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The Christmas Season will be here before we know it. It's not too early to make plans to visit Mid Town Manhattan during the Holidays.

This year the Lionel display at Grand Central Terminal will open to the public on November 13, 2017 and run through February 11, 2018.

As usual Santa Land at Macy's Herald Square opens after Santa arrives in the Thanksgiving Day Parade on Friday November 24, 2017 and is open through Christmas Eve.

This year's Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting is scheduled for Wednesday November 29, 2017.

Opening October 27, 2017 and running through February 25, 2018, The New York Historical Society's Holiday Train Exhibit will feature the new layout created by our friend Roger Farkash and the gang at TW Trainworx. It is located at 170 Central Park West, between 76th and 77th Streets, and is a short subway ride and a short walk from several locations along the walking tour.

There is a new train attraction in Mid Town Manhattan, right off of Times Square, called Gulliver's Gate. It is similar in description to the Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg Germany. It features HO Trains and is reported to be a $40M project. It opened earlier this year and is open every day except Christmas. There is a charge:  $36 for adults and $27 for children and seniors.

The New York Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show runs from November 22, 2017 to January 15, 2018. This is a huge G gauge train display featuring over 100 New York City landmarks made out of all natural materials. A 20 minute train ride from Grand Central Terminal, the NYBG is located in the Rose Hill section of the Bronx. It is recommended that you purchase tickets in advance and if you're driving there is plenty of parking inside the gates.

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On a sad note, FAO Schwarz, the famous toy store at 59th St and 5th Ave closed in July of 2015. Rumor has it that they are looking for a new location in Manhattan, but as of this date there is no announcement.

MACYS HERALD SQUARE

My walking tour usually begins at 34th Street with Macy’s. The windows facing Herald Square are an attraction in themselves. Santa Land is on the 8th Floor and it has a great TW Trainworx Lionel Train Layout. You have to wait on line to get into Santa Land which could be as long as 45 minutes, but it’s the only way to see the layout and you could see Santa! I think it’s worth it. Santa Land opens after the arrival of Santa at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on that Friday.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

After Macy’s we have gone to the Empire State Building and gone up to the observation deck. Obviously a spectacular view of the city. You can pick out the Statue of Liberty, The Freedom Tower, The Flatiron Building, The Brooklyn Bridge, The Chrysler Building, The Met Life Building, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, Madison Square Garden and much more. Maps are available so you can find these landmarks easily.

LORD & TAYLOR

Another famous New York department store known for it’s decorations and amazing holiday window displays.

GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

The Mecca for train enthusiasts, it is truly overwhelming to see the main concourse for the first time with its famous information booth and clock. At the Metroplitan Transit Authority Museum Store there is a great 34 foot Lionel Train Layout, also built by TW Trainworx. One of my favorite!

GULLIVER'S GATE

Located at 216 W 44th Street, this layout is a $40M project that opened to the public earlier this year. The exhibit will include miniature scale models of well-known sites and places from our world, and fictional worlds, connected by HO scale train tracks and highways featuring all manners of transportation known to mankind – from horses and elephants to hot air balloons, jet planes and space shuttles. There is a $36 entrance fee for adults and $27 for children and seniors 65+.

NEW YORK CENTRAL BLDG

You can walk along Vanderbilt Ave, alongside the terminal to 46th Street and you will be at the Helmsley Building which was formerly the New York Central Building, the headquarters of the NYC Railroad. The front of the building faces north on Park Ave.

WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL

On Park Avenue and 48th Street in the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians used to hold the New Years Eve show.

5TH AVENUE

At 49th Street head west to 5th Avenue again. Rockefeller Center is on the west side of 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. But 5th Avenue itself is a major attraction during the holiday season as stores outdo one another with their decorations. Between 49th and 59th Streets you will see Saks, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Cartier’s Jewelers, Tiffany’s, Trump Tower, Bergdorf Goodman’s, The Plaza Hotel and many many more stores with decorated windows. Of particular note is the Penninsula Hotel, on the corner of 5th Avenue and 55th Street. In the past, the decorations on the front entrance, on the 55th Street side, have been spectacular.

