Out Arizona Way

[ezdays]

Here we are, days away from Christmas. I wrote this one back in 2010 as my Christmas article. I've tweaked it a bit, but the memories are still the same:

Trains, Christmas and memories

Railroading and the holidays seem to go together regardless of where you are. I think I was a railroad buff since I was a kid. There was the Erie Railroad running a half-mile from our house, the Penn Station in Newark and the overhead train to New York City, all fond memories. I remember when train stations were brimming with holiday travelers. Some were heading home to be with family, some just barreling out of town for a respite from the hustle and bustle of the season. Surely though, this was also the time for anyone with a train to pull it out and set it up under the Christmas tree. I grew up in New Jersey and I remember getting the price of bus fare (five cents) to head downtown to see the trains running in the department store windows. Gone were the mannequins wearing the latest fashions, now they were decorated with animated figures, usually it was Santa surrounded by snow-clad scenery, sleds, bikes, gift packages under trees, a train in just about every window and maybe even a Red Rider BB gun propped up. We’d head upstairs to the huge toy department and sure enough, there was a Lionel train running with just about every accessory possible. Miniature people and things that did something, like the conductor that would pop out of the little house with a lit lantern every time the train passed by. We’d strain our necks to see the logs that would load when a freight train stopped to pick them up, what a delight for a young boy. I imagine there were many an adult mesmerized by the trains as they circled around billowing smoke out their stack and blowing their whistles. Yeah, I remember having to squeeze between these looming figures on my tiptoes, just to get a glimpse of all that action.

All that was great to help create the holiday spirit, but the practical matter is, that it’s all there to sell stuff, toys for sure, including train sets. Usually these sets were presents, sitting unused for the rest of the year, until the Christmas tree was put up once again and then the tracks were placed around it. Sometimes kids, with their parent’s help, had a train layout in the basement or attic; these too would wind up around the tree just because that’s what you do at Christmastime.

Well, here in Arizona, we don’t have those huge department stores with all those windows facing busy streets, what we do have are the malls. If we’re lucky, some model railroad club will be granted some precious space around the mall or inside a store to set up their layout. Usually though, it isn’t what I was used to when I was growing up. No, if it were even close, you’d find me hanging around the malls jumping up and down to look over shoulders, just to renew those old memories.

There’s much more to do train-wise around the holiday here other than setting up you trains, or ogling those in a store. How about a full-size adventure, head up north where the Grand Canyon Railroad normally takes riders between Williams and the Canyon. However, they change routes in December and some of their trains head right to the North Pole. Yep, you can enjoy and evening ride on their “Polar Express” which includes a stop to be greeted by Santa, along with sleighs, elves and snow. There’s plenty of hot chocolate and cookies on the way as someone reads the Polar Express story. Each child receives a silver bell as they board the train, and trying to be true to the story, they are encouraged to wear their pajamas.

Christmas is all about creating memories; we should all have them. Some of the kids of today will remember riding the Polar Express to the North Pole; those of the future may have an entirely different memory to share. My memories go back to those Christmas window displays, those trains, and all that attention to the fascinating details. Whatever you fondest Christmas memories are, they need to be cherished and shared, for the new ones may not always bring the same satisfaction.