Xinhua/Li Muzi via Getty Images

Train Time!

How artists use plant parts and electricity to create a magical holiday train display

By Alessandra Potenza

From the Special Collections Issue

Learning Objective: Design and build a circuit that transfers electrical energy through wires to light up a bulb.

Lexile: 900L; 620L

Guided Reading Level: S

Focus Area: Energy,

A colorful train weaves through a twinkling city, past elegant mansions and towering skyscrapers. But it won’t be picking up passengers anytime soon. The tiny model train is part of the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG).

The event is held in a giant greenhouse in New York City every year from November through January. It features electric model trains chugging past miniature versions of New York landmarks like Yankee Stadium, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building. Each structure is made almost entirely out of leaves, bark, and other objects from nature.

A colorful train weaves through a twinkling city. It zooms past mansions and skyscrapers. But it won’t be picking up passengers anytime soon. That’s because it’s a tiny model train. It’s part of the Holiday Train Show. It takes place each year at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG).

The event is held in a giant greenhouse in New York City. It lasts from November through January. It features electric model trains. They chug past tiny models of New York landmarks. They include Yankee Stadium and the Brooklyn Bridge. There’s also an Empire State Building. Each landmark is made mostly of leaves, bark, and other objects from nature.

This festive show is the work of a team of artists at Applied Imagination. That company creates model train shows for gardens around the country. The NYBG display is the largest. This year, it features about 175 buildings and nearly 800 meters (2,600 feet) of electric train tracks.

Visiting the finished display is an unforgettable experience, says Laura Busse Dolan, owner of Applied Imagination. “You feel like a giant standing in this tiny, glowing city,” she says. “It’s like magic.”

A team of artists creates this festive show. They work at Applied Imagination. The company creates model train displays. They’re set up at gardens around the country. The NYBG show is the largest. It has about 175 buildings this year. And there’s nearly 800 meters (2,600 feet) of train tracks.

Visiting the display is an amazing experience, says Laura Busse Dolan. She’s the owner of Applied Imagination. “You feel like a giant standing in this tiny, glowing city,” she says. “It’s like magic.”

City of Plants

Designing the buildings for the New York show begins at Applied Imagination’s workshop in Kentucky. First, artists study photos of the structures they want to build. Then they create a skeleton of each building out of sturdy foam board.

Applied Imagination’s workshop is in Kentucky. That's where making the models for the New York show begins. First, artists study photos of the structures they want to build. Then they create a skeleton of each building. Each is made from sturdy foam board.

APPLIED IMAGINATION

Artist Cindy Johnson glues plant parts to a building skeleton.

Next, the artists trek through local forests to find plants that can give the sculptures a realistic texture. “We go out the door and start clipping,” says Cindy Johnson, the lead artist at Applied Imagination. “We match the plant material to how we want the building to feel.” Bits of tree bark work as roof shingles, and baby acorns make good doorknobs. The team uses black bamboo to make iron fences.

The artists carefully glue the plant parts to the skeleton of each building. Then they cover the whole structure with a liquid that hardens. That keeps the plant material from breaking down.

Each structure takes a lot of time to complete. The 9 meter (30 foot)-long model of the Brooklyn Bridge took more than 400 hours of work!

Next, the artists visit local forests. They collect plants. The plants are used to give the buildings texture. “We go out the door and start clipping,” says Cindy Johnson. She’s the lead artist at Applied Imagination. “We match the plant material to how we want the building to feel.” Tree bark works as roof shingles. Acorns make good doorknobs. The team uses black bamboo to make iron fences.

The artists glue the plant parts to the skeleton of each building. Then they cover the whole model with a special liquid. It hardens. That keeps the plant material from breaking down.

Each building takes a lot of time to finish. The model of the Brooklyn Bridge is 9 meters (30 feet) long. It took more than 400 hours to build!

How Electric Circuits Work

Here’s how a simple circuit used to power a light bulb compares to the circuit in an electric model train. They work the same way.

Here’s a simple circuit used to power a light bulb. Next to it is a circuit in an electric model train. Both work the same way.

A. Energy Source: A battery or an electric outlet supplies the circuit with a flow of electricity, called a current.

A. Energy Source: A battery or an electrical outlet supplies a flow of electricity. This current moves through the circuit.

