Why We Put Model Trains Under A Christmas Tree

[@harrisonallen651]

For anyone who’s a train enthusiast, having any train set underneath a Christmas tree will make their Christmas complete!

[@andrew_the_railfanner123]

agreed.

[@jasonlescalleet5611]

Yeah. Mine is HO rather than O scale, but it goes under the tree each year, along with a slowly growing collection of lighted buildings. Here’s a handy tip for those who like to photograph/video their under-tree trains: using blue and white twinkling lights on the tree makes for a wonderful “Hollywood nighttime” effect, especially if your buildings use warm white LEDs. The contrast between the cool light from the tree lights and the warm light from the buildings makes the latter look extra cozy and inviting.

[@geno7690]

Yessir.

[@1BlubeTube]

Always,it brings tears to my eyes, i love it so much.

[@harysuper]

good idea!! 😎

[@Petemonster62]

Another reason is that parents often did not wrap presents years ago - they hid them until the kids went to bed on Christmas Eve night. The parents brought out the gifts and often assembled any toys - including setting up a train set.

[@simpleman5688]

Nice try. Bulltweety

[@Petemonster62]

@@simpleman5688 - I have heard many who grew up during the Great Depression/World War II era say that it was common to not wrap Christmas presents & place them under the tree after the kids had gone to bed. I also have read examples of parents setting up a train set under the tree in Classic Toy Trains magazine.

[@kiefershanks4172]

I remember even as a kid growing up in Toronto in the 90s that Christmas model trainsets were sold at Loblaws grocery stores. I still remember all the cool sets they sold to this day. Trains and Christmas are the perfect pairing.

[@Julia-i2m5u]

Loblaws had toys nahhh

[@Petemonster62]

Are these the "President's Choice" HO train sets made by Mehano that SMT Mainline and other Canadian modelers have mentioned?

[@kiefershanks4172]

@@Petemonster62 No idea honestly. Just remember them as a kid so the details are fuzzy.

[@BramptonGardener]

We have a lovely "presidents choice" HO train set.

[@watchpointoh3354]

Anyone else remember/know about the series "I Love Toy Trains"? It was a big part of my early childhood and perhaps the main reason why I have an interest in model trains today (as well as Thomas of course). I'm going to have to wait until I have my own house before I build my own layout though.

[@Rebelgamer-1111]

Same here man, that and the model Era Thomas were my childhood

[@taylorgregory610]

YES those videos were my childhood

[@FGH9G]

YES! LOVE that series! I remember collecting those old VHS tapes of those videos!

[@wolfboy20]

I absolutely loved thise videos growing up!! They had no business being that good and entertaining!!!

[@aidanschmidt69]

I watched those sooooooo much. So much nostalgia

[@sambrown6426]

I'm actually very lucky that both of my grandfathers had Lionel Postwar as kids, and they've passed it all on to me. I still need to finish servicing the old beasts though, since it's been decades since they've gotten any grease or oil.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Let’s not nickname the trains like that please.

[@sambrown6426]

@@nathancorcoran5347 Wdym? I didn't nickname them. Are you talking about the "Old beasts" part?

[@coastaku1954]

That's one think that scares me from Model Trains, the servicing, like I fear I'll break something

[@Petemonster62]

Lubrication may be all they need to get running!

[@sambrown6426]

@@Petemonster62 Oh, they run, I just don't want to wear them out.

[@redtrainproductions]

I got a Bachmann harvest express train set for Christmas of 2018, and it basically made me interested in trains as a whole. That cn gp40 and those three hopper cars were my prized possessions for years, until my dad and I started building a 4x8 ft layout, that we’re still working hard on to this day. It also made me discover railfanning, a hobby that I very much enjoy as well. and even career wise, I plan to work for the railroad in the future. One train set can sure go a long way.

[@karteny]

keep it up i hope you finish it and itll look great 👍

[@TheBurlingtonTransitFan]

Nice job RTP! Hopefully I get to see it in action soon! (You're from Burlington, right?)

