JEFFERSON TWP — They've been working on the railroad, not all the livelong day but at nights and on weekends to get the holiday train display at Thorn Creek United Methodist Church, 142 Rockdale Road, ready for its Dec. 5 opening.

Church members and other model train enthusiasts from the community began to set up the annual display in the church basement last week.

Thorn Creek's pastor, the Rev. Kurt Knobel, who has been collecting trains and track since he was a child, said, “Ever since I was a little boy, I've kind of always had an interest in anything to do with trains,” he said.

It's some of his trains that will be used in the display.

“His interest was apparent when he moved in to take over the pastorship,” said church member Bernie Elder.

“When he moved here, there were boxes and boxes of trains,” said Elder, who wound up building a train track that winds around the pastor's office near the ceiling.

Elder is also in charge of constructing the platforms that will hold the display that fills the church basement.

Elder said work on the platforms began in October in two bays of his auto repair business in Middlesex Township.

“We start with an idea and build the platforms,” Elder said.

“We've had 30 people touch this,” Elder said, meaning volunteers building the platforms, creating the scenery, laying the tracks and connecting the wiring.

“Everyone has got a talent to come and play,” said Knobel.

“They come and they really put their heart into it,” Knobel said.

Knobel said the work will continue this weekend and throughout next week, usually in the evenings.

“I never thought it would get to this when we started out with one little platform,” said Elder.

This year's show, the sixth since the display began in 2008, will have the theme of the 1920s, and its eight trains will be steam locomotives, Knobel said.

“There will be a carnival this year. Every year it's a little different,” Knobel said.

“There will probably be about nine trains running this year,” Knobel said.

Last year's train show drew 800 people, Knobel said.

“People have been coming now since they were teens,” Knobel said. “We have groups come from nursing homes, schools and other churches.”

“We still keep it religious to a degree,” Knobel said. “We have the birth of Christ on one of the platforms.”

Visitors to the train display may make a donation, but that is not required.

“This is not set up to generate funds. It's not going to make money,” said Knobel. “This is a unique ministry to the community. The first kid to walk through the doors and his eyes get real big, it's worth it.”

“Three years ago, we had a family, a young mother with three daughters and a husband. The husband had just lost his job two weeks before Christmas,” said Knobel. “She said they were looking for something to do together as a family. We ministered to them.”

Knobel said a visit to the train display has become a family tradition for some.

“They might be here two or three times. They might look at a train and say 'My dad had one of these.' We've had cars with Alaska, Oregon and Massachusetts plates,” Knobel said.

<B>WHAT: </B>6th annual Holiday Train Display<B>WHERE: </B>Thorn Creek United Methodist Church, 142 Rockdale Road<B>WHEN: </B>4 to 8 p.m. Fridays, beginning Dec. 5; noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays until Jan. 4. Special hours: noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 29 through Jan. 4. Soups, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments available. Check the website for cancellations due to weather: thorncreekumchurch.org