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The Museum of Science in Boston is welcoming back its “All Aboard! Trains” holiday exhibit through Jan. 19, with help from model railroad experts from New Hampshire.This cherished tradition brings joy to visitors of all ages. You are welcomed to stroll through a snow-covered wonderland with gondolas climbing peaks and model trains navigating a miniature make-believe village below.In another room, the Boston skyline is dressed in holiday cheer, with landmarks like Fenway Park and the Zakim Bridge and the Prudential Building illuminated.Bruce Robinson, from the Hub Division of the National Model Railroad Association, shared his lifelong passion for model railroads.”It’s a passion I’ve had since I was 12 years old,” Robinson said. “For Christmas I got a ping pong table and train set. I put the train set on top of the ping pong table.”Robinson is part of the team that travels from New Hampshire to construct the exhibit in the weeks before it opens to the public. NH Chronicle was welcomed into the installation area to see what the “build-out” is all about. It takes weeks to assemble the panoramic sets, snap in tracks, add gravel and landscaping, including lots of trees.”How many? How many trees? 600 trees?” Robinson called out to the crew.He added, “If you look around, we’re all from the gray-haired generation. We have gathered work experiences, life experiences, skills in all kinds of different areas.”Jerry Covino, another member of the Hub Division, also contributes to the exhibit’s construction. “I like doing the electrical part of it, the lighting on the buildings, make sure the trains run correctly,” Covino said. He started his journey with model railroads at a young age.”Oh, I probably started when I was 7 years old with an American Flyer layout in my father’s basement,” Covino said.Covino explained the preparation process, which begins in July and then involves several weeks of building at the museum.”It takes us a couple of days to get everything into the museum then we take about 2 and a half weeks just building it,” Covino said. Mike Horvath, senior director of exhibits at the Museum of Science, shared his excitement about the exhibit’s scale and features. “Everyone’s excited because it’s the biggest and sort of has the most bells and whistles,” Horvath said. “And it’s different every year so it’s fun for us to see what’s new and what’s around the corner.”Visitors can enjoy a scale model of the Museum of Science as well, complete with the Green Line train, and young engineers can try their hands at the controls of a virtual train. Robinson shared his joy in seeing the museum open.”What you’re hoping for is to plant a seed, you’re introducing a youngster to a new experience, something that hopefully will expand his imagination,” Robinson said.Reflecting on his volunteer work, Robinson said, “I have a ball! Ha ha. Look at these people I get to be with all the time, they’re terrific.” The “All Aboard, Trains!” exhibit promises to be a magical experience year after year.
The Museum of Science in Boston is welcoming back its “All Aboard! Trains” holiday exhibit through Jan. 19, with help from model railroad experts from New Hampshire.
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This cherished tradition brings joy to visitors of all ages. You are welcomed to stroll through a snow-covered wonderland with gondolas climbing peaks and model trains navigating a miniature make-believe village below.
In another room, the Boston skyline is dressed in holiday cheer, with landmarks like Fenway Park and the Zakim Bridge and the Prudential Building illuminated.
Bruce Robinson, from the Hub Division of the National Model Railroad Association, shared his lifelong passion for model railroads.
“It’s a passion I’ve had since I was 12 years old,” Robinson said. “For Christmas I got a ping pong table and train set. I put the train set on top of the ping pong table.”
Robinson is part of the team that travels from New Hampshire to construct the exhibit in the weeks before it opens to the public. NH Chronicle was welcomed into the installation area to see what the “build-out” is all about. It takes weeks to assemble the panoramic sets, snap in tracks, add gravel and landscaping, including lots of trees.
“How many? How many trees? 600 trees?” Robinson called out to the crew.
He added, “If you look around, we’re all from the gray-haired generation. We have gathered work experiences, life experiences, skills in all kinds of different areas.”
Jerry Covino, another member of the Hub Division, also contributes to the exhibit’s construction.
“I like doing the electrical part of it, the lighting on the buildings, make sure the trains run correctly,” Covino said.
He started his journey with model railroads at a young age.
“Oh, I probably started when I was 7 years old with an American Flyer layout in my father’s basement,” Covino said.
Covino explained the preparation process, which begins in July and then involves several weeks of building at the museum.
“It takes us a couple of days to get everything into the museum then we take about 2 and a half weeks just building it,” Covino said.
Mike Horvath, senior director of exhibits at the Museum of Science, shared his excitement about the exhibit’s scale and features.
“Everyone’s excited because it’s the biggest and sort of has the most bells and whistles,” Horvath said. “And it’s different every year so it’s fun for us to see what’s new and what’s around the corner.”
Visitors can enjoy a scale model of the Museum of Science as well, complete with the Green Line train, and young engineers can try their hands at the controls of a virtual train.
Robinson shared his joy in seeing the museum open.
“What you’re hoping for is to plant a seed, you’re introducing a youngster to a new experience, something that hopefully will expand his imagination,” Robinson said.
Reflecting on his volunteer work, Robinson said, “I have a ball! Ha ha. Look at these people I get to be with all the time, they’re terrific.”
The “All Aboard, Trains!” exhibit promises to be a magical experience year after year.
