Hawthorne Village(r) features a collection of subscription trains that run on HO track (so sometimes they're mistakenly labeled "HO" trains). However the trains are large enough to look good with O-scale accessories, such as most Christmas village buildings. The Hawthorne Village trains use reliable mechanisms and other parts from Bachmann On30 trains, so they run like "champs," and service will always be available. But the Hawthorne Village designers add artwork and other detailing that make these trains much more attractive and collectible.

Note: Deadlines approaching! Because these are subscription trains, each piece is actually considered a separate purchase. (The price advertised on the Hawthorne Village web site is the cost of each collectible piece.) In the first shipment, you receive the locomotive, which is an exceptional value. Then about a month later, or when the next piece is available (whichever comes first), your order for the next piece is automatically processed. That means that you can still get the locomotive before Christmas if you order early enough, so you'll have something to wrap up and put under the tree. The locomotive is also a great value, so the recipient won't be disappointed, even when he or she learns that the rest of the train is still to come. On the other hand, there is a good possibility that some of these trains will sell out between now and Christmas. If there's one you really want, don't assume that it's "safe" to wait until later - I have not heard from one reader who was disappointed with his or her train, but I have heard from many readers who were disappointed because they put off ordering a subscription until it was too late. These are delightful trains and a great value, so order your favorite soon if you don't want to miss out! For details about how a subscription train works, please click here.

New for 2006! Brand new Hawthorne Village products for 2006 include Rudolph's Christmas Town Express Train and the Hawthorne Village Christmas Train Station Accessory Subscription Plan, which provides everything you need to add a charming railroad terminal your holiday train. Note: Speaking of flying reindeer, the Rudolph Christmas Town Express Train and the village that goes with it (see below) have been flying off the shelves since I posted them here - if you think you want this set, don't put off ordering it.

Note about Suppliers: While we try to help you get the products you want by recommending suppliers with a good record of customer service, all transactions between you and the supplier you chose to provide your trains or other purchases are governed by the published policies on the supplier's web site. So please print off any order confirmation screens and save copies of invoices, etc., so you can contact the appropriate supplier should any problems occur. (They almost never do, but you want to be on the safe side.)

To see more pictures, to learn more about any of the trains, or to purchase any of these subscriptions, please click on the photographs.

Thomas Kinkade Christmas Train and Villages - If you want the most charming train ever made for Christmas villages, consider Hawthorne Village's Thomas Kinkade(r) Christmas Express Subscription Plan Train. This is the first authorized collectible train to feature paintings by reknowned artist Thomas Kinkade. It has been so popular that two more Thomas Kinkade(r) trains are being offered this season. Hawthorne Village ordered many of these original, limited edition trains, so we have been able to offer them two holiday seasons in a row, but we have no idea how much longer subscriptions will be available. The first "issue" of this subscription includes the locomotive and tender, an excellent value.

Please click on either photograph for more pictures and details, as well as a list of accessories that would add interest and charm to any Christmas village using this train.

Note: In 2005, two new Thomas Kinkade trains were added to the collection. Please click on either photograph for details.

New for 2006!John Deere Collectible Villages and Accessories - Okay, we had one of these items last year, and people kept finding it even though it wasn't featured. But this year, due to customer demand, there is much more, and the quality keeps getting better, too. Who but Hawthorne Village would have commissioned world-reknowned "Painter of Light" to pay tribute to the American icon that is John Deere?

For more information on the Hawthorne Village John Deere collectible villages and accessories, please click on the photograph.

Norman Rockwell Holiday Train - You've probably seen many display villages and Christmas trains based on Norman Rockwell's classic artwork. The Saturday Evening Post and other publications that originally published Rockwell's paintings have licensed them to many vendors and manufacturers. But what you may not know is that the Rockwell family has only approved one electric train and one display village to celebrate Rockwell's unique vision of America! The Norman Rockwell Holiday Subscription Train is the only electric train set officially authorized and endorsed by the Norman Rockwell family. Each car includes artwork from Norman Rockwell's famous collection of holiday paintings. The total effect is of an "American Christmas" like no other. The Norman Rockwell Collectible Christmas Village is a perfect complement to this train--both will bring back many warm memories for decades to come.

Please click on either photograph for more pictures and details.