[@redtrainproductions]

@@TheBurlingtonTransitFan thanks! And yes I am

[@offensivebias1898]

This was incredibly enjoyable. Full of Christmas cheer. I received the model train tradition from my Fathers side who's mostly German-American. My Grandfather had a nice train set and my Grandmother would make fantastic Putzen's to go along with them.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I have ran my own G Gauge Lionel Polar Express Train Set around the Christmas Tree along with my HO Scale Trains too.

[@SouthernFlyer1011]

I still remember my first Lionel train,it was the ready-to-play Polar Express,set it around the tree and played with it till Valentine's Day

[@hansmitdergans7879]

I don't think this is a very widespread tradition here in Germany. I probably got the idea from the film Polar Express, where at the very end the Polar Express model train goes around the Christmas tree. I always wanted to have one of these, but it's a little difficult in Germany. So German trains have been running around my Christmas tree ever since. I love this tradition, I couldn't imagine Christmas without it.

[@napke8571]

Oh yes, also here in the Netherlands we took over that American tradition :) and I love it, my Marklin train is always running under the Christmas tree. Yes I know, I am a fully grown man 41 years of age but trains do have a special place in my heart, trains are cool. Very durable also, if you take a bit care of those realistic model train sets it lasts more than 1 generation. It is not 'diamonds are forever', trains are forever!

[@kellylingro3288]

I got my dad a Lionel train a few years ago. My family are train enthusiasts no matter what time of year it is, but Christmas is the only time he can get it out. The tree really is a convenient place to put the track without it being in the way.

[@davidchambers7508]

I recall a 1980s Iarnrod Eireann/ Irish Rail Christmas advertisement which had two 1:76 or OO scale trains on a circle underneath a Christmas tree. One model train was an 8100 DART EMU with the other being an InterCity train with an EMD 071 class loco with mark 2 carriages. There was another version of the advert with the 8100 by itself.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Model railroading is the most satisfying and relaxing hobby in my opinion

[@Mason58654]

And rewarding. Building my own layout has helped me gain a knack for carpentry! 🪚

[@genetallarico3135]

I grew up in midtown Manhattan when the airlines had retail ticket offices. At Xmas the int’l airlines would display fabulous winter HO layouts with multiple trains and elevations, wintertime towns and tiny lights. I was in awe. I’m Trying to bring it all back in Z gauge now on a small display.

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

I did a double take on the Lego train at 3:56, turns out I know the guy 😂(the layout looks great @mpersand!). A huge thanks to AmtrakGuy for crediting the sources at the end of the video, not all creators take the time to do that 👍

[@PlushyDom2004]

The polar express set that I got all the way back in 2009-2010 I still have to this day and put it around my tree every year

[@delgates23]

There were a lot cats supervising railroad operations around the tree. Cats must enjoy trains as well Or they are just planning their attack on them.

[@thewestvirginiarailfan]

this is pretty cool and i never knew this! i have a g gauge train (small little loop tho) that goes around my tree. so yeah. pretty cool.

[@xxsnowbirbiexx7530]

This why i love this tradition. When i was 8, my dad got me an 0-27 set that at first we set up around the christmas tree, My mom got mad and threw it away. So me and my dad dug it out the trash and hid it in my room. He built a layout for me a few months after my mom calmed downed. My mom threw it away cuz it was smoking..... It was a steam locomotive

[@scottfw7169]

What a narcissistic mother with no respect for boundaries or other people's personal property.

[@Petemonster62]

I don't know if this company is still around, but Bart's Pneumatic Products used to offer smoke fluids with different scents - one was "Christmas" with a pine tree scent. Maybe your mom would find that less objectional.

