The Brandywine Railroad at the Brandywine Museum of Art has been a fan favorite ever since it chugged into an annual Black Friday event in 1972. Everyone of all ages — men, women, boys, and girls — seems to be drawn to the display of O-gauge model trains.
This year was no exception. While the display opened to the public two earlier, the room with the big display was packed with onlookers. Hundreds of train cars roll along more than 1,000 feet of track through various scenes. But what some wouldn’t necessarily notice, is a man along the left side of the room, a man with a ponytail and wearing a railroad cap and overalls.
Paul Hoerner didn’t start the Brandywine Railroad exhibit. That happened in 1972, but Hoerner has been working with the Brandywine Museum of Art’s annual train display for the last 37 and is the senior model railroad specialist.
Hoerner said the layout for the display is pretty much the same as it is every year since the set-up is designed for that one particular second-floor gallery. But things change in other ways.
“The layout as it is now, was built and designed for this room so it only goes together one way. The layout doesn’t change much but we know we have people who come year after year for generations so we’re always trying to improve by adding new scenes, upgrading some scenes, changing some things because things might be getting a little old.”
But why the attraction? Why do families come back year after year? Hoerner thinks he knows.
“There’s something about a train that just fascinates people,” he said, “especially model trains because we try to create the look of the real world without getting too serious about it. There’s something about these little miniatures running through villages, over creeks, and passing running water that just fascinates people.”
And Hoerner admits he’s one of the people who is fascinated by the trains. He said he always had that fascination. He can recall as a young boy waking up to find a model railroad assembled in his bedroom on Christmas morning. His father had snuck in during the night and put it together, but the young Paul Hoerner thought the trains were from Santa.
“So, it was always kind of magical for me.”
Then he connected with the museum while in college.
“I answered a help wanted ad while I was at West Chester University. I came down right before Thanksgiving to help set up a Christmas display. It was like the perfect way for a college student to make a couple of bucks for Christmas,” he said. “And when I got to see what was going on here, I just fell in love with working here and with providing a great experience [for visitors].
And to put all those pieces together, Hoerner and crew are given only two weeks to do the work, no matter how many hours it might take, he said.
There is something new for this year’s Brandywine Christmas and that, too, is about trains. In another gallery on the second floor are Wyeth Miniatures, including model trains.
“We’re really excited about that exhibit this year. Nicky’s and Jamie’s trains have been on display off and on, very short runs without having a chance to show them for the entire run of the exhibit.
Nicholas Wyeth’s standard gauge trains were a gift from a former wife and Jamie Wyeth’s N-gauge trains are ones he bought with his friend Andy Warhol.
Hoerner appreciates the miniatures on display in that other gallery, especially the miniature furniture that Nat Wyeth — the scientist of the family — made for his sister.
“It’s really exciting to see that on display here.”
Hoerner doesn’t spend all his time as a real-life Choo-Choo Charlie, but much of it is spent at the museum. He spends summers working on major projects but also travels around the country in a Renaissance Fair circuit “doing a little jousting, doing a little music. But I always come back here to get ready for [Brandywine Christmas].
This year’s Brandywine Christmas runs through Jan. 5.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments