tunnel entrances.

With your help, we hope to add two new sections to this year’s layout, featuring replicas of southeast Baltimore landmarks, The Patterson Park Pagoda and Boat Lake, the Natty Boh Building and more.

Get On Board! For a $100 donation of cash or in-kind supplies, we are offering Highlandtown businesses:

• Your name on a storefront for every visitor to see when they visit the train garden.

• An invitation for you and your family to our ‘sponsor only’ preview event

• A link to your business on our website’s sponsor page.

• A sign for your storefront announcing your sponsorship

• Space on our sponsor table for your flyers, menus, or coupons about your business.

Ready to help? Please phone Joe Manfre at: 410-342-5395

And The Winner Is....

2011-01-15T07:09:00.000-08:00

Danielle Craven-Slaski

The Amtrak Raffle winner is Danielle Craven-Slaski shown above with her prize. Danielle who lives in South Baltimore and works in Highlandtown was thrilled to win 2 round trip tickets to New York on the Amtrak.

If You Missed Getting Aboard, You Can Catch It Next Year

2011-01-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

There is no question that the second year of the Highlandtown Train Garden was again a huge success!

· 4 dedicated community volunteers built the garden over hundreds of hours

· 31 local sponsors gave money and in-kind contributions

· 20 additional volunteers decorated the firehouse and greeted visitors

· The garden opened to the public for 93 hours (in all types of weather)

·8 engines ran on over 110 feet of track past more than 150 tiny people in the recreated streets of Highlandtown

. About 300 school children enjoyed coming to the train garden from three Baltimore City Public Schools - # 47 (Hampstead Hill Academy), # 215 (Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School - Clinton Street) and # 237 (Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School - Eaton Street)

· 2107 visitors of all ages with smiles on their faces witnessed it all.

Here are some of their comments from our guest book...

I felt like a kid again! Spectacular! Fantastic! One of the best! Terrific! Very detailed! The kids loved it! Outstanding! Very nice! Brings back memories! Thank you! Great fun! Fabulous! Made my day! Keeping a tradition alive! Wonderful to have it in Highlandtown! Fun! Very beautiful! Great! Lots of hard work! Wow! Nice setup! Excellent! Even better than last year! Loved it! Great job! Super! Epic! Festive! Awesome! Kool! Wonderful!

And the comment written more than any other (with a varying number of exclamation points following it) was.. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Thanks to CSX, AMTRAK, The Southeast Community Development Corporation, all of our community sponsors, our gracious hosts at Engine Co. 41, the volunteer engineers, greeters and decorators and to all the visitors. See you next year!

The Highlandtown Train Garden Committee

Highlandtown Train Garden YouTube Videos

2010-12-31T13:47:00.000-08:00

Visitors to the Highlandtown Train Garden have also posted videos on YouTube. Below is an example. If you are interested in seeing more videos go to YouTube and type in "Highlandtown Train Garden" to see them.

Extra: Here is a link to information about Natty Boh.
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/8151048674/r/9602947107

The Trains Will Be Leaving Soon

2010-12-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

The Train Garden will be open only three more days - Thursday, December 30, 2010 from 5 pm to 8 pm, Friday, December 31, 2010 from 11 am to 3 pm, and the last day, Saturday, January 1, 2011 from 11 am to 5 pm. And don't forget you also have only three more days for the raffle - $1.00 a chance, 6 for $5.00. You will win two round trip train tickets to New York and the tickets are good until November 30, 2011. The drawing will take place at the Train Garden on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at around 4 pm. You do not have to be present to win but would it not be much more exciting if you were there to claim your prize.

A First For The Highlandtown Train Garden

2010-12-30T12:06:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, December 26, 2010 despite the snow, wind and the Ravens football game something special occurred at the Train Garden. Here‘s what happened. Dean and Denise visited the Train Garden in the afternoon. Dean told Bernie Deasel, one of the train engineers, that he wanted to propose to his girlfriend Denise. Bernie put the ring box on one of the train cars and as it went by Denise Dean proposed to her. It was a happy moment for both and we wish them much happiness.

Over 300 School Children Visited The Train Garden

2010-12-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

Over 300 school children visited the Highlandtown Train Garden this past week. They ranged from pre K children to 4th Graders. They came from Hampstead Hill Academy (#47), Highlandtown Elementary/Middle (#215), and Highlandtown Elementary/Middle (# 237). The children and the accompanying adults all had a good time. Thanks to all three schools for participating!