ROCKEFELLER CENTER

You,ve got to take a few minutes to see the Christmas Tree in the Plaza in Rockefeller Center. They have had a tree there for Christmas ever since 1931 when workmen building the center, in the midst of the great depression, erected a tree in thanks for having their jobs! The spirit in the plaza is contagious. The skating rink is open to the public, and there are places to eat in 30 Rockefeller Plaza, on the same level as the rink.

TOP OF THE ROCK

Some years we forego the top of the Empire State Building and instead go to the observation deck on the 66th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, known as the Top of the Rock. Tremendous views of the city, especially the view of the Empire State Building, St Patricks from high above, and the buildings around Central Park.

SAKS 5THAVENUE

Saks usually has great window decorations, but in recent years they have put on a spectacular light and music show, on the front of their building which faces Rockefeller Center. Usually done every 10 minutes or so.

ST PATRICKS CATHEDRAL

St. Patrick’s is open to the public and is worth taking a walk through. Even if you’re not Catholic, the architecture is awesome and the art work on the many alters is wonderful to see.

PLAZA HOTEL

The Plaza Hotel is on the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street. As nice as the outside decorations are, you can walk into the lobby and there is a beautifully decorated tree.

RADIO CITY

The famous Music Hall is on the corner of 6th Avenue and 50th Street, a half a block west of Rockefeller Center. It’s beautiful on the outside and you can plan in advance to take in the Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes.

BRYANT PARK

A beautiful tree, a skating rink, and a large number of holiday themed kiosks where you can buy Christmas Ornaments, hats gloves scarfs, gifts and enjoy a hot apple cider and a pretzel, NY style. There are also a couple of nice restaurants in the park and the view of the surrounding skyscrapers is spectacular.

TIMES SQUARE

What can I say….You gotta experience it to understand. It’s electricity come alive, with the Broadway Theaters, restaurants and stores. But the electronic billboards are beyond belief.

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Lastly, if you are so inclined, The New York Historical Society has a holiday train show featuring the Jerni Collection of Toy Trains and an operating train display built by TW Trainworx. It’s a little far to walk, but you can take the No. 1 Subway from Times Square north to 72nd Street, then walk east to Central Park West and north to 76th Street. You can also get the No. 1 Subway from 34th Street and 7th Avenue by Macy’s. So, if you are returning to the 34th Street area, this works very well. For train lovers it is probably worth the ride.

Some photos from last year's Train display at the New York Historical Society. 

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 Photos from previous year's walking tours.

Map at the end of this post. 

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Midtown

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Last edited by NYC Fan
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Thanks for the comments, it is a labor of love. I never totally get into the Christmas Spirit until I take a walk in midtown.

 

Ben, This year my daughter asked if we could eat at Carmines. I made a reservation in September for the day the kids and I are going in December! Not too soon either, not all time slots were available!

 

I'll have to do Churrascaria Plataforma another day.

Skip great photos and so timely.  I am trying to plan a trip to nyc the first wk in December to see all the layouts and the sights.    Could you either post or shoot me an email with a list of places I should visit.   Especially the holiday train layouts

 

thanks 

joe in buffalo

anathemasit1976@yahoo.com

Hi Joe,

 

