Paul Hoerner, Model Railroad Specialist at the Brandywine Museum of Art discussed the 50th edition of their holiday Brandywine Railroad display. Each year the museum converts a exhibition space to a model train set, this year featuring trains running on 2,000 feet of track and more than 1,000 pieces, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, a drive-in movie theater and even a carnival. Toy and scale model trains include those made by Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s Train House, K-line and others. Paul explained that trains will forever be associated with Christmas as they carried gifts and relatives each season to small towns and outposts across the country, a fact Lionel jumped on in the ‘30s and ‘40s when a train set became one of the most popular gifts and displays.
We discussed the museum’s history and setting, founded by conservationists looking to both protect the landscape and celebrate the works of NC and Andrew Wyeth and other Brandywine artists. Today a visit to the museum can include scenic walks and visits to both NC and Andrew’s studios.
The Brandywine Railroad continues with extended hours through January 8th, and it’s also your last chance to see ‘Fragile Earth: The Naturalist Impulse in Contemporary Art,’ highlighting four of the leading contemporary artists—Jennifer Angus, Mark Dion, Courtney Mattison and James Prosek—whose work engages with environmental themes.
He also revealed more about their next exhibit, ANDREW WYETH: HOME PLACES which opens on February 4th.
This exhibition is a presentation of nearly 50 paintings and drawings of local buildings that inspired Wyeth over seven decades of his career, with a look at Betsy Wyeth’s influence on his career.
The Brandywine Railroad holiday train display is included in the cost of general admission and is free for Brandywine members. Timed admission tickets will be required for entry through January 8, 2023 for general admission—Brandywine members do not need to reserve timed tickets. During this time, the Brandywine will also implement its holiday hours: open seven days a week, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information about the museum and how to visit, go to BRANDYWINE.ORG