Jacques Kelly - A Thank You

2010-12-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

We thank Jacques Kelly for coming to see our train garden and for writing such nice words about it. The power of his words was evident when the day after it was published we had our busiest day to date.
Thanks so much.

To view the article click here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-kelly-column-christmas-trains-20101217,0,3084843.column

It Has Been Five Days

2010-12-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

We have been opened for five days as of Sunday, December 12, 2010. As of that date 571 visitors have been to the Train Garden. The children have been fascinated by all the animations in the Train Garden and have enjoyed receiving the Highlandtown Train Garden pins and the Amtrak Junior Conductor hats. Raffle sales have been brisk.

Opening Day - A Huge Success

2010-12-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Today was opening day and what a huge success it was. There were 244 visitors including Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and First District Councilman Jim Kraft. The Mayor officially opened the Train Garden by pushing the button to let the trains travel throughout the garden. Thanks to all the engineers and volunteers who helped to make today a successful opening day.

Getting Ready for Opening Day

2010-12-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

We are putting the final touches on the Train Garden.

The Train Garden Has Moved To The Fire House.

2010-11-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, November 21, 2010 the Train Garden was transported from the Old Library to the Fire House.

Creating A Beautiful Winter Wonderland

2010-11-29T12:07:00.000-08:00

The decorators are making a visually exciting winter scene at the Train Garden.

Susan Allenback, Mary Chaney,
and Nancy Supik working hard

A beaultiful scene has been created

Creating A Winter Wonderland

2010-11-29T11:55:00.000-08:00

After

The Fire House after the decorators hung the snowflakes as they begin their decorating of the Train Garden.

Creating A Winter Wonderland

2010-11-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

Before

This is how the Fire House looked before the decorators got to work.

SCARY MONEY

2010-11-15T08:48:00.003-08:00

Susan Allenback

At the Halloween Lantern Parade Festival in Patterson Park on Saturday, October 30, 2010 several volunteers, Susan Allenback, Nancy Supik, and Joe Manfre, sold raffle tickets in support of the 2010 Train Garden. The raffle tickets will also be sold at the Train Garden itself beginning on December 4, 2010. You can win two (2) round-trip Amtrak Regional Coach tickets between Baltimore, MD and New York, NY. Tickets are $ 1.00 each and 6 for $5.00. The drawing will be held on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at Engine Company # 41, 520 S. Conkling St. You do not need to be present to win.

A MORE ENTERTAINING TRAIN GARDEN FOR 2010

2010-11-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

A More Entertaining Train Garden - 2010

This December 4th, the 2010 the Highlandtown Train Garden will be back, bigger and better! There will be more trains, more buildings, and more surprises to look forward to. Even though train season is still months away, our dedicated "Engineers" Ted, David, and Bernie have already begun construction on the new train platforms. Check out the photos below (click pictures to enlarge) for a sneak peak and keep an eye on this blog for more news from the Train Garden crew.

The guys construct a platform

Bernie helps David attach a wooden leg

David prepares for the 2010 Train Garden

For more information send us an email at: info@highlandtowntraingarden.com

2010 Train Garden Underway

2010-08-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Highlandtown Train Garden Committee has started to meet to make plans for the 2010 garden. For more information about this year's garden, send us an e-mail at info@highlandtowntraingarden.com.

If you missed the train, you can catch it next year

2010-01-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

The numbers are in and there is no question that the first year of the Highlandtown Train Garden was a success!

4 dedicated community volunteers built the garden over hundreds of hours
22 local sponsors gave money and in-kind contributions
25 additional volunteers decorated the firehouse and greeted visitors
9 families donated photos of their family train gardens for our slide show
The garden opened to the public for 62 hours (in all types of weather)
4 engines ran on 110 feet of track past more than 100 tiny people in the recreated streets of Highlandtown
1,371 visitors of all ages with smiles on their faces witnessed it all.

Here are some of their comments from our guest book...

Wonderful! Fantastic! Spectacular! Great job! So much fun! Very cool! Fabulous! Terrific! About time! Keep it going! Magical! Loved the decorations! Neat train garden! Loved the local stuff! Awesome! Great fun for kids and adults! Wow! One of the best we've seen! Dynamite! We love it! Great for the neighborhood, please keep it going! Can't wait till next year! Love seeing this in the neighborhood! It's nice to bring something great to Highlandtown! Breathtaking!