[@TheBurlingtonTransitFan]

As a Teenager who loves trains and buses, well... I have had wooden trains running around my christmas tree for years, and I still honour the tradition thanks to my Grandmother. She was the one who encouraged me to play with the wooden trains, and I still do to this day. It started out as a simple Thomas & Friends figure 8 track, but then grew to an entire city, then an entire municipality, connected by trains. Even though it's not a model train, I don't care and I still enjoy what I have. The oldest set I first got, is still with me, set up in my room, in memory of my Grandmother. Merry Christmas everyone!

[@davidfaxon3336]

Liked reading your comment. I just bought a house around last christmas. Moved in in January 2024. I just got a train set for my tree this year

[@SteveBrant55]

Thank you for this great model railroad history lesson. I also got a kick out of seeing the cat towards the end. Just found your channel and am a subscriber now. Merry Christmas... from someone who had a Lionel train set back around 1962 (think it was called O27 size back then) and is about to build an HO scale, 4x16 layout.

[@evan12697]

i've got my grandfather's American Flyer pacific set running under my tree this year, its such a great smoker and that chuffing sound is fantastic

[@legiontheatregroup]

Great video! Just want to add that the simplicity of early electric toy trains made them very durable. I run both O gauge and standard gauge tinplate trains - most of what I run was made in the 1920s and 1930s and still works as well as when it was new.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

This year, I decided to reimagine the Lionel O-gauge layout that I used to have under my Christmas tree by remaking it in HO scale. Instead of using Lionel HO, as their HO stuff is crap, I did it with newer Bachmann and Walthers equipment. It had Bachmann ez-track (that’s just what I had on hand), a Bachmann HO scale J3a Hudson, several pieces of Walthers freight rolling stock, and a little red proto 2000 N&W caboose (I don’t have any New York Central cabooses).

[@ShyGuyXXL]

I set up my Lego trains under our christmas tree every year. The best part is driving the trains that I've designed myself. There's an extra source of pride in that. 😎

[@Collinthetrainfanatic]

Excellent job, I remember my first Lionel train set that I got from Santa when I was younger, and I still have that same train. Plus, I sometimes get new train cars to add to my collection.

[@rrad8106]

What a nice video! My first train was a Marx set that my Dad mounted on a piece of plywood. My sister made all of the buildings out of cardboard. I loved it, but at 5 years old, had no clue how to run it. Always running it off the rails! But that started it. Today, at age 62, I have a comprehensive set of Lionel and MTH trains that, when the mood hits, make for a wonderful running platform.

[@p4277]

I have my American Flyer trains running around my tree again this year. Using a 293 New Haven loco from the 1950’s and it runs and smokes like a champ.

[@TB-ModelRR]

I built my first N scale layout as a 2 piece module placed within the tree. Had a heck of a lot of fun making it!

[@Teh_moai]

I guess thats part of the reason i still love trains today. They are just so concrete because they've always been around as long as me.

[@horsewoodtrains15]

Thomas is a favorite to put around the tree

[@honorabledoggo6597]

Funny seeing other cats than mine that love watching trains go by

[@joshsadventures1776]

I have a Lionel RTR G-Gauge polar express model that runs around my tree every year. It will continue till it dies, and even then, it’ll be a nice display around the tree!

[@simonhashem9763]

Sitting a in my living room watching my n scale metra goin around my Xmas tree right now. Perfect video 😂

[@dfw_railfanner]

Merry Christmas I got hogwarts express

[@Tri-StateGuy]

Lego version?

[@dfw_railfanner]

@@Tri-StateGuyLionel

[@mattyo8828]

Same

[@vinchester8688]

I got an MTH pensylvania set

[@Tomsplanesandtrains]

I got Polar Express Lionel

[@1981deloreanfan]

4:06 That is my Polar Express!

[@sericsmith5770]

I haven't been keeping up too much with your videos lately, and for a second, I had misread the title as if you had literally built a literal layout, but it had turned out to be yet another informative video about railroad enthusiast history. Thank you very much for making these high quality mini documentaries. Keep it up! (BTW, ever since purchasing the new Super Mario Wonder game, I'm proud to call myself a Nintendo fan now.)

