migalyto
Well-Known Member
Wonder if they have a Cubs one?
Christmas Trees, Trains and More - 2025
- Thread starter Bruette
- Start date
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This poem, titled “Noel”, was written by J.R.R. Tolkien before The Hobbit was published, and only just discovered in 2013 in a 1936 copy of The Annual of Our Lady’s School (a school magazine).
The beautiful imagery Tolkien creates with his words resonates profoundly with the winter season’s cold and desolate landscape… but the heavens and earth are overwhelmed with joy by the eucatastrophe (as Tolkien would put it) of Christ’s birth.
The moon and stars were fled,
The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.
The wind in the trees was like to the sea,
And over the mountains’ teeth
It whistled bitter-cold and free,
As a sword leapt from its sheath.
The lord of snows upreared his head;
His mantle long and pale
Upon the bitter blast was spread
And hung o’er hill and dale.
The world was blind,
the boughs were bent,
All ways and paths were wild:
Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,
And here was born a Child.
The ancient dome of heaven sheer
Was pricked with distant light;
A star came shining white and clear
Alone above the night.
In the dale of dark in that hour of birth
One voice on a sudden sang:
Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth
Together at midnight rang.
Mary sang in this world below:
They heard her song arise
O’er mist and over mountain snow
To the walls of Paradise,
And the tongue of many bells was stirred
in Heaven’s towers to ring
When the voice of mortal maid was heard,
That was mother of Heaven’s King.
Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.
Source: https://catholicism.org/noel-a-christmas-poem-by-j-r-r-tolkien.html
I’m glad the artwork on the boxcar stays true to the TV show instead of the first editions of the best-selling children's book.
The TV design became so iconic that Golden Books replaced their original artwork for the TV version, big feet and all, which is almost unheard of. Publishers rarely replace original illustrations unless the new version becomes the definitive cultural image.
Could it be that, even in your pint-sized form, you were already tackling life’s biggest mysteries like a tiny philosopher wielding a magnifying glass?
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Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
And a Buddy-L steam shovel on the side!
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
Christmas Forest 2025 cross posting from facebook
Consists of 32 trees., of which 27 were lighted, 23 decorated. They were surrounded by 8 different train circuits. In addition, it included 4 mini-displays. Specifically the Trains are - Lionel Legacy Polar Express, Lionel Legacy E8 powered Jingle Bell Limited, Lionel RS-3 with various Christmas themed cars. G-gauge: LGB 2-4-0 Coke train. LGB 2-6-0 Denver South Park & Pacific. Kalamazoo 4-4-0 Mountain Central mixed train. LGB 2-4-0 Neiman Marcus Christmas Train. HO- Broadway Limited 2-6-0 and Merry Christmas passenger cars.
This forest covered a smaller area than last time (didn't have enough time to fill the whole space) but it contained more trees due to the smaller size of many.
Consists of 32 trees., of which 27 were lighted, 23 decorated. They were surrounded by 8 different train circuits. In addition, it included 4 mini-displays. Specifically the Trains are - Lionel Legacy Polar Express, Lionel Legacy E8 powered Jingle Bell Limited, Lionel RS-3 with various Christmas themed cars. G-gauge: LGB 2-4-0 Coke train. LGB 2-6-0 Denver South Park & Pacific. Kalamazoo 4-4-0 Mountain Central mixed train. LGB 2-4-0 Neiman Marcus Christmas Train. HO- Broadway Limited 2-6-0 and Merry Christmas passenger cars.
This forest covered a smaller area than last time (didn't have enough time to fill the whole space) but it contained more trees due to the smaller size of many.
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DeaconKC
Well-Known Member
Wow, that is just lovely. It looks like you had all scales covered.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Magnificent! Thank you for all the effort it took to be able to share this with us.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
December 22, 1882. - Edward H. Johnson, vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, unveiled the first electrically illuminated Christmas tree in his New York City home.
The image is an AI-generated recreation.
Since no known authentic photograph of Johnson’s 1882 tree exists, this image serves as a visual interpretation of the event, blending historical detail with artistic imagination. It's a beautiful tribute to a moment that rewired holiday history.
The image is an AI-generated recreation.
Since no known authentic photograph of Johnson’s 1882 tree exists, this image serves as a visual interpretation of the event, blending historical detail with artistic imagination. It's a beautiful tribute to a moment that rewired holiday history.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Because of a recent health issue, I didn’t have the energy to set up my Lionel Polar Express under the living room Christmas tree, and the family room trains remain unfinished. I’m feeling better now, though my energy still isn’t back to its usual semi-lame self. So, I decided to take half a dozen cars from the family room and pair them with a Christmas locomotive to create a train for under the living room tree. It took a few days, carrying one car at a time, but I got it done!
