Catherine Nicolai

and saw that there were four separate tracks coming in behind the depot, along platforms bustling with tiny people. The station master was there, a small arm raised and a whistle in her mouth. And I imagined the sounds I would have heard if I were there beside her. The train engines. People calling hello and goodbye. Be careful and welcome home. The peal of locomotive bells.

and saw that there were four separate tracks coming in behind the depot, along platforms bustling with tiny people. The station master was there, a small arm raised and a whistle in her mouth. And I imagined the sounds I would have heard if I were there beside her. The train engines. People calling hello and goodbye. Be careful and welcome home. The peal of locomotive bells.

rustling overcoats, shoes clapping against the platform boards, bits of gossip as scarves were tossed around necks and gloves pulled over fingers. I hadn't even seen a train go one inch yet. and I was already having a wonderful time. Beyond the depot was a small town, and while it wasn't exactly our own village, it was a sort of tribute to it. There was a movie theater,

rustling overcoats, shoes clapping against the platform boards, bits of gossip as scarves were tossed around necks and gloves pulled over fingers. I hadn't even seen a train go one inch yet. and I was already having a wonderful time. Beyond the depot was a small town, and while it wasn't exactly our own village, it was a sort of tribute to it. There was a movie theater,

rustling overcoats, shoes clapping against the platform boards, bits of gossip as scarves were tossed around necks and gloves pulled over fingers. I hadn't even seen a train go one inch yet. and I was already having a wonderful time. Beyond the depot was a small town, and while it wasn't exactly our own village, it was a sort of tribute to it. There was a movie theater,

showing Miracle on 34th Street, per their marquee. The sidewalks were heaped with snow, just like our own. And there were cars stopped at the streetlight, with fir trees tied to their roofs. I leaned down to look into the shops where people were buying toys or standing on street corners with wrapped presents under their arms. All this time, the trains hadn't been running.

showing Miracle on 34th Street, per their marquee. The sidewalks were heaped with snow, just like our own. And there were cars stopped at the streetlight, with fir trees tied to their roofs. I leaned down to look into the shops where people were buying toys or standing on street corners with wrapped presents under their arms. All this time, the trains hadn't been running.

showing Miracle on 34th Street, per their marquee. The sidewalks were heaped with snow, just like our own. And there were cars stopped at the streetlight, with fir trees tied to their roofs. I leaned down to look into the shops where people were buying toys or standing on street corners with wrapped presents under their arms. All this time, the trains hadn't been running.

Maybe to let the onlookers take in all the details. Or maybe because they were just running on the schedule set by the tiny station master. Either way, with a whistle and a whirr, they came to life and began to travel over the tracks. I picked one to follow with my eyes and saw a bright red engine leave the station with several cars full of passengers.

Maybe to let the onlookers take in all the details. Or maybe because they were just running on the schedule set by the tiny station master. Either way, with a whistle and a whirr, they came to life and began to travel over the tracks. I picked one to follow with my eyes and saw a bright red engine leave the station with several cars full of passengers.

Maybe to let the onlookers take in all the details. Or maybe because they were just running on the schedule set by the tiny station master. Either way, with a whistle and a whirr, they came to life and began to travel over the tracks. I picked one to follow with my eyes and saw a bright red engine leave the station with several cars full of passengers.

The lights in the lobby dimmed, and the lights in the train grew brighter. The Christmas tree in their own tiny town square glowed with colored bulbs. Another locomotive caught my eye. this one a shiny black. And as it stopped to let a freight train chug across its tracks, I leaned down and saw their dining car lit up and full of passengers and servers.

The lights in the lobby dimmed, and the lights in the train grew brighter. The Christmas tree in their own tiny town square glowed with colored bulbs. Another locomotive caught my eye. this one a shiny black. And as it stopped to let a freight train chug across its tracks, I leaned down and saw their dining car lit up and full of passengers and servers.

The lights in the lobby dimmed, and the lights in the train grew brighter. The Christmas tree in their own tiny town square glowed with colored bulbs. Another locomotive caught my eye. this one a shiny black. And as it stopped to let a freight train chug across its tracks, I leaned down and saw their dining car lit up and full of passengers and servers.

White tablecloths were spread over the tables and meals and drinks laid out. Again, I imagined myself there. What might I order? Or would I be the bartender, shaking up a cocktail behind the bar as the snowy land slipped past. The freight train cleared the tracks, the switch was thrown, and the diners sped off. I walked around the platform to take in another angle.

White tablecloths were spread over the tables and meals and drinks laid out. Again, I imagined myself there. What might I order? Or would I be the bartender, shaking up a cocktail behind the bar as the snowy land slipped past. The freight train cleared the tracks, the switch was thrown, and the diners sped off. I walked around the platform to take in another angle.

White tablecloths were spread over the tables and meals and drinks laid out. Again, I imagined myself there. What might I order? Or would I be the bartender, shaking up a cocktail behind the bar as the snowy land slipped past. The freight train cleared the tracks, the switch was thrown, and the diners sped off. I walked around the platform to take in another angle.

and saw a forest green engine pulling its cars up a steep mountain path. Beside the tracks were snow-covered trees and ice-capped peaks and a tunnel cut through the rock. I thought of the person who must have made this little world. The storytelling and drama they were able to build into it. A thing like this, it must have taken hours and hours.

and saw a forest green engine pulling its cars up a steep mountain path. Beside the tracks were snow-covered trees and ice-capped peaks and a tunnel cut through the rock. I thought of the person who must have made this little world. The storytelling and drama they were able to build into it. A thing like this, it must have taken hours and hours.

and saw a forest green engine pulling its cars up a steep mountain path. Beside the tracks were snow-covered trees and ice-capped peaks and a tunnel cut through the rock. I thought of the person who must have made this little world. The storytelling and drama they were able to build into it. A thing like this, it must have taken hours and hours.