[@dozilwolf_196]

I also misread the title and interpreted it like that, welp.

[@TankEngineMedia]

I love the tradition of putting a train under a tree and watching it run and I hope this tradition doesn’t go away anytime soon in the future! Merry Christmas by the way! 🎄🎁

[@metalheadrailfan]

A Christmas tree is NEVER complete without a train of some kind running underneath it. Whenever I go to someone's house and I see no train under it, I just shake my head. It looks so bare without it. I don't care if it's some cheapy battery powered one you can get at Target, it needs to be under there.

[@mikeure1528]

my dad's lionel train from the 1930's went around the christmas tree this year and will again for years to come.

[@Wilett614]

Great Video ! I remember my FIRST American Flyer Train set under our tree . That was 70 YEARS ago . I STILL collect "Model" trains . It should be mentioned here however, THAT the Train sets etc. you depict in your video , are NOT Model trains , but are "Toy" trains, there is a BIG Difference : ) Loved your video , No Matter , Thanks for sharing !

[@gnx66932]

Because it's the one item you can have that can move by itself and keep going 'round, everything else just stays still. It's something that goes round and round, we have them too at christmas time, and put lights on it, oh he just said that, that's nice footage. Amazing at night, the long shadows, the dreams

[@SMichaelDeHart]

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!!

[@LBSC70]

I got a Hornby Santa's Express for Christmas now and for the last 2 years it's a tradition for me to put the train and run it around the tree

[@DillianTrainzStudios]

If I could get a model train set and put it around my Christmas tree, I would, but I can't. Jokes aside, excellent fitting video for the holiday season!

[@jameslude3146]

Years ago, me and my parents set up a figure eight, with an oval around the figure eight, with a small town scene in the open space of the figure eight. but due to covid and my mother getting an auto immune disease we just have a basic circle around the tree this year.

[@Railfaning_With_Brantley]

I got the first ever Lionel Hudson under my tree

[@autumn-vl5ez]

We had a train set when I was growing up as a kid every year at my grandparent's place. Christmas was never the same after it stopped working a few years ago.

[@bm6chime]

In the past few years I’ve done it as I never did as a kid. I did once when I was a kid when I put an HO Oval around the tree and kept it there from Christmas Day to Jan. 1st. (We keep our tree up until January 1st when it comes down.) and that had been the only time until last year when my dad gave me a second hand Lionel Christmas set from 2004. The locomotive doesn’t run but it was nice to set it up and push it around to different spots throughout the month. This year I bought directly a Lionel starter set with a Pennsy 0-8-0 to have a working steamer in my small collection of O Gauge. Occasionally I run it before putting it away for safety (Blame the cat, lol). When Christmas Eve comes tomorrow, I’ll leave it over night with the Christmas stock I have going behind the engine. Happy Holidays folks.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

I always thought it was because the flying reindeer set didn't have enough vertical space.

[@drunksquirrel2051]

Wife and I saw a cute tik Tok video with a kitten and a train under a tree and because we got a kitten earlier this year, I ordered a basic one from Amazon the next day and it was so cute and funny watch our kitten watch this thing go around the tree 🎄

[@adityasanthanam1945]

Merry Christmas, this is a great video. Nice to learn about the history of the tradition and see model trains in action.

[@Towerofterrorfan21]

I just got the I love Toy Trains switcher locomotive. I wanted it ever since I was a kid!

[@SteveInNEPA1]

Wow, your video and expert narration made my Christmas extra special. Thank you ATG360, and Merry Christmas to you.

[@fastertrackcreative]

I saw a few model trains running loops in shop windows, the shop wasn't actually train-related, it was just decor. Certainly got my attention though as someone who likes them.

[@titanickid5749]

I love doing a train around the tree and always wonder why we did it but now i kinda know!

