Local man creates unique holiday train set to display during Bellefonte's annual Victorian Christmas

Centre Co., PA (WJAC) — A special holiday weekend of festivities is now underway in one Centre County community and a train set on display is "reliving the memories" of riding the rails.

In Bellefonte, railroads first hauled iron ore and limestone, and then more passengers, throughout the region.

“I’ve had elderly citizens from this area, from Snow Shoe, Bellefonte, and Milesburg, tell me about how they used to take trains up to Snow Shoe on switchbacks. It’s fascinating.”

For this weekend's Victorian weekend in Bellefonte, in the back of the Belle Mercantile Marketplace downtown, there are trains on a smaller scale.

Organizers say many helped in building the project which brings back memories of when train sets, for kids of all ages, were a popular holiday gift.

“My dad got me started very young and I’ve played with trains ever since.”

It took nearly a year to put this together and some of the businesses here have familiar, local names.

“I realized early on that I need to do something to help offset the costs. We have sponsors, advertising sponsorships.”

If you can't stop by this weekend during the Victorian Christmas weekend, the train set at Belle Mercantile will be set up through the end of the month.

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