Al Agnew's Silver Moon Express - If you want to celebrate the Winter Solstice in a truly "wild" fashion, you might want to take a look at the Hawthorne Village Silver Moon Express Subscription Plan Train. This subscription train has wintry blue and silver colors, as well as paintings by Al Agnew that feature wolves and snowy landscapes. (For a closeup of the locomotive click here.)

This train is entering at least its third year of availability, so I can't say how much longer it will be available. If you're interested in Al Agnew's work, or if you decorate with a silver and blue theme at the holidays, this is a unique opportunity. Please click on either photograph for more pictures and details.

New for 2006! Rudolph's Christmas Town Express Train Collection

Please click on either photograph for more pictures and details.

Winnie the Pooh Hundred Acre Wood Christmas Express Train

Please click on either photograph for more pictures and details.

Magic of Disney(r) Express - Okay, it's not exactly a Christmas Train, but the Magic Of Disney Express Subscription Plan has many charming features that will attract attention and interest for years to come.

Please click on either photograph for more pictures and details.

Note: If you buy a collectable train with the idea of running it around your Christmas tree, you might want to take special precautions so that someone who missteps near the tree doesn't accidentally kick an irreplaceable locomotive across the room. (Don't ask me if this warning is based on personal experience.) One possible solution might be to start a subscription of the Hawthorne Village train you like the most, and at the same time buy a Bachmann On30 train set that you can afford to leave on the floor or let the kids run. (And when the kids go to bed, and everyone else leaves the house, you can get out your Hawthorne Village train and run it--they run on the same track.)

Hawthorne Village(R)Accessories

New for 2006! Hawthorne Village Christmas Train Station Accessory Subscription Plan Finally, a Christmas Train Station set to go with the Hawthorne Village Christmas trains. This is a subscription set, like the Hawthorne Village towns. But instead of a whole town, this set models the "hustle and bustle" of a small-town railroad station at Christmas. We admit, we don't know everything about this set, as it's still very new, but we do know that the first installment is a charming early-to-mid-1900s station covered with "snow" and decorated for Christmas. According to the Hawthorne Village people: "Beginning with a fabulous model train station, every detail is handcrafted by master artisans, from authentic looking stone work and rough hewn flooring, to festive Christmas decorations and realistic train sound effects! You'll be delighted with all the special features in future issues too, from a switching station with a Santa who pops out as your train passes by, to an illuminated station platform with a FREE "Commuter Friends" figurine! These are must-have accessories to any prized train collection. And you won't find a finer value anywhere. Hurry, order now!

To order, or for more information, please click on the photograph at the right.

Thomas Kinkade Hawthorne Village Figures - No Christmas village (or Christmas Train scene, for that matter) is complete without people. The Thomas Kinkade Hawthorne Village figures are the only name-brand Christmas village figures that are actually the right size for the trains and buildings of most Christmas village lines. These people are modeled in about 1:48 scale. That means that they will look small next to Lemax or Dept. 56 figures, which are modeled in about 1:32 scale. But they will look dandy next to Lemax or Dept. 56 or Hawthorne Village structures, which are modeled in about 1:48 scale. They will also look great with any of the Hawthorne Village subscription village lines. I listed this particular set because I consider it to be an exceptionally good value. To learn more about this set, or to purchase it, please click on the photo on the right.

Track - By the way, I've been getting questions about track. The trains above come with an oval of track that is about 38" x 56", although in most cases, you don't receive the track and power supply until about the third issue of the series. To get a jump start on your railroad, or to make your railroad a little larger, you may easily add additional pieces of Bachmann EZ Track. The Bachmann EZ Track #44501 is an exact replacement for the curves that come with the train sets. #44411 matches the straight pieces. In addition you can easily convert any of the train sets on this page to remote control with the Crest Basic Train Engineer.

Thomas Kinkade Illuminated Village Tabletop Christmas Tree - Finally, in 2004, I noticed that Hawthorne Village(R) products by Thomas Kinkade were getting a lot of interest, and I added the tree on the left, which is a detailed ceramic sculpture with a Christmas village snuggled among the "branches" of the tree. This product out to be extremely popular. Several more Thomas Kinkade Christmas trees have been added since; the tree on the right is probably the best seller this year. It has miniature trains and a flying Santa and sleigh going around the tree. Both of these are limited editions and will not be available indefinitely. Please click on either photo for more information.

In addition, the O-Scale Accessories page includes many relatively inexpensive details such as bridges, fencing, and stations, that will bring life to any O-Scale or O-Gauge railroad.

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