Families looking for a fun, free Christmas tradition are in luck, as White's Chapel's historic annual miniature railroad has pulled into the station. This beloved local custom has evolved to include many of Southlake’s cherished establishments, and better yet, the display was built with care by city residents who can’t get enough of the holiday cheer their hard work brings.
Enlisting the help of engineer and locomotive enthusiast Hal Bryan in 2016, White’s Chapel began building the framework for their very own model train masterpiece that would soon grow into quite the spectacle. Collaborating with a team of 35 to 45 volunteers, Hal spent the summer constructing 20 modular tables to form the base of the railroad.
After hundreds of hours of work, the set made its debut at White’s Chapel just in time for holiday revelers to marvel at all of the little details. Church members donated every model train in this magnificent display, some dating as far back as the 1930s. Today, the display includes miniature replicas of Southlake’s most beloved local landmarks, including Town Square and Town Hall, recreational parks and gazebos, shopping boutiques, grocery stores, restaurants and even a Southlake water tower. The scene also includes portions of the Fort Worth Stockyards.
When asked what fulfilled him most about creating the display, Hal explained that seeing awe-inspired eyes and little noses pressed against the plexiglass surrounding the display would always be the greatest reward he could’ve asked for. Between all of the trains chugging along and an authentic re-creation of the city it calls home, White’s Chapel’s railroad display is embracing the spirit of the season.