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

I got into the model train hobby and a general interest with trains because of three things. Various train documentaries on VHS such as there goes a train, a National Geographic train documentary, and all about trains. The second thing was the I love Toy trains, VHS series and the second was my brothers and eventually me getting toy trains for Christmas, I got the polar express the Pennsylvania flyer and the Harry Potter Hogwarts express train sets during the 2000s. In terms of technology, the majority of the stuff I had pretty much was postwar levels of technology, since there was only puffing smoke and whistle sounds that sounded like how they did in the postwar era. We didn’t really have any diesels until about the time we stopped doing it, and while they were supposed to be bell sounds in the locomotives, they never worked. The only O gauge diesel we ever had was an MPC era, Santa Fe, blue bonnet, freight set, and I don’t think that had any sound effects.

[@BNSFTrains10]

Now Jared you have 40 Million Views and almost at 100K hopefully 2024 will be a good year for your Channel

[@patrickcross1571]

I'd heard rumors that the 'Lionel train circuit around the Christmas Tree' tradition was also a factor in the push for larger trees during the 20th Century. I guess the logic to this theory is that the sense of scale compared to the toy train is more aesthetically appealing. Up until at least the 1920's, most Christmas Trees were tiny things you'd put on a tabletop or in the corner of a small room, which would look a bit out of place with an O-scale train doing laps around it. By comparison, nowadays it's more common to see trees at a MINIMUM of four feet tall, which look considerably better with a Lionel-scale train running around it.

[@surplusgear3545]

I got that lionel lines sd28 locomotive best one

[@miles_da-tractor_man]

Thing is I never get new trains I just get 20 to 40-year-old new to me trains.

[@guitarenigma]

Christmas 1965, age 5. What a joy to wake up to the Lionel set my father (or Santa) surprised me with under the tree!

[@hrunchtayt1587]

0:44 FEC mentioned, Floridamen rejoice

[@42ndStreetShuttle]

I forgot to set my ho scale Amtrak ner around the tree this year rip

[@jimmypetrock]

I am waiting for the next series. Please give us series uploads back.

[@simpleman5688]

1916 being the year with most train riders is news to me and, thanks for that 👍🏿

[@justavaporwave2061]

Man its so cool to know the history about the train around the Christmas tree

[@OfficialSEIC2K6]

Yeah its a long time Christmas tradition. Model trains and Christmas trees are the perfect pair

[@Ash007YT]

Happy Holidays Amtrak!

[@killerbees177]

You're answering questions people didn't know they needed the answer to

[@bloodstreak2001]

I remember when I was younger my parents would help me set up is ho Thomas underneath the tree or a Lionel Polar Express underneath the tree

[@MaddoxsTrains]

Merry Christmas everyone! I have a Lionel Doc’s Express train set running around my Christmas tree. Its a little bit of a rough rider, but it still runs great. Btw theres a clip from A Christmas Story at 3:54

[@ameyring]

I've done the train under tree and once it's set up, it becomes tricky to arrange gifts so the train isnt blocked from running.😂

[@rottenroads1982]

AmtrakGuy365, I have a recomendation for your Next Engines of Amtrak. You could talk about all of the different locomotives Amtrak Inherited when it formed. Like the EMD E & F units, as well as the GG1's and other engines.

[@TheGs4_4449]

You know, History in the Dark made a good video about this as well!

[@ShyGuyXXL]

Short answer: Cuz it's cool.

[@Forklift_brainrot]

Under my tree is an HO oval. Most run trains on it at the moment are an AHM New York Central C Liner and a Rivarossi Empire State Express. Occasionally an Atheran Milwaukee Road F7A.

