I Will Honour Christmas In My Heart

I will honour Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.
I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!

~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Hudson Model Railroad Club Train Display, 2019

 Welcome to my Christmas Blog, A Debbie-Dabble Christmas!!
I am so happy that you decided to stop by my Christmas Blog....

Yes, I am still posting here on my Christmas Blog......

It seems like I still have Christmas related things I would like to share and this post is one of them!!

But first, I want to Thank Bev, over at Eclectic Red Barn,  for featuring my post, Christmas Front Porch and Yard,  from last week's Over the Moon Linky Party!!!
 Thanks so much, Bev!!

And I also want to Thank Kristie, over at Love My Little Cottage, for featuring my post, Christmas in the Living Room, the Entry, from last week's Little Cottage Link Party!!
Thanks so much, Kristie!!

Please stop by and link up to these wonderful parties!!!

I have a Christmas Bucket List.......

Not in the true sense of a traditional Bucket List being a list of things one wants to do before one "Kicks the Bucket"...

But a List of things and places to see during the Christmas Season.....

It could be a list of things to see and do yearly or just once before I leave this earth....

One of the things on my list was to see The Hudson Model Railroad Club Train Display.....

I have seen this model train display advertised for many years but because of having to work weekends and because of my knee pain prior to my surgery ( it was on the second floor of a building with no elevator access), we never went.....

I am happy to say that this year, Joe and I finally had the privilege of seeing this amazing train display , which is only a mere 10 minute drive from our house!!!!
And it is FREE!!!!!!
They merely ask for a donation and of course, we left a donation because I feel that this is a Hidden Gem in our area......
The display takes up the entire second floor of the building in which it is located......
It was open every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon - 5pm during the Holiday Season......
When we were there, at least 10 members of all ages of the Club, were pesent to make sure that all the trains were running properly and answer questions that anyone had.....

And there is this area that is located above the entire display where a member of the Club watches over it and then uses Walkie Talkies to contact different members stationed through out the display to either adjust trains, speed them up or slow them down......
This display is a miniature replica of many places in our area.......
They have stacks of step stools through out the display so children can stand on to get a better view.....
 There is an area where they sell raffle tickets on baskets to be chanced off as another means to ensure the financial survival of the Club and this amazing display.......
On the walls of the room are pictures of both Model and real trains......
 There are pathways that wind in and out through out the display.......
When we were there, we recognized one of the members of the Club......
He was a Physical Therapist who works in the Outpatient Physical Therapy department of my former employer and where I went to therapy after my knee replacement surgery.....
He told us that he was a relatively new member and that there were older members that had actually started this Club who knew so much more about model trains.......
These older members were teaching him and his son, who was there with him and looked to be about 10 years old, about trains and how to build and maintain a display such as this.......
I couldn't help but think what a wonderful hobby for a Father and son or daughter to share together!!
 Our visit there reminded me of our Christmas visits to my Uncle Joe's house......
 My Uncle Joe, who was a father of 2 sons, would take everything out of the "Front Room" of his house ( which was my paternal Grandparent's Home) , set up this huge platform that filled the entire room and set up train sets and a Plasticville Village.......
 What a delight it was to see especially since I had no brothers so we did not have a train set in our house.....
 I used to have a small platform and put up a 6 foot Tree for Christmas in the corner of our Den where my doll house now is and our sons had a train set underneath the Tree on the platform......
Seeing this display brought back great memories.......

If anyone in my area is reading this Blog post........
I highly recommend you take the time to visit this wonderful display.....
As I said before, this Train Display is a Hidden Gem and is open to the public on various weekends through out the year......
This is one example of something that exists right in my back yard so to speak.......
Right down the road from the Silk Mill that Joe worked in for over a decade before he started working at the Post Office.......
And there is no admission fee, only a donation is requested!!!
I wonder how many other Hidden Gems are out there right in my back yard, waiting to be seen, explored and treasured.......

Places and events that we take for granted because we live right by them and have seen them or heard about them our whole lives.....

Not only do I have a Christmas Bucket List of things to attend and places to go right here where I live but I now am also compiling another list of these Hidden Gems that I would like to see through out the year.....

So tell me......

Do you know of the Hidden Gems in your community and are you interested in creating your own Bucket list of them?????

I am working on changing over Christmas to Winter decorations......

The front porch is already finished......
 And I have just finished the Den.........
 It is all decked out for Winter......
 I will be sharing all of this over on my regular Blog soon!!!

In my next post here on this Blog, I will be sharing some of my After Christmas Buys.......
 So I hope you will stop by to visit again soon!!

Thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE  give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment.  If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......

I am linking up to these parties:

Ducks in a Row Wonderful Wednesdays Blog Hop
Sizzle into Summer Party
Talk of the Town Party
Party in Your PJ's
Waste Not Wednesday
A Gathering of Friends Link Party, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday

THURSDAY
Vintage Charm
Home and Garden Party Thursday
Share Your Style Thursday Link Up Party
Inspired Creations Linky Party
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 
Grace at Home Party
Encouraging Hearts and Home Party

FRIDAY
Friday Features Linky Party
Friday Favorites
Home Matters Linky Party
Flaunt It Fridays
 Funtastic Friday
Farmhouse Friday

 SATURDAY
Saturday Sparks
Pink Saturday-Anything Goes!!
Best of the Weekend Party

SUNDAY
Snickerdoodle Sunday
Silver Pennies Sunday
Happiness is Homemade Linky Party

 MONDAY 
Inspire Me Monday
Love Your Creativity Link Party
Busy Monday
Celebrate Your Story Link Party!!

