The Ozark Holiday LGB Express

One of the things I look forward to during the holidays

is finding seasonal work as a "gandy dancer"
(a worker who laid and maintained railroad tracks)
on the Ozark Holiday Express line.

The annual Christmas train, an extension of the

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,

steams over the river and through the woods

to bring a little Christmas cheer and supplies

to the rural townsfolk all across the living room.

Through frigid wind and icy show nothing will

slow the mighty fire breathing mini LGB Mikado

from arriving on schedule.

As the "ash cat" or fireman, as he's called, 

shovels more coal into the firebox,

the steam pressure builds in the boiler

and the iron horse picks up speed. 

Our engineer is a real highball artist

as he handles the speed with ease.

The wildlife is startled as the thundering redball whistles by.

The conductor is pleased that

the Ozark Holiday Express

is running on time and will be pulling into the

station any minute.

The tiny country Spode train station

is all decked out for Christmas as it

awaits the train's arrival.

I found this country Christmas picture

last year at HomeGoods, it was 

just after Christmas and marked down 50%. 

I think it makes a great backdrop 

 for my new train station cookie jar. 

which arrived just ahead of the Ozark Holiday Express

 As this galloper pulls into the station

with a big cloud of steam and bell ringing,

you can almost hear the song

"There's no place like home for the holidays"

on the station's speakers.

Eggnog is drained from the tank car and the townsfolk

rejoice in the merriment of the holidays.