We live in an awesome city. There is so much history in Baltimore that it’s literally at every turn. Did you know that the first railroad station in the United States is right here in Baltimore? You got it hun. The B&O Railroad Museum located off of Maryland Avenue in Ellicott City was the first train station in the entire United States of America. And do you know how I found that out? My four year old told me. He is obsessed with trains in every way. He doesn’t just like them and collect them — trains have become somewhat of a passion. He loves all things pertaining to trains and is fast becoming quite an expert. He can spot train merchandise from three stores away in the mall. He surfs the web for hours for train merchandise, video footage of trains in action, he even finds the news clips of the collapse of the B& O Roundhouse roof from a snow storm a few years ago fascinating. This year, we actually became members of the B&O Railroad Museum in Downtown Baltimore just so my son could receive mail from them. (There is nothing more important to a four year old then getting mail) No joke. To encourage and support my son’s hobby, my husband and I have become experts on train activities in the Baltimore area. And with such a diverse and rich railway history here, it’s been easy to find both fun and educational activities in and around town that meet all of our family’s needs.

One of our favorite activities to do as a family during this time of the year is visit as many train gardens (model train exhibits) as we can between Thanksgiving and New Years. This holiday season, there is a plethora of truly amazing train exhibits in and around Baltimore for you to visit. Model trains, train rides, exhibits, history…truly something for everyone. Try them with your family, and while you are having some fun, you just may learn some fascinating facts about Baltimore’s history in the process.

Here is a list of our favorite train gardens:

Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station Museum

When: November 26, 2005 - January 30, 2006
Where: 2711 Maryland Avenue , Ellicott City

Cost: $5 adults, $4 students and seniors, $3 ages 3-12, and children 2 and under free

Tel: (410) 461-1944 or www.ecbo.org

Four different model train displays, including a 300 square ft. O scale layout.

B&O Railroad Museum – Baltimore , Maryland

Kick-Off Weekend – Holiday Festival of Trains
When: Friday, November 25 thru Sunday, November 27, 2005 — 10 am. – 5 pm

Where : 901 W. Pratt St .

Cost: $8-$14

Tel: (410) 752-2490, www.borail.org

This weekend kicks off the holiday celebration of toy trains and model railroading with the arrival of Santa by locomotive at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 25 for a one day visit. Features the Museum’s model train layouts as well as visiting layouts from "The Trackside Modules" and "Mason Dixon Large Scale Railroad Society." Train rides included in the price of admission.

Holiday Festival of Trains
Monday, November 28 thru Friday, December 30, 2005
Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm
Saturday, 10 am . – 5 pm
Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm

Holiday celebration of toy trains and model railroading featuring different guest modeling groups every week. Visitors can also enjoy the Museum’s "HO" model train layout in the C&O #725 passenger car and the outdoor "G" scale layout. Train rides are included with the price of admission Tuesdays – Saturdays.
Please note: The Museum is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The following guest modeling groups are scheduled to appear during the Festival.

Schedule is subject to change without notice.

• Fri, Nov. 25 – Fri, Dec. 30
  Mason Dixon Large Scale Railroad Society
   
• Sat, Dec. 3 & Sun, Dec. 4
  The Baltimore Area American Flyer Club
   
• Sat, Dec. 10 & Sun, Dec. 11
  The Western Maryland Historical Society "HO" Scale Modular Group
   
• Sat, Dec. 17 – Fri, Dec. 30
  The Baltimore Area NTRAK Club
   
• Mon, Dec. 26 – Fri, Dec. 30
  The National Capital Trackers

Engine Company 45 and Truck Company 27's

Where: Located at 2700 Glen Ave — Cross Country Boulevard and Glen Avenue will be open to the public daily until Jan. 7

When: November 28 thru January 8: Hours: 10 am - 9 pm daily (including Christmas and New Year’s days)

Cost: FREE

Tel: (410) 396-0171

One of the city’s most longstanding—and charming—Christmas train gardens has been operating in this Mount Washington fire station since 1956. Firefighters detailed to this station volunteer their time to design and build a fresh train layout each year. Elvis, Disney characters, Big Foot, and many more are included in this extremely entertaining model train exhibit.

Baltimore Society of Model Engineers

When: December 11, 2005 – 1 pm to 5 pm ; January 1 thru February 12pm – 1 pm to 5 pm (Sundays only)

Where: 225 W. Saratoga Street , Third Floor

Cost: $3-$10

Tel: (410) 837-2763

Tiny trains run all year round at the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers, which is open to the public on the second Sunday of each month. The BSME expands its hours for the holiday season, holding a holiday open house on December 11 and on Sundays in January and February.

The Shops at Kenilworth

When: November 25 thru January 8, 10 am - 9 pm — Monday through Saturday, Noon-5 pm Sundays

Where: 800 Kenilworth Drive , Towson

Cost: FREE

Tel: (410) 321-1909

One of the region’s last remaining shopping mall train gardens, it’s a big hit with little kids because it’s built low to the ground so tiny train aficionados can press their noses to the surrounding Plexiglas as multiple trains zip past only inches away. Santa is enthroned nearby. And for an extra hit of train garden love, visit the small model railroad layout at the Stebbins-Anderson store.

C. Orsini/Contributor