I have run a Christmas Train for over twenty years on my toy 027 train layout. It is usually in a hidden track behind the background and mysteriously appears.
The Christmas Train is pulled by a Lionel 627, GE 44 ton industrial switcher chosen because it is red. This engine is famously large and out of proportion and to be closer to 027 gauge and I now call it a GE 80 engine per chart below.
GE 44 ton is 28 ft or 7 inch O scale length
GE 80 ton is 36.83 ft or 9.2 inch O scale length
GE 44 ton Lionel is 10.75 inch actual model length
So you can see the Lionel GE 44 ton engine is too big even for O scale and really big for my toy scale 027 lay out.
The second car of the Christmas Train is an unmarked Lionel, BOBBING SANTA CHRISTMAS BOXCAR “Santa on His Way & Christmas Parade” later found out to be a Lionel 6- 36743. This car and the caboose to be shown later were given to me by father in 2002.
The third, fourth and fifth cars of the Christmas train are made by painting three short 8 inch Lionel flat cars white and mounting a Hallmark Santa and Sled set with 9 reindeer, on them. The sled that came with the set was too big and fat so I got to make a smaller sled out of balsa wood and paint it up. I added a homemade track pickup to the first car to light Rodolph's nose Red. The reindeer's were glued down with epoxy glue and the sled was held on with elastic thread.
The sixth car on the Christmas Train is a short 8 inch Lionel gondola that has been painted white and lettered C A N D Y and this car has peppermint candy canes for the kid visitors during Christmas Season.
The last car on the Christmas Train is a Lionel 26527 Santa Seasons Greetings Work Caboose with several Christmas packages that was given to me by my Father in 2002.
Note the homemade ice skating rink to the left
The Christmas Train always the most favorite train on the layout each Christmas.
Charlie
