Toy Train Winter Wonderland DVD
Steamboy (Revere MA US) on 2019-11-16 13:39:36.
In this year's TMBV Christmas special, the program starts with a look around the actual christmas tree itself. Then Producer Tom McComas Narrates Dave & Logan McVicker's Layout. Which includes a model of the Nickel Plate berkshire number 759 pulling different passenger cars (One for the Pennsylvania, the other for the polar express. Thankfully, the real 759 is at Steamtown in Scranton Pennsylvania, A BNSF genset switcher number 1233 hauling freight (Reference to the Southern Pacific 0-6-0 Steam switcher in Yolo California), and the Santa Fe F-3 by MTH with its own passenger fleet. Plus there is also a modern Canadian National Diesel hauling flatbeds of military equipment. For Power, Dave & Logan uses the MTH Digital Command System. For track, Dace & Logan uses Lionel Fastrack. The layout is on the carpet. 759 is in the inner figure 8 loop. Many of the Buildings that Dave & Logan owned are courtesy of Lemax, Woodland Scenics, Lionel, and many of his own Scratch-built destinations. Which includes a trio of signal box towers, a fire tower, a station platform, & a diorama from the blues brothers. Dave also talks about how he decided to put the figures in the coaches. On one scene the CN freight is following close behind the Super Chief.
At the 15 minute mark of the Program, Sally Ann Howes Sings Jingle Bells with Special green Screen effects, and an animated snowfall.
Halfway between the 16 & 17 minute mark, Another Christmas train layout on the layout is shown. This time its owned by Robert & Kimberly Smith which Joe Stachler narrating. The couple owns 2 train sets around the tree: a Lionel fastrack on the outer loop with 4 coaches led by a postwar berkshire, and a Lionel Tinplate steam powered Freight set on the inner loop. They also owned a 4-6-0 Christmas themed 19th century mixed train, and a Lionel Icon: the Santa Fe F-3. The couple also has a decent collection of Department 56 buildings, A lionel Polar express set, and a Wabash hudson. For power, they used the MTH Z-1000 Transformers. Robert also created a book about the 736 berkshire. It's titled: "736: A Christmas Memory". He also owns an LCCA exclusive: A Polar Express Observation Car showing the Hobo catching the Main boy in that movie. Bob & Kim also has an MTH Rudolph set. On the tender, listen to one of Santa's noteworthy Quotations. Plus there's a 4-4-0 Hauling the Mickey Mouse Christmas set. Listen carefully to the Whistle on the Wabash 702. which was occasionally used on many I Love Toy Trains Videos. Some of the Ornaments on the Tree were from The married Couple's childhood years. The layout also has a tunnel, figurines, and tiny trees.
At the 30 minute mark, Jeff McComas Talks about the history of Lionel's model of the Polar Express over the Years. Which includes a mention of the original book, and the recently turned 15 year old movie. Not to mention a look at the front cover of Lionel's 2004 Book 1 catalog. Fact alert: the molding of the coaches were made during the MPC Fundamentions era of the 1970s. There were also known as the 9500 series cars, as taken by the milwaukee road president Washington Car 9502 for example. Jeff also mentions the Transformer and remote Control Lionchief versions of the set. Plus the 0-8-0 Freight set, a searchlight car, A bell car using the Fort Knox Car tooling, and a stock car with Reindeer that was inspired by the bobbing horse head car. There is also a Legacy model of the inspiration of the Polar Express: Pere Marquette 1225. Thankfully the real 1225 is at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso Michigan. Of course Lionel also made Heavyweight Pullman coaches. Did you Know that Lionel also made a Scale version of the Polar Express painted 100% gold? In Recent Years, Lionel also made the Polar Express in American Flyer S gauge, and HO. A 3 way comparison of Lionel's Polar Express is shown: 2 in O Gauge, and 1 in HO. Besides the Movie train, Lionel also made accessories. Which includes the Conductor's North Pole Shanty which was inspired by Lionel's popular accessory: the gate man, a double sided billboard with one side for the Conductor Shouting 2 words we all know in our lives, and the other side for the Hot Chocolate Song. Plus there is also a handcar with 3 or 4 elves, and a flagpole.
Near the 36 minute mark of the video, Sally Sings Toyland.
At the 37 minute mark, the host of TM's Modern O Gauge Remote Control Series Bob Philips talks about why he loves Christmas and trains at the same time. Around Bob's tree, is a Wabash GP9 Hauling Freight. This set was Bob's very first Lionel train he got for Christmas. A look at the 1958 Sears catalog is shown. Jolly old Saint Nicholas is played on the Guitar. Bob also has a unique collection of ornaments, Accessories, and Department 56 Buildings. In regular non-Christmas months, all of the people especially the kids are super glued to their Iphones, and Ipads, but when Christmas season comes, Kids are going wild about trains at about an estimate 60%.
At the 41 minute mark of the TMBV Christmas Special, there is the Gabis Arboretum Christmas Train Display in Valparaiso, IN. Here Sally Sings Deck the Halls.
Halfway between the 42 minute and 43 minute mark, there is Mark Schwinkendorf and his wild Yorkshire terrier Polly's Lionel layout. Like the Lionel Polar Express Segment, this was narrated by Jeff McComas. For trains, Mark runs a Red Frisco GP7 hauling freight, with 2 candy cars in the consist. He also has some Department 56 Buildings, and he also uses Lionel's old school O27 tubular track.
Halfway between the 44 minute and 45 minute mark of the Special, there is one more Christmas train layout to visit: Todd & Jacob Dombroski. which is also narrated by Jeff. For trains, they have a Lionel Santa Fe F-3 from the late 1940s to 1969 due to the battery operated horn, a 2-4-2 steam engine hauling freight, and a 2-6-2 steam engine parked on Display. Todd also has bridges, real mini rocks, department 56 buildings, and all the trains are run on Lionel's Old School Tubular Track.
In the Closing Credits, Sally Sings We Wish You A Merry Christmas, as the Original Original Lionel Polar Express Ready to Run set with an additional TrainSounds Tender Runs around the Depatment 56 buildings.
All in all, Great Program to add to your TMBV Christmas DVD Collection. You can also watch this newcomer on Amazon Prime Video. As always, all of today's kids would never know and/or care about TMBV Nowadays and beyond because they are always focused on the Sharon Miller Style Episodes of Thomas The Tank Engine.
Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Definitely!
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!