Katy Dickinson

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http://blogs.sun.com/katysblog/date/20090210 Tuesday February 10, 2009

Packard Hospital Model Train

During my son's recent stay at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) in Palo Alto, California, we enjoyed playing with their model train. The HO-scale train layout is on the main floor and provides entertainment as well as a focus for walking directions. There is a sign inside the front door "... take the Elevators by Model Train to Ground Floor...". The meticulously detailed self-contained layout is about 12 feet square under an arched roof. Inside are two non-connected oval railroad track loops. The scenery is inspired by Northern California's Southern Pacific rail line, featuring mountains, a lake, the ocean (beach and underwater), fields, and a small seaport town. Each of the four sides has two large plastic buttons which do something: create a sound or flash model street lights... Several friends of ours were involved in creating this layout under strict hospital supervision. It is a huge kid magnet and brings joy to all.

    LPCH model train layout
    Lucille Packard Children's Hospital model train layout, Palo Alto California photo: copyright 2009 John Plocher     		LPCH model train layout
    Lucille Packard Children's Hospital model train layout, Palo Alto California photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson     		SP Engine closeup
    Southern Pacific engine closeup, Lucille Packard Children's Hospital model train layout, Palo Alto California photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson
    John and LPCH model train layout
    John Plocher and Lucille Packard Children's Hospital model train layout, Palo Alto California photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson     		LPCH model train underwater scene
    Lucille Packard Children's Hospital model train layout underwater scene, Palo Alto California photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson     		LPCH model train layout
    Lucille Packard Children's Hospital model train layout, Palo Alto California photo: copyright 2009 John Plocher

Photos Copyright 2009 by John Plocher and Katy Dickinson

Posted at 01:08PM Feb 10, 2009 by katysblog in Caboose Project and Other Trains  |  Comments[2]