The photos I posted are roughly in the order that my kids and I do the walking tour. We usually arrive at Pennsylvania Station. We are big Ranger Fans so we will stop at the Madison Square Garden Store which sits right on top of Penn Station. Then we head to Macy's and Santa Land where there is the first of the Lionel layouts, and a whole lot of other "North Pole" stuff going on. In the Toy Department I was told by Lionel there will be a Lionel demonstrator. We then head east on 34th St. We sometimes go to the top of the Empire State Building, on the corner of 34th and 5th Ave. Then we head up 5th Ave passing Lord & Taylor's great windows on 5th and 39th St. At 42nd St a half block west behind the famous NYC Public Library. is Bryant Park with rows of Christmas Kiosks, ice skating, a restaurant and a great tree. East on 42nd Street is Grand Central Terminal. This is an attraction in itself, but it also has a Christmas Fair and the MTA Museum Store where the 2nd great Lionel Display is located. I usually head north on Park Ave from there and pass the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and the head back west to 5th Ave. Heading north on 5th Ave from about 46th St to 59th Street is a real treat. The stores are decorated, music is playing, and chestnuts are roasting. Guaranteed to put you in the spirit. Rockefeller Center is the center of New York City's Christmas with it's huge Tree. It is between 49th and 50th Streets across from Sak's Fifth Ave. Keep walking on 5th until you get to the Plaza Hotel. Go in the lobby. The decorations are incredible. Across the street is FAO Schwarz toy store and there will be a Lionel demonstrator there during the Holidays.I usually head back down 5th on the opposite side of the street and then head west at 50th Street to 6th Ave. There on the corner is Radio City Music Hall. I then head down 6th Ave to around 46th St and then head west to 7th Ave where I walk south to Times Square. This year we are having diner at Carmines on 44th St. But, as Ben mentioned there is a really neat Brazilian BBQ place, Chariscurra Plataforma that is excellent too. From there we head back down Broadway to 34th St and then over to Penn Station for the train ride home.

A train item that is a must see for toy train fans this year in the city is noticeably missing from the list here is that selections from the Jerni collection of early and pre war toy trains are going to be on view at the New York Historical Society. Really an outstanding collection that includes names like Bing, Doll, Carette, and Marklin. There are several one off huge train stations that Marklin made as toy fair prototypes that were in the collection but I don't know what they are going to exhibit. Nov 21-Feb 22

 

The museum is just south of the American Museum of Natural History 79th and Central Park West. The B and C train has an 81 street stop and if you are at the south end of the train the exit is less than a block awat from the museum. You could make a evening of it if you went to see the Macy's balloons being inflated the Wednesday  before Thanksgiving that takes place there every year. Shake Shack burgers is on that street too.

 

http://www.nyhistory.org/exhib...s-jerni-collection-0

 

Oh and FAO has their Lionel layout up all year round. I live in the city and I went by last week shopping for my kids birthday and the trains were out of commission. There is a red start button to press in the front that is a little hidden. Anyway the button did nothing and the trains looked like they needed servicing.

Last edited by Silver Lake

According to my friend Bill Wander at Lionel, there will be a Lionel Demonstrator on duty at FAO Schwarz during the Holiday Season. That should ensure that the layout will be maintained in good working order.

 

There will also be a Lionel Demonstrator in Macy's Toy Department, outside Santa Land. 

Last edited by NYC Fan
Originally Posted by NYC Fan:

Hi Joe,

 

The photos I posted are roughly in the order that my kids and I do the walking tour. We usually arrive at Pennsylvania Station. We are big Ranger Fans so we will stop at the Madison Square Garden Store which sits right on top of Penn Station. Then we head to Macy's and Santa Land where there is the first of the Lionel layouts, and a whole lot of other "North Pole" stuff going on. In the Toy Department I was told by Lionel there will be a Lionel demonstrator. We then head east on 34th St. We sometimes go to the top of the Empire State Building, on the corner of 34th and 5th Ave. Then we head up 5th Ave passing Lord & Taylor's great windows on 5th and 39th St. At 42nd St a half block west behind the famous NYC Public Library. is Bryant Park with rows of Christmas Kiosks, ice skating, a restaurant and a great tree. East on 42nd Street is Grand Central Terminal. This is an attraction in itself, but it also has a Christmas Fair and the MTA Museum Store where the 2nd great Lionel Display is located. I usually head north on Park Ave from there and pass the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and the head back west to 5th Ave. Heading north on 5th Ave from about 46th St to 59th Street is a real treat. The stores are decorated, music is playing, and chestnuts are roasting. Guaranteed to put you in the spirit. Rockefeller Center is the center of New York City's Christmas with it's huge Tree. It is between 49th and 50th Streets across from Sak's Fifth Ave. Keep walking on 5th until you get to the Plaza Hotel. Go in the lobby. The decorations are incredible. Across the street is FAO Schwarz toy store and there will be a Lionel demonstrator there during the Holidays.I usually head back down 5th on the opposite side of the street and then head west at 50th Street to 6th Ave. There on the corner is Radio City Music Hall. I then head down 6th Ave to around 46th St and then head west to 7th Ave where I walk south to Times Square. This year we are having diner at Carmines on 44th St. But, as Ben mentioned there is a really neat Brazilian BBQ place, Chariscurra Plataforma that is excellent too. From there we head back down Broadway to 34th St and then over to Penn Station for the train ride home.