And the comment writeen more than any other (with a varying number of exclamation points following it) was.. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Thanks to CSX. The Southeast Community Development Corporation, all of our community sponsors, our gracious hosts at Engine Co. 41, the volunteer engineers, greeters and decorators and to all the visitors. See you next year!

The Highlandtown Train Garden Committee

Train Garden Hours Extended!

2009-12-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

The train garden will remain open through next weekend, so if you haven't made it by yet, you still have time.

We'll open on Thursday, December 31st from 3 pm to 6 pm and again on Saturday, January 2nd and Sunday January 3rd, noon to 5.

Hundreds of visitors have enjoyed this year's train garden. A great chance to see, not only a train display constructed completely by volunteers, but also a chance to visit your local firehouse. With some luck, you can even get to sit in the firetruck!

Baltimore Guide makes Special Deliveries

2009-12-28T09:34:00.001-08:00

Observant visitors to the Highlandtown Train Garden this week noticed a special delivery newsboy delivering mini-Guides to the shops on the Avenue. Each of the shops you see named in the train garden made a donation to this year's train garden fund. Thanks to all of our sponsors and to our friends at the Guide who crafted all of those tiny newspapers!

Snow Closes Train Garden

2009-12-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

The train garden will be closed today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday) because of the snow. The firehouse needs the space for extra personnel and vehicles to help with snow-related emergencies. Hopefully we'll be open again on Thursday, Dec 24th from 3 - 6 PM.

Susan Allenback's Train Garden

2009-12-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

Susan's one of the many great volunteers helping on the Highlandtown Train Garden Project. These are some photos of her own train garden. Amazing, isn't it! When you visit the fire house in Highlandtown to see this year's garden, you can view a slide show that includes many photos of Highlandtown's great family train gardens. The garden is open Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Hope you can stop by!

See The Polar Express and the Highlandtown Train Garden

2009-12-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

The Friends of the Southeast Anchor Library will host a special viewing of feature length film, The Polar Express on Saturday, December 12th at 12:00 PM. See the move (free!) and then head across the street to the firehouse to see the train garden.

For more information: Visit the Pratt Library's Website

The Trains are Running in Highlandtown!

2009-12-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

What a great opening weekend at the train garden. We even had snow to help us get into the holiday spirit. Some of our friends have posted photos on their sites.

The opening ceremony (photos by Mark Dennis)

A closer look at the train garden (photos by Bob Dewey)

A video or the opening posted on Channel 2's website

Baltimore Area Train Gardens

2009-12-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

The Highlandtown Train Garden is one of many in the Baltimore area. You might want to check out these too:

Fire Museum of Maryland
Wise Avenue Volunteer Fir Company in Dundalk
B&O Train Museum
Ellicott City B&O Railroad Museum
Baltimore Society of Model Engineers
The Shops at Kenilworth
Baltimore City Fire Dept,Engine 45/ Truck 12/ Medic 14
2700 Glen Ave Baltimore, Md 410-396-0171

and here's a great list of train gardens around the region:

Grandpa's Holiday Train Garden Page for 2009

We "Throw the Switch" on December 5th!

2009-11-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

Please join us at the Southeast Anchor Library at the corner of Conkling St. & Eastern Avenue on December 5th at 11:00 AM for the opening ceremonies. Help us celebrate a new Highlandtown tradition. Watch us 'throw the switch' to get the trains moving for the 2009 holiday season. Meet and honor the train layout volunteers, see our giant slide show of the train gardens of Highlandtown and enjoy treats from Hoehn's bakery and Santonis Market. Join our parade across Conkling Street to 'throw the switch'. Everyone Welcome.

Lots more going on in Highlandtown that day as The Miracle on Main Street holiday festivities begin....

Maryland State Boy Choir performs at the Southeast Anchor Library at 2 pm. FREE
NicoloWhimsey Show at the Creative Alliance at 3 pm FREE Creative Alliance,
Holiday Craft Show at Sky Lofts. 11 Am - 4 PM

Santa will be at the Southeast Anchor Library in the afternoon and they'll be a holiday petting zoo at Abbott Memorial Church.

Cool Souvenir Buttons

2009-11-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

When you visit the Highlandtown Train Garden this year, you'll receive a souvenir button like this one. How cool is that? The train garden will be open Saturdays and Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings in December. We're even open on Christmas Eve!