Here are some photos from my archives of a few of the cars I’ve used.
Lionel 6-36170 Partridge in a Pear Tree Wood-Sided Reefer #36170 The first Lionel Christmas car I ever purchased.
Lionel 6-15096 Hershey's Kisses Christmas Boxcar. The second Lionel Christmas car I ever purchased Jesus is the reason for the season, but Lionel trains and Hershey’s Kisses bring extra joy and sweetness to the celebration.
Lionel 6-81428 Frosty the Snowman Boxcar. A very special car to me. When my youngest grandson was little, he loved snowmen and of course the Frosty the Snowman TV show. Whenever he would see a snowman, he would exclaim "Snowman!" Now every time I see a snowman I can hear his voice in my head "Snowman!"
That is all I have in the achieves. God willing, I will take and post photos of the rest and maybe even a video. It is not what I planned, but I love it!
Here are some photos from my archives of a few of the cars I’ve used.
Lionel 6-36170 Partridge in a Pear Tree Wood-Sided Reefer #36170 The first Lionel Christmas car I ever purchased.
Lionel 6-15096 Hershey's Kisses Christmas Boxcar. The second Lionel Christmas car I ever purchased Jesus is the reason for the season, but Lionel trains and Hershey’s Kisses bring extra joy and sweetness to the celebration.
Lionel 6-81428 Frosty the Snowman Boxcar. A very special car to me. When my youngest grandson was little, he loved snowmen and of course the Frosty the Snowman TV show. Whenever he would see a snowman, he would exclaim "Snowman!" Now every time I see a snowman I can hear his voice in my head "Snowman!"
That is all I have in the achieves. God willing, I will take and post photos of the rest and maybe even a video. It is not what I planned, but I love it!
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Bruette
Well-Known Member
The beautiful imagery Tolkien creates with his words resonates profoundly with the winter season’s cold and desolate landscape… but the heavens and earth are overwhelmed with joy by the eucatastrophe (as Tolkien would put it) of Christ’s birth.
Noel
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Grim was the world and grey last night:The moon and stars were fled,
The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.
The wind in the trees was like to the sea,
And over the mountains’ teeth
It whistled bitter-cold and free,
As a sword leapt from its sheath.
The lord of snows upreared his head;
His mantle long and pale
Upon the bitter blast was spread
And hung o’er hill and dale.
The world was blind,
the boughs were bent,
All ways and paths were wild:
Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,
And here was born a Child.
The ancient dome of heaven sheer
Was pricked with distant light;
A star came shining white and clear
Alone above the night.
In the dale of dark in that hour of birth
One voice on a sudden sang:
Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth
Together at midnight rang.
Mary sang in this world below:
They heard her song arise
O’er mist and over mountain snow
To the walls of Paradise,
And the tongue of many bells was stirred
in Heaven’s towers to ring
When the voice of mortal maid was heard,
That was mother of Heaven’s King.
Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.
Source: https://catholicism.org/noel-a-christmas-poem-by-j-r-r-tolkien.html
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
Even as a small child I wonder why they drew the children with feet the size of Rhode Island.
John from Indiana
Well-Known Member
My kids watched that show back in '69
Bruette
Well-Known Member
In cartoons, anything goes—magic hats, talking snowmen, oversized feet, it’s all part of the charm. The Rankin/Bass animated special "Frosty the Snowman" (1969), narrated by Jimmy Durante, has been airing every Christmas season for over 50 years, that’s true staying power.
I’m glad the artwork on the boxcar stays true to the TV show instead of the first editions of the best-selling children's book.
The TV design became so iconic that Golden Books replaced their original artwork for the TV version, big feet and all, which is almost unheard of. Publishers rarely replace original illustrations unless the new version becomes the definitive cultural image.
Could it be that, even in your pint-sized form, you were already tackling life’s biggest mysteries like a tiny philosopher wielding a magnifying glass?
Bruette
Well-Known Member
I'm awake early on this glorious yet quiet Christmas morning, sitting at my desk with the family room Christmas tree and LED Advent wreath both shining brightly in the darkness before dawn.
I didn't manage to finish the family room Christmas trains, that is okay.
My wife worries if I have real candles burning when she is not around. The LED Advent Wreath solves that.
Enjoy this beautiful Christmas morning. Whether simple or grand, it’s always a blessing filled with hope, thank God. May yours be brimming with peace, joy, and love.
I didn't manage to finish the family room Christmas trains, that is okay.
My wife worries if I have real candles burning when she is not around. The LED Advent Wreath solves that.
Enjoy this beautiful Christmas morning. Whether simple or grand, it’s always a blessing filled with hope, thank God. May yours be brimming with peace, joy, and love.
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