Called the White House Express, but you can see what it is. Picture about halfway down the article.
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Very cool. Christmas at the White House must be amazing!
Didn't even notice the train on the table with Melania in the photo. 
@RSJB18 posted:Didn't even notice the train on the table with Melania in the photo.
Upon closer examination (of the train, yeah... that's all 
), it looks like one of those G-Gauge plastic battery operated sets.
Still, it's cool they thought to have an actual running train at all! 
{edit: It looks like I was probably wrong about the type of set. Hopefully Ted is correct in his post below. I saw the PE colors and assumed (probably incorrectly) that it was a modified Lionel product, that's what made me guess at the G Gauge battery set. If it's something more high end like a USA Trains set, that's great!}
-Dave
Surprising that it's not a MTH Trump train variation. [NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT.]
I think the train at the White House is just great!! Last time I saw a train their was when President Eisenhauer was given one. It's a good thing. Also shows you that trains are still the main thing at Christmas.
Ronald Reagan had trains in the White House.
Actually President Regan had a made a remark that he had always wished for a toy train for Christmas. Within days he was sent 19 train sets back in Christmas 82 or 83. I've seen a photo of him operating one of the sets at the Whitehouse.
I do not remember president Regan had trains. But, we should wait and see what happens now if anything with the train at the White House today.
I don't recall the details as to what is was (set/engine/etc.), but one President Regan train he was given while in Office was on display at the TCA Museum for several years.
I'm sure I must have a picture of it somewhere, but not immediately at my fingertips.
-Dave
Ken Sr from trainworld / trainland gave Nancy Reagan a girls set if I'm not mistaken.
White House Express, coming to a Lionel Catalog soon!!
I think the set on the table with the gold candle holders is a USA, G gauge train set. It is not the plastic sets sold by Bachman. They are metal and huge. The headlight is too bright for a Bachman non LED bulb.... If you blow up the image you can see the details.....
Either way, it is a very nice touch to have two train sets in the First Ladies displays.... 
Wow, what a spread! Is the train operating on track, or just static with headlight on? Is it the G-scale PE set by Lionel?
looks to be
A “White House Express” model train.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times
For a number of years the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California put on a very nice train display during the holidays. I was lucky to attend what I believe was the last such event about ten years ago.
I believe that three layouts were featured that year: A fairly large but relatively simple G gauge layout, a nice size O gauge layout, and a a large Lego layout.
This was the first and only time I ever saw Lego trains in action and I was impressed . The Lego trains were either O gauge or approximate to it and run on 2-rail track. All diesel motive power. Tons of Lego buildings as you might imagine making up a large city scene. And at one end, an airport with a plane taking off and landing, as I recall. As I remember it, the Lego layout blew the other two out of the water.
@Dave Warburton posted:For a number of years the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California put on a very nice train display during the holidays. I was lucky to attend what I believe was the last such event about ten years ago.
I believe that three layouts were featured that year: A fairly large but relatively simple G gauge layout, a nice size O gauge layout, and a a large Lego layout.
This was the first and only time I ever saw Lego trains in action and I was impressed . The Lego trains were either O gauge or approximate to it and run on 2-rail track. All diesel motive power. Tons of Lego buildings as you might imagine making up a large city scene. And at one end, an airport with a plane taking off and landing, as I recall. As I remember it, the Lego layout blew the other two out of the water.
I realize I'm going slightly off topic here, but figured I'd mention there are operating Lego trains at both the TCA Museum and the Railroad Museum of PA (which is just down the block from the TCA Museum).
At least there still were the last times I was there. Neither is particularly large (TCA Museum is probably something close (estimate) to a 4x8 or 5x9 table - RR Museum of PA is possibly slightly larger as part of larger layout room that has other toy/model trains as well - but this one is built into an alcove in the wall, so you can only view it from the side facing the middle of the room). The TCA Museum one has 2 "sides" split by a wall down the middle. City style buildings on one side, and farm/rural on the other side. The RR Museum of PA one is a bit busier in terms of how much is crammed on it, but I have not seen that one often enough to recite from memory exactly what is included.
-Dave
The national exposure of a model train, whatever brand, at Christmas at the White House, is good for the hobby. I grew up with branch-line railroading and today most of those lines are gone, without a trace.
Mark
@barrister.2u posted:The national exposure of a model train, whatever brand, at Christmas at the White House, is good for the hobby.
Mark
The effect on the hobby is minimal. Nobody's going to become a model railroader because of a train displayed at the White House at Christmas. It's shown on the article's embedded video for 1 second. It's just another decoration.
Rusty
@Paul Kallus posted:Wow, what a spread! Is the train operating on track, or just static with headlight on? Is it the G-scale PE set by Lionel?
I believe the train is actually operational and runs around the table. Also, yes it is the G-scale PE set from Lionel. The only difference is someone in the decor department gave it a White House touch for this year.
@Rusty Traque posted:The effect on the hobby is minimal. Nobody's going to become a model railroader because of a train displayed at the White House at Christmas....
True, but it's better than nothing. It does cement the Trains + Christmas connection. Free, positive advertising for our hobby can't really hurt anything.
@jhz563 posted:Called the White House Express, but you can see what it is. Picture about halfway down the article.
@jhz563 posted:True, but it's better than nothing. It does cement the Trains + Christmas connection. Free, positive advertising for our hobby can't really hurt anything.
@wmcwood posted:looks to be
A “White House Express” model train.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times
WOW........ MERRY CHRISTMAS ......TO ALL.
EXTRA SPECIAL TO SEE THIS NO MATTER ANYONE'S AFFILIATION.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD TIME AT CHRISTMAS FOR SO MANY .........PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO DOWN WITH 2020 .......BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BRIGHT SPOTS THAT SHOWS UP MAKING US REMEMBER THAT THE NUMBER OF THE YEAR, NOR THE VIRUS, NOR ANY INIQUITIES , NOR ANY DIVISIONS HAVE ANY POWER OVER THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
GOD BLESS US ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD LIFE. 
Nice set up. I agree with the others. Great to see a train of any type included in any holiday display.
I live close enough to the White House that I've been there many times for the annual Christmas tour (including the so-called VIP version ). It's been a number of years since I've taken that tour but they were always memorable.
@Tom Elesh posted:I think the train at the White House is just great!! Last time I saw a train their was when President Eisenhauer was given one. It's a good thing. Also shows you that trains are still the main thing at Christmas.
President Reagan was presented with a train that, as far as I know, is still on display at the TCA Museum in Strasburg.
It's always nice to see trains at the Whitehouse. Although this photo will show the enormous room the trains are in, and how small they are in comparison. Wouldn't it be cool to have a standard gauge floor layout snake around the whole room!
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Very nice to see a train of any kind set up at the white house! To answer the question above about Reagan's train set at the white house it was a G scale 4-4-0 and passenger cars made by Kalamazoo in Michigan, which had a special sound unit In it that played "Hail to the chief". This train I believe is on display at the TCA toy train museum in Strasburg PA, their is an article on the whole subject if you look up simply "Ronald Reagan train set" really Intresting article! 
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