[@Justhings332]

Now we put pickup trucks on them. I put a model of a red 1949 Chevy advance design truck on ours last year. And will be doing the same with a 1947 Chevy pumper this year

[@gabrielarambula4465]

I used to this all the time, but with my LEGO trains

[@mikejankowski6321]

What a nice post! Brought back memories. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

[@xtraflo]

I just bought my first O Gauge Steam Engine for our Christmas Tree this year!! Topped off with Cinnamon smoke!!

[@nathandeal9703]

Thanks for the video! I’m actually getting a Great Northern NW-2, a model of ATSF 2926, and a Union Pacific Big Boy this year!

[@ackeeble]

I am from Britain and we have a fixation with trains as well here in our own homes. We don't follow this practice of putting our train sets under our Christmas trees. I prefer to build my trainset as a big layout that dominates the living room floor for all the family to see. You Americans have a good way of making use of your Christmas tree with a beautiful train set. I think British kids didn't engage in having their trainsets running around the Christmas tree in a circle track because we didn't have many homes with electricity supplies in the 1900s. Most toy trains available then were clockwork operated so we didn't need it to be near a plug socket like that for our Christmas tree.

[@狼女のアキコ]

I once had a train model resembling a 1 car that looks from 1930s or 40s and a emd f7 my dad bought it during christmas i was hyped about it although it was cheap since we don't have a lot of money i was and still having fun with it. I have it somewhere in my attic but i think it somehow got accidentally hidden somewhere good because we had a renovation before in my house

[@zeruiahwild1]

As a kid Plarail used to make Thomas engines in the states and in Toys R Us (which isn't here anymore) Now that I'm older and that there aren't any stores that sell Plarail anymore I import them and I collect an engine or two a year and set them up around the tree and with them being based on real like Japanese trains (I have currently a JNR C12 and a Shinkansen with the Evangelion livery) They are quite nostalgic yet always catch people's attention lol, Merry Christmas Love your videos!

[@Mason58654]

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 I was a lucky kid as I once got a Hornby live steam OO Mallard and ran that around the tree! 😂 @0:21 New Haven streamlined steamer! Very impressive! @3:38 The J3a Hudson! @3:57 Lego trains! Golly this video is a Christmas treat!

[@boblill8476]

Two days before Christmas my daughter excitedly calls and says, “ Dad , the trains only go fast not slow “ . I’ll be over . A little gentle track , locomotive wheel and pickup cleaning with a rubberstone and good to go . Son-in -law asks ,” what I do wrong ? “ Nothing I replied , just a little pre- Christmas maintenance 😎 . I’m used to it . Yeah , always had trains under the tree .

[@ThompsonSteamtrain]

I love your history content on your channel Amtrakguy365 😁👍🚂

[@jokelethkurueisner9229]

This was a cozy video! And speaking of model and toy trains, have you ever seen “I Love Toy Trains” or its spinoff “I Love Big Trains”?

[@1Nanerz]

Got an LGB starter set when my daughter was two for around the tree. It keeps growing every year with one more piece from Santa. Rugged stuff that will last for decades.

[@davidmolin8944]

I remember one Christmas I set up my 2026 Lionel train set under our tree, it was super fun but I haven’t done it since which is sad I should do it again

[@ronalddevine9587]

Thanks for the memories. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@arthurleino]

Good video, have a Lionel train going around the tree!

[@joeyfrench4517]

I decorated my Lionel trains with adhesive gemstones, blue ribbons, and paper signs: three for the locomotive and one for the caboose

[@robertphillips6296]

I prefer HO Scale for my model Railroading.

[@uncipaws7643]

In Germany märklin has been pretty much the same, including advertising campaigns. And now I wonder if I should bring a suitcase of model trains to the next family Christmas.

[@northMOFN]

2:28 I love how Lionel "reinvigorates" their brand with a new logo that just MIGHT be a little bit inspired by the 1975 NASA "worm" logo.

[@JimmyProductions]

I can’t believe my footage was shown! Merry Christmas Amtrakguy

[@SuperDave30]

Merry Christmas, I’m glad you made topic about this subject. 😊