Brandywine River Museum presents exhibition of model trains on view through January 6, 2013.
With a collection of trains including 150 locomotives and 300 freight cars that run on nearly 2,000 feet of track, the model train display at the Brandywine River Museum is a popular holiday exhibition, delighting visitors of all ages. Toy trains in the collection are mostly Lionel products dating from 1915 to the present, often supplemented with trains loaned by visiting engineers. A “must see” for the youngest train fans is Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends from the Isle of Sodor, UK.
The first train display took place in 1971, the year the Museum opened. In 1973, Kirk Lindvig and Jeff Punderson. established O-gauge as the size for the trains, which means the distance between the rails is 1 1/4 inches. They operated and improved the display for over four years. Our present train expert, Steven Clarke, assumed responsibilities as “chief engineer” in 1976. He has entirely rebuilt the display, adding to it while overseeing operations and maintenance. He is on hand throughout the holiday season to operate and repair equipment, to keep the rails clean and to answer questions posed by visitors. David Jensen has worked with Steven for 29 years and has contributed many additions and improvements. A dedicated crew helps move and assemble the layout and serves as guides during the Christmas holidays.
Brandywine River Museum, U.S. Route 1, P.O. Box 141
Chadds Ford, PA 19317 • Phone: 610-388-2700
www.brandywinemuseum.org