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Tree Train The “Tree Train Project” was an undertaking I started back in 2007. I dreamed of doing this project for several years and everything fell into place that spring when I purchased a 16 foot commercial tree through an online auction from the City of Plano. The tree was in bad shape and was missing several branches and parts but I was able to contact the manufacturer and order the missing pieces. I was planning on making my own tree out of metal support rings and covering it in garland like the Z-Tree’s. However, finding a tree that was already built saved me countless hours of work and allowed me to get started on the train sooner. During the summer of 2007, I setup the partially completed project at the Texas Christmas Lights Workshop (TCL) in Dallas. That is why some of the pictures below show it setup indoors. I wanted to make a train that did not need batteries and could run around the base of the tree. Lots of research was done to look at how I could power the train. Should I place the motor on the engine and use electrical pickup shoes for track power or mount the motor in the middle of the base and use slip rings in the center for power? This was just one of the initial decisions I had to make. I decided to go with mounting a motor in the middle and using slip rings to transfer power to the train for lights. This decision had a large influence on the design of the metal base. I needed a structure that was completely open on the inside so the motor could turn and not have interference from support posts. I also needed a way to store the base in the offseason; therefore it was built in sections and bolted together. The base used over 250 feet of 1 1/4 inch square tubing. A 110 volt 1/4 HP gear motor rated at 30 RPM was used and geared down further to about 9 RPM with sprockets. I looked high and low for the right size wheels for this project but had a difficult time finding something at a reasonable price. The wheel decision came down to time and money. I was running out of time (and money) to get this project going before the TCL workshop so I went with the skateboard wheels and axles because they were an easy bolt on solution. The project was finished up in time for the 2007 Christmas display and has been a big hit with the kids. In 2008 we added a 3D spinning star to the top of the tree and had to reverse the direction of the “Candy Cane Crane” train car. The boom of that car was pointing forward and had gotten caught on a tree branch during a windy evening. In 2010 we replaced the worn out ornaments and faded bows with new outdoor rated ornaments. A baffle was also added this year that hides the motor and the moving parts from the visitors view.