On a corner lot in suburban Richardson, Texas, BeBe Occhiuzzo has been watching neighborhood children enjoy Christmas for the past seven years. Eight years ago, her husband Joel had created a holiday train that ran on a track in their backyard for their grandchildren to watch, wonder and enjoy. After the first year, he knew what he had to do. With a lot of perseverance and elbow grease, his average-sized backyard has become a magical play land for children all over the city.

What started out as a passionate ambition for a grandfather to see his grandchildren’s eyes light up, has become an opportunity for the Occhiuzzo’s to spread holiday joy to the entire neighborhood, and then some. His first train was just for show. By the time the next holiday season rolled around, it had become a joy ride for his family.

Train Rides: One Thing Leads To Another

Little did she know it, but that second year was about to change their lives forever. He had developed an intensity and drive to make that train dependable and rider friendly for years to come. He wasn’t a model train enthusiast. He didn’t know a thing about them. He simply knew that when those kids saw that train, running in a circle through lights and painted wooden cartoon characters, they became awed and amazed, and he just couldn’t stop.

It’s not a scale train. It was built from wood and welded metal. Each side panel on the cars was cut from wood, and painted with loving detail. The train’s engine car was crafted by metal workers, and houses the same electric car motor that powers the fleet of cars that work for the city of Dallas.

Two years ago, after several modifications, he began allowing adults to ride with the children. It takes 30 seconds to round the track one time, and he lets them ride about 10-12 minutes. The train starts at 6pm and runs till 10pm from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. It’s in the local paper now, and the Dallas Morning News.

Volunteers Needed

With so many people now not only enjoying the view from the nearby trail, but also allowed to ride, they’ve seen 800 guests in a single night. Cars round the corner and line up down the street to watch, ride, and sing together under the Christmas lights.

Capable of holding 22 children, 6 of the 8 cars have seats, while the coal car houses the batteries for the engine. The engine is a 13.9 horsepower DC motor with 42 lbs of torque, and he’s figured out how to give it a soft start and stop for the comfort of the passengers. All this equipment is getting difficult for Joel to put up and take down himself.

The set up begins every September 15, and is completed by Thanksgiving. He had to build storage space on to the house to store not only the train, but also the track and additional decorations. A local church has offered to help him break it down and store it this year, but it is still no small task. It won’t be done until February. For more information, you can visit his website www.holidayexpressridingtrain.com, and check back here for more information.