Track Facts

To our delight, each year we have a number of visitors ask us interesting questions about our train display. For your enjoyment, we have put together the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Q: What initiated the beginning of the annual holiday train display in the CG&E lobby?

A: The first model train displayed in our lobby was designed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) in 1937 as part of their traveling display. The train display first appeared in the CG&E lobby in 1946. The portable model grew through the 40s, 50s, and 60s. In the 1980s, CG&E made a commitment to the long-term renovation and expansion of the display. The display has delighted more than 9 million visitors, old and young, since its inception in 1946.

 

Q: How big is the train display?

A: The display, one of the largest portable models in the world, measures 36½ feet by 47½ feet long and is authentic "O" gauge in which a quarter inch on the model is equivalent to one foot on a real train. Rail cars, tracks and buildings are 1/48th actual size. The Duke Energy/CSX display includes approximately 300 train cars and 50 locomotives on 1,000 feet of track. During the holiday season, the trains will run over 100,000 scale miles.


Jack Thompson of the train crew works at the bench on an engine.

Q: How long does it take to assemble the display?

A: Assembly and testing of the display begins approximately 30 days before the annual opening ceremony. A small group of volunteers, Duke Energy employees and retirees spend many hours throughout the year handcrafting replacement parts and adding to the collection of miniature buildings and structures.

Q: How true is the train display to the real-life railroad system?

A: Many of our trains are handmade antique trains from the original B&O model. Every year the display continues to grow as new equipment is added. Whether the trains are old or new, they are precisely scale-sized and historically accurate. The display depicts the time in railroad history when the steam engine was on the verge of being replaced by the diesel engine. For historical purposes, the design of the display was intentionally set up to feature both steam and diesel engines.

 

Q: How many engines, light signals, and railroad cars are there throughout the display?

A: There are 50 engines, 45 color-position light signals, and approximately 300 cars. You’ll discover almost every variety of railroad car that ever traveled our country’s railways. From dining cars with tiny tables and chairs to piggyback cars for hauling trucks, we have cars that some of you may have never seen before.

Q: How involved is the electrical system for the train?

A: There are more than 2,000 electrical connections and 170 relays to operate the display, all of which must be tested and adjusted before the opening day.