Holiday Train Wonderland Walk

In previous years, we would visit the Ellicott City Fire Department to see their miniature train set up (see posts here or here). Due to Covid restrictions, the organizers decided on another plan. The train display was divided up and put in the windows of several businesses along Main Street in Old Ellicott City, resulting in the Holiday Train Wonderland Walk. The walk was short and fun. Each window had a QR code for a list of scavenger hunt items in that display. We drove over on the Monday after Christmas and saw most of the displays.

A bit of Main Street Ellicott City

Our first stop was at Su Casa. Their display had some of the classic Baltimore buildings, like the Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower.

City street

Clock tower on right

The tourism center on Main Street had an interesting piece of art outside. We explained to the kids that the title is the English name for the beloved fruit (because fruits are the parts of the plant with the seeds). The shiny reflectiveness made us think of other sculptures and how they dress up fruit in the market with wax.

Or maybe they just wanted it to rhyme with Chicago Bean

The next display was at MissFit, a women's fitness center. 

A fitting display

Right across the intersection from MissFit was the next display in the window of Sweet Cascades. Being a chocolates shop, their display featured a lot of candy-related decorations.

Sweet winter treats

More candy makers

The Taylor's Collective window had more traditional old-time buildings and vehicles, including horse-powered vehicles.

A peek in the window

A sleigh ride!

The set at Big Little Cheese (a breakfast/lunch place) returned to a more whimsical theme.

A bunch of Disney stuff

The name of the store blocks the shot!

The Old Shoemaker Building had two windows full of buildings. The first window had a bunch of fire department vehicles, including a ladder truck at a burning row house.

To the rescue!

Fire chief's car

The second window had a river, a quarry, and a train station.

Canoes!

Digging out stones

Using the stones for an elevated line

Manufacturing goods to go by train

By this point, we were down near the Patuxent River, which runs along the actual railroad. The Tiber River runs through town, literally, into the Patuxent.

Tiber flowing under buildings

Actual train bridge with actual train!

More of the train

The town's train station has been turned into a western annex of the B&O Museum in Baltimore. The original train line out of Baltimore ran to Ellicott City (which was called Ellicott Mills back then). Passengers would go out to visit the country and goods would be sent in to Baltimore's port.

The old train station

We missed one display at the very top of the hill. The creativity of the organizers was greatly appreciated. Hopefully they will be back at the fire department next year!