See the side bar for the complete schedule =>

Volunteers Needed

2009-11-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

The Train Garden Committee is looking for community volunteers to help greet visitors and keep the trains on track. If you can volunteer to work a 2 1/2 hour shift on a Thursday evening, or on a Saturday or Sunday in December, please e-mail Nancy Supik nancy@marksupikco.com or phone her at 410-732-8414. Experience with model trains is helpful, but a friendly smile is the only requirement.

A Modular Train Platform built in local woodshop

2009-11-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

How do you assemble a train in one place and then move it to another without having to relay track and wiring? Anwer: With lots of careful planning. Fortunately for the Highlandtown Train Garden Committee, Ted, Terry, Bernie & David had plenty of experience constructing large train layouts. They presented their idea for a modular train platform to Mark Supik, a local woodworker. Mark approached National Lumber who generously donated the plywood needed for the platform. Built in 4 sections with removable legs, the platform was built at Mark Supik & Co. on Haven Street and then transported to the old Library on Eastern Ave where it was reassembled. The track, lighting, buildings and platforms were all assemble with care taken to make sure each module remained detachable. On November 21st, the platform will be separated into 4 modules, transported down the street to the firehouse on Conkling Street and reassembled. After the New Year, the team can break down the train for storage. Pretty clever!

Old Train Garden Photos - Here's one

2009-11-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a photo of Mark Supik in front of his family's train garden on Port Street taken sometime in the 1950's. We'd love to see your photos. Please contact Jackie at the Baltimore Guide if you find any. We're making a slide show of the photos to show at the train garden opening event on December 5th.

Jackie: 410-732-6603 or editor@baltimoreguide.com

Ted, Terry, Bernie & David, our local heroes!

2009-11-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

When we say 'built by the community for the community', we aren't kidding. Every weekend and many evenings this fall, you may have noticed four train enthusiasts going in and out of the old Highlandtown Library on Eastern Avenue. Hidden away in a back room, four dedicated volunteers have been constructing the new Highlandtown Holiday Train Garden. Terry Maillar, Bernie Deasel, David Eaton and Ted Baccala have donated hundreds of hour to lay track and lighting, build platforms, coordinate train routes, and add buildings, people and holiday details to make the Highlandtown Train Garden spectacular. When you visit the train garden in December, you're likely to meet one of these four local heroes keeping the trains 'on track'. Please thank them for their efforts.

Sponsors Recognized

2009-11-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Your Name Here!

This year's train garden has been made possible through the generous support of many local businesses. When you visit the train garden, you'll see their names proudly displayed on storefronts and billboards. The list of sponsors continues to grow. See the complete list on our sidebar with links to their websites.

CSX started it all with a generous grant.
The Southeast Community Development Corporation is coordinating all the volunteer efforts.
The Baltimore Guide signed on early as our media sponsor.
MTH Electric Trains gave us 4 engines and trains including a special Christmas train.
National Lumber donated the plywood to build the platform.
The platform was built by Mark Supik & Co.
Banner Neighborhoods awarded a grant to help with opening ceremony
The Friends of the Southeast Anchor Library will sponsor a special viewing of The Polar Express
Come to the opening ceremony on Dec 5th to see what Hoehn's Bakery is doing to help.
A gift of a shopping spree at DJ Liquidators will transform the firehouse into a holiday wonderland.
Baron Stage Curtain and Equipment Company is making the skirt for the train platform.
And of course, the Baltimore City Fire Department is providing a welcome home for the trains and visitors.

Know a business who would like to help? Contact Chris Ryer at the SECDC. 410-342-3233 x 33

Train Gardens of Christmas Past. Please share your photos.

2009-11-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

Do you have photographs of your family's holiday train gardens from year's past. We're looking for old photos for a slideshow to be shown at the train garden. Please contact Jackie Watts at The Guide to set up a time to bring your photos for scanning. Here's Bernie Deasel's photo. Bernie is one of the train garden volunteers.

Contact Jackie by phone: 410-732-8414
Email Jackie: editor@baltimoreguide.com

Don't Miss the Train!

2009-11-06T08:30:00.001-08:00

Train Garden

2009-09-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Highlandtown is excited to announce a Christmas Train Garden opening on December 5th, 2009. Please come by Fire House No. 41, at 520 S. Conkling St.