Highlandtown Holiday Train Garden

Highlandtown Main Streets, volunteers and business partners kick off new holiday tradition!

For weeks now, in a secret location, model railroading engineers have been assembling East Baltimore’s first public train garden, which will open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 5, at noon at Engine Company 41, Highlandtown’s firehouse at 520 S. Conkling Street. Admission is free. Don't miss the train!

The project is a cooperative effort of the Baltimore Fire Department, Highlandtown Main Streets and the Enoch Pratt Free Library, which is providing program support at its Southeast Anchor Library across from the firehouse.

Construction of the 16-by-eight-foot, two-tier layout was paid for by a $5,000 grant from CSX Corp., and many smaller cash and in-kind donations from local businesses—Mike’s Train House, Mark Supik & Co., The Baltimore Guide, and nonprofits Banner Neighborhoods and Southeast Community Development Corp.

The layout, which was built by volunteers, is sure to bring back memories to generations of Eastsiders who grew up with a train around the holiday tree, and start a new family holiday tradition in Highlandtown. Admission is free.

The train garden will be open to the public Saturdays and Sundays, noon-5 p.m. and Thursdays, 5-8 p.m., from Dec. 5-27. The layout will also be open Monday, Dec. 28, 5-8 p.m.

The Southeast Anchor Library will host the opening reception for donors, press and VIPs Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. The classic film “Polar Express” will be shown in the library auditorium Saturday, Dec. 12 at noon (free admission) and many toddlers and children’s story times in December will have train themes.

Possible photo ops: Load-in and assembly of the layout on Nov. 21; opening of the train garden at noon Dec. 5.

For additional info and updates the public may visit

www.highlandtowntraingarden.blogspot.com

For more information: Southeast Community Development Corporation,
410.342.3234

Press Contacts:

Jackie Watts, Baltimore Guide
410.732.6603 (media only)
jwatts2@mac.com (media only)