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!
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13 comments:

  1. LeannaJanuary 7, 2020 at 11:29 PM

    Hi Debbie. I think these railway clubs are great for the community. I am not sure why they are so interesting, but they really are. These type of activities and outings are my favorite, low key, inexpensive, more about community.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasJanuary 10, 2020 at 8:38 AM

      Leanna,
      Thanks so much for stopping by!! I am responding here because your profile does not lead me to a blog web site and I am not sure if you are the Blogger that I think you are! LOL!!
      Hugs
      Debbie

      Delete
  2. VickiJanuary 8, 2020 at 11:12 AM

    Great railway setup! My husband has always wanted to create a model train layout and he started working on one a couple of years ago. It is slow going (he works full time) but he is getting so much enjoyment out of it. So are our grands!

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  3. JeanieJanuary 8, 2020 at 11:52 AM

    What a delightful display. And how fun for the club members to be able to participate in something like this1

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  4. Sandi MagleJanuary 8, 2020 at 12:46 PM

    I really enjoyed following around to get to this post. I was given a box of trains to sell/or keep from a son's friend...and we need to test it. I'm afraid if we set it up---LOL< hubby will want to keep the whole thing, and then we will go down another rabbit-hole in this house. But, I did send him the link to this post---as it looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. KathyJanuary 8, 2020 at 12:49 PM

    So glad I got to see this post! Our annual train/dollhouse show in Augusta, Maine 2/15 (www.facebook.com/modelrailroaddollhouseshow) is where I rent tables to sell my dollhouse minis that I make, upcycle, and resell. The local train clubs all bring their 4x8'ish sections and put them together several large setups like your show did. Although admission is $5, kids under 12 are free and there is a $10 family limit so it is a great day out! My grandfather had a small building (nicer than a shed) for his HO trains. When my son was little (about 8)my brother gave him some of Gramp's stuff, then a friend helped build a 4x8' layout in my spare room (It has been said that there is NOTHING spare about the room now, crammed with craft supplies). He would have been a 4th generation HO railroader. But video games took over.... Being the bad mama I am, I stole the greenery supplies I bought him for dollhouse shrubbery and plants! Someday I have visions of finishing the scenery...that little boy is 36 now!

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    Replies
    1. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasJanuary 8, 2020 at 5:32 PM

      Kathy,
      I always liked train sets but never had one because I did not have any brothers and in those days, a girl did not have a train set......We had a small set when the boys were young.... I loved seeing this one that I posted about because it really is an act of love by the members of this club and to open it to the Community for free is really quite a gift...
      Hugs,
      Deb

      Delete
  6. PamelaJanuary 8, 2020 at 3:58 PM

    You would most likely enjoy this place. Rod Stewart is a frequent visitor, and I believe Neil Young is as well.

    http://northlandz.com/

    Pamela

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasJanuary 8, 2020 at 5:29 PM

      Pamela, Thanks so much for stopping by!! And thanks for the link...So it is in NJ...Not too far from us here in Pa. Another site that we used to stop at when you used to go to the Outlets in Reading, Pa. was Roadside America....
      https://roadsideamerica.co/
      Hugs,
      Debbie

      Delete
  7. AnnJanuary 12, 2020 at 3:13 PM

    Such an amazing display. We love to search out those hidden gems in our area too. They are there, you just have to find them! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Donna @ Modern on MonticelloJanuary 14, 2020 at 11:58 AM

    Looks like you really had a good time there. The displays are wonderful. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty

    ReplyDelete
  9. French EtherealJanuary 15, 2020 at 7:26 PM

    Debbie, there is just something fascinating about trains big or small!!! This is a hidden jem and I am SOOO happy to feature your post at tonight's Share Your Style #239 (it runs Wednesday thru Mondays, 6pm on both ends). They could do a whole Polar Express opening night with hot chocolate for sale and lots of twinkle lights hanging like starlight above... (You'll need to give these mostly men some good decorating tips!) I do love how they've painted and shaded mountain scenes and backgrounds. We did put up Charles' old 1960's era train a few times at Christmas. Peter LOVED IT and it was his pride and joy to help lay out the tracks on the piece of plywood we used under and around the tree.

    Oh... And I just took off the Christmas lights on the tree yesterday while I was home recouping with this cold... Light wrapped for storage, tree ready to go into box as soon as Hubby is well and can get the boxes back out of the attic! ;)

    Enjoy Christmas all year, I say!
    Hugs,
    Barb :)

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  10. Lisa LynnJanuary 20, 2020 at 8:02 PM

    What an amazing display! Thanks so much for sharing with us on Farm Fresh Tuesdays, Debbie! Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete

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