Making All the Platforms Even

On June 17, 2018 several members of the Highlandtown Train Garden Committee worked on elevating the once Christmas scene platform to match all the other platforms and deconstruct the Thomas The Tank Engine display. George is removing items from the Thomas The Tank Engine display. Carol and Jessica are removing staples to make the platform smooth.  Scott is handing tools to Terry. Terry is under the garden bolting the new legs to help even out all the platforms. Joe is also helping out lifting the tables and taking the pictures.

Making Changes for an Exciting Highlandtown Scene

On Saturday, June 10, 2018 volunteers - Scott Eggleston, Carol Hartke, Terry Maillar, and Joe Manfre - deconstructed the Christmas scene in the Train Garden that had Thomas the Tank Engine.

Also the Frozen River was removed. The pictures below to the left show the before and the pictures below to the right show the after. This year a new and exciting Highlandtown scene will be constructed in its place.

Another Train Garden Meeting

Many members of the Train Garden Committee met on April 8 to make final plans for updating the Train Garden. After the ideas were discussed it was decided to meet on May 6 to begin the process of "deconstructing" the Train Garden so changes could be implemented and be ready to construct a new 2018-2019 Highlandtown Train Garden.

The First 2018-2019 Highlandtown Train Garden Meeting

The Train Garden volunteers below met on Saturday, March 3, 2018 to discuss ideas for the 2018-2019 Highlandtown Train Garden. Since this year will be out 10th the volunteers offered thoughts about what changes need to be done to celebrate the 10 years of the Train Garden.

The volunteers are from left to right Joe Manfre, Jessica Markiewicz, Joan Campbell, Adam Maske, Doug Campbell, Scott Eggleston, and Terry Maillar who took the picture. Carol Hartke was also present but she had to leave before the picture was taken.

Highlandtown Train Garden Volunteers Enjoy Getting Together

On Saturday, February 10, 2018 most of the Train Garden volunteers visited Vinny's Cafe for their last get together of the 2017-2018 Train Garden season. Many of them were discussing plans for the 2018-2019 Train Garden and how to celebrate the 10th season.

The Results Are In!

This year, the ninth year,  4578 persons visited the Train Garden. This includes 1005 students from the various surrounding schools who saw the Train Garden. Fifty-six businesses and associations were sponsors for the Train Garden. This year 16 persons volunteered their time to help at the Train Garden. These volunteers from October to December 2017 gave 1,304 hours of their time to make the Highlandtown Train Garden a success. Thanks to all!

Arch McKown has won the Disney Train Set at the Highlandtown Train Garden.

Mr. McKown winning raffle ticket was drawn at the Train Garden on Monday, January 1. He was the winner of the Disney Train Set. He has not been able to pick up his prize because he is on jury duty. A picture of Mr. McKown and his prize will be posted when available.

On Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Arch McKown and his two sons, AJ and Andrew, stopped by the Engine House to pick up their raffle prize. All seemed very happy with the Disney Train Set. Mr. McKown told his sons that he would help them assemble the train set.

Richard M. Segel from Gough Street is the winner of the Thomas the Tank Engine Train Set

Mr. Segel's raffle ticket was drawn on Monday, January 1 at the Highlandtown Train Garden. When called he said he never wins anything. But on this day he did. His grandchildren, he said, will really enjoy the train set.

A Happy Goetze's Basket Winner of the Train Garden Raffle - Lynne Ebbs from Reisterstown MD

On Monday, January 1 the winner of the Goetze's Basket at the Train Garden raffle was Lynne Ebb. She said every year her family visits train gardens after Thanksgiving. Shown here is Ms. Ebb and her two grandchildren. Congratulations.

Students from the Surrounding Schools Visit the Train Garden

This year over 1000 students from the surrounding schools visited the Train Garden. They were preK, K,1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade and 5th Grade students. All the students and their teachers and chaperones had a wonderful experience.

Matt Kelly - Human Being Productions Visits the Train Garden

Videos of the Highlandtown Train Garden - the Main Platform and the Thomas the Tank Engine Platform

School Children Visit the Train Garden

During the weeks of December 3 and December 10 students from the neighboring schools visit the Train Garden with their teachers and adults. They are scheduled for a 30 visit and can see several landmarks that are in their neighborhood. From the pictures below you can see how much they enjoyed the Train Garden.

Santa Visits the Highlandtown Train Garden

On Saturdays - December 9, 16, and 23 Santa visits the Train Garden. He will be there from 11 am to 5 pm. Visitors are welcomed to take pictures with Santa and he has a gift for every child that visits him. In the picture below you can see how happy Santa is with his elf friend.

We Ae Open For Business

On November 25, 2017 the Highlandtown Train Garden opened its doors at 11 am. Visitors viewed the new displays - the Great Halloween Parade,the Conkling Street Garden and an entire platform dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine. They enjoyed working on the scavenger hunts, whether the easy, medium, or hard hunts. They also witnessed the raffle items which are a Disney Train Set, a Thomas the Tank Engine Train Set, and a beautiful filled basket donated by the Goetze Company.

Thank You Sponsors

As of  December 8, 2017 over 50 businesses and community associations have donated to the Train Garden. With the help of the Southeast Community Development Corporation and the Baltimore City Fire Department - especially Engine House # 41 - the Train Garden will be a great asset to the community and to the city as well. If you want to know more about these businesses and associations look to the right on this page  and you will be able to click on their names to visit their web sites.

The Train Garden Volunteers Getting Ready The Sponsor Letters

The Train Garden volunteers - Terry Maillar, Ellen Maillar, Doug Campbell, Carol Hartke, and Joe Manfre, who took the pictures, - are working hard to get the sponsor letters ready to be mailed.
Carol first prepared a delicious and nutritional breakfast and then the volunteers took almost four hours to have everything done. Also pictured are Carol's two border terriers, Tipple and Emmy and her cat, LilyRose.

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Videos of the Great Halloween Parade and the Conkling Street Garden Displays

Volunteers Working Hard Getting Ready For Opening Day

The volunteers Terry, Adam, Scott, George, Doug, Joan, and Joe ( who is taking these pictures) have been working the past 2 to 3 months preparing the Train Garden for its opening day on November 25, 2017. Here we see Scott, George, and Terry (in the back) repairing the National Boh Building. Adam is sawing a table to be used for the Thomas the Tank Engine display. And Doug and Joan are working on the Conkling Street Garden display.

Doug and Joan (partially seen)

Scott, George, and Terry ( in the back)

Adam

New This Year 2017

Welcome to the 2017 Highlandtown Train Garden Blog. Our volunteers have been working on the garden since June. This year there will be several new things to see.
1) A separate section with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in HO scale
2) The Great Halloween Lantern Parade
3) Conkling Street Garden ( a community garden in Highlandtown)

And as has been in the past the displays will feature the four seasons, scavenger hunts, raffle prizes, the sponsor table, prizes, and other great features. Opening day will be November 25, 2017.

If you would want to be a sponsor please contact Joe Manfre at jmanfre@highlandtowntraingarden.com.

Hope to see you there!