We will be arriving the day before Thanksgiving and leaving the day after T'day.  Do you think most of these attractions will be open during our visit?

Santa Fe VA: Thanksgiving weekend is right at the beginning of the midtown Holiday Season but Rockefeller Center doesn't light the tree until the following Wednesday December 3rd. Seeing the Thanksgiving Day Parade live, more than makes up for that in my mind. Have a great time and post some pictures!

 

And thanks Peter, Dave, Alan and Chris!

 

Last edited by NYC Fan

 

tree

The tree that will usher in the holiday season at Rockefeller Center will come from a family home in the Keystone State this year.

For the last few days, crews have been prepping the 85-foot-tall Norway spruce, currently sitting in a couple's yard in Danville, Pennsylvania, for the trip to New York. 

The tree will be cut down Wednesday morning and hoisted onto a 115-foot-long trailer for the trip to Rockefeller Center.

The tree is expected to arrive in midtown Friday morning, with "Today" show weather anchor Al Roker leading the way. It will be lit Dec. 3 and remain on display through the first week of 2015.

 

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LCCA Meets with Lionel President Howard Hitchcock (video)
Recently, the Lionel Collectors Club of America had an opportunity to meet with Lionel President Howard Hitchcock. Click on the video link below and listen to what Howard has to say about Lionel’s upcoming holiday plans for New York City and next season. 

http://youtu.be/2UXy7fGOe40


Thank you Howard for making yourself available for this interview. We hope LCCA members and guests will enjoy this video.

 

Al Kolis

I live in the city and design store window displays. This year there are two big retailers that have O scale trains running in their windows.
The flagship Calvin Klien store across from Barney's has custom painted all matte black Lionel scale F-unit hauled passenger trains all over the store filling all their windows running through stark white dowel landscapes.
Several Coach stores have Cityscapes with custom shells of yellow cabs and red coaches on what looks like handcar drive units. I've seen these at 5th ave and 17th st., SoHo at Spring and their Columbus Circle stores.
Originally Posted by NYC Fan:

K.C. 

 

I will be going in to the city again on Tuesday December 23rd with my kids. We will be doing the whole tour and we will post some more photos. I would also like to see other people's photos!!!

 

Are the Botanical Gardens within walking distance? I don't see the site in the map.

Don

Originally Posted by rail:
Originally Posted by NYC Fan:

K.C. 

 

I will be going in to the city again on Tuesday December 23rd with my kids. We will be doing the whole tour and we will post some more photos. I would also like to see other people's photos!!!

 

Are the Botanical Gardens within walking distance? I don't see the site in the map.

Don

The Botanical Gardens are not within walking distance at all. Its up in the Bronx. But it is easy to get to. You can take a Metro North train, Harlem Line, from Grand Central right to the Botanical Gardens. Its the stop after Fordham. Its about 25 min train ride and you have to take a North White Plains local..Well worth it.

Just read a story this afternoon that the flagship FAO Schwarz toy store in upper Manhattan will be closing in mid-July 2015.  So we'll need to cross this off our list of stores on the "walking tour".   Rising rents were sited as the chief reason for the store's closing.

 

Although I never purchased any Lionel trains at the store during Christmas Season, I gotta give kudos to FAO Schwarz for some of the greatest toy merchandising ever.  My wife and I would often include the store as part of our Christmastime visits into NYC just after Thanksgiving.  The store was always a site to see -- especially around Christmas.

 

I vividly remember seeing stacks of JLC Allegheny locomotives priced at $2,400 -- well above its $1700 MSRP.   JLC GG-1's with a $900 MSRP were also nicely displayed with a price of $1200 too.  I guess even back then FAO Schwarz prices reflected the stores hefty rents.  Wonder if anyone ever bought those items there at that price.    Perhaps hedge fund managers who were having a great year? 

 

David

 

 

Last edited by Rocky Mountaineer

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