People have been building model railroads since the big locomotives started hauling freight and people across the US. The first electric versions appeared at the turn of the century. All of the romance, energy and drama of trains rolling through the countryside is captured in the miniature vignettes created by enthusiasts. The Gardenland Express, the annual display created at the Missouri Botanical Garden, is an annually changing panorama of scenery with trains chugging merrily through villages and spectacular plants. The ability the gardeners and train folks have to place full size plants near miniature displays and have them look natural takes a special eye for scale and a fantastic imagination.

This year, the theme is, of course, the 150th anniversary of the Garden itself. It's a garden within a garden. Warm and snug inside, you can take a tour of all your favorite Garden spots replicated in miniature. The Climatron (complete with gently blowing fan inside), the Japanese Garden, and even a replica of a trolley car, that used to bring folks to the Garden. It's wonderful and fun, with docents on hand to answer every question (like – are the plants in pots or actually planted in the dirt? And what gague is this train?) and they wear buttons that say "YES – I'm happy to take your picture!" which is a wonderful service.

Kids (and kids-at-heart) are also fond of the scavenger hunt, though for some reason this year, it only included about 8 "finds" instead of the usual 15 or so. Scouring the scenes, as the trains rumble by, specific rocks, bridges, animals and people is great fun. I hope they add more to the list next year.

There are a few more days to catch the Gardenland Express, tickets may be purchased at the Garden Welcome Desk. The Express "pulls out" on January 3, 2010.