#138 December Status Report

December 11, 2018

This month’s report is about the 2018 Christmas layout in EnterTRAINment Junction’s (EJ’s) display area.  This “snow-covered” layout is an annual free-to-the-public feature of the “Christmas at the Junction” celebration that runs from the weekend before Thanksgiving until January 2nd.

 

The layout has a unique design each year and is constructed using a basic wooden framework covered with chicken wire and cotton batting.  This year’s layout has three loops of track on three different levels, with trains running on each loop (Figures 1, 2, and 3).  The “north” end is nearest the main EJ layout, the opening to which can be seen at the right edge of Figure 1.   A different style of bridges is used for each loop, as the tracks cross the central canyon.

 

Figure 1.  EJ Christmas Layout 2018 – East Side

 

Figure 2 shows the opposite side of the Christmas layout with its prominent waterfall at the center.  Small villages can be seen at various levels, including the very top of the mountain.

 

Figure 2.  EJ Christmas Layout 2018 – West Side

 

 

 

The north end of the layout has a couple of villages as well as a cave with wildlife (Figure 3).

 

Figure 3.  EJ Christmas Layout 2018 – North Side

 

 

Figure 4 shows a close-up of the village at the top track level at the north end.

 

Figure 4.  Upper North Village

 

 

Figure 5 shows the largest of the track-level villages on the layout, with its church and Christmas themed details.

 

Figure 5.  Lower West Village

 

 

 

 

The details near the church include carolers in song, a crèche scene with visitors, children building a snow fort, and a one-horse-open-sleigh ( Figure 6).

 

Figure 6.  Lower West Village Detail

 

The EJ employees and volunteers who built this layout did an outstanding job meeting the challenge of completing it in the two weeks between the removal of the Halloween displays and this layout’s opening to the public on the 17th of November.  Bravo!

 

© 2018 Tom Bartsch

MVGRS Big Train Project Coordinator