B. Switch: A switch can open or close the circuit. A closed circuit allows the electric current to flow.

C. Conductor: Metal wires or tracks are conductors, materials that can carry electricity.

C. Conductor: Metal wires or tracks are conductors. Conductors can carry electricity.

D. Device: When the current reaches a device powered by electricity, it is converted into heat, light, or motion. The bulb lights up. The train’s motor spins the wheels!

D. Device: A current reaches a device powered by electricity. Then it’s changed into heat, light, or motion. The bulb lights up. The train’s motor spins the wheels!

Think: How is the model train similar and different from the simple electric circuit?

How Electric Circuits Work

Here’s how a simple circuit used to power a light bulb compares to the circuit in an electric model train. They work the same way.

Here’s a simple circuit used to power a light bulb. Next to it is a circuit in an electric model train. Both work the same way.

A. Energy Source: A battery or an electric outlet supplies the circuit with a flow of electricity, called a current.

A. Energy Source: A battery or an electrical outlet supplies a flow of electricity. This current moves through the circuit.

B. Switch: A switch can open or close the circuit. A closed circuit allows the electric current to flow.

C. Conductor: Metal wires or tracks are conductors, materials that can carry electricity.

C. Conductor: Metal wires or tracks are conductors. Conductors can carry electricity.

D. Device: When the current reaches a device powered by electricity, it is converted into heat, light, or motion. The bulb lights up. The train’s motor spins the wheels!

D. Device: A current reaches a device powered by electricity. Then it’s changed into heat, light, or motion. The bulb lights up. The train’s motor spins the wheels!

Think: How is the model train similar and different from the simple electric circuit?

Choo Choo!

XINHUA/LI MUZI VIA GETTY IMAGES

These models of New York City skyscrapers are covered entirely in plant parts.

The team transports the finished models from Kentucky to the NYBG, where workers set up the display. The show includes many of the same models year after year. The 1.2 meter (4 foot)-tall Statue of Liberty model was built in 2001. It’s made out of palm leaves and dried flowers! One of this year’s new models is a 2.4 meter (8 foot)-tall replica of One World Trade Center, America’s tallest skyscraper.

Before setting up the buildings, workers arrange the tracks. The model trains run on electricity—just like real trains. A device called a power pack plugs into an electric outlet. It carries a small amount of current from the outlet to the tracks. The tracks are made of metal, a material that conducts electricity, or allows it to flow. When the power pack is switched on, that creates a closed electric circuit (see How Electric Circuits Work). Electricity flows through the tracks.

Bits of metal on the underside of the first train car funnel the current to a small motor. It pulls the train forward!

The team moves the finished models to the NYBG. There, workers set them up. The show has many of the same models year after year. The Statue of Liberty model was built in 2001. It stands 1.2 meters (40 feet) tall. It’s made of palm leaves and dried flowers! There are new models too. One added this year is of America’s tallest skyscraper. It’s named One World Trade Center. The replica stands 2.4 meter (8 feet) tall.

Workers place the train tracks before setting up the buildings. The model trains run on electricity just like real trains. The track has a device called a power pack. It plugs into an electrical outlet. It carries a small amount of current. It travels from the outlet to the tracks. Those tracks are made of metal. This material conducts electricity, or allows it to flow. The power pack gets switched on. That creates a closed electric circuit (see How Electric Circuits Work). Electricity flows through the tracks.

There are bits of metal beneath the first train car. They carry the current to a small motor. It pulls the train forward!

Childhood Dream

Laura Busse Dolan, the owner of Applied Imagination, is the daughter of its founder, Paul Busse. Paul loved model trains when he was a kid. His parents didn’t give him coloring books. Instead, Paul always made his own drawings. “His parents encouraged him from a young age to be creative,” says Laura.

Paul organized the first NYBG Holiday Train Show in 1992. Today, the display covers an area of 1,210 square meters (13,000 square feet). It attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year. Many of the show’s biggest fans are children.

“The kids bounce all over the place,” says Johnson. “They run wild with the trains.”

Paul Busse founded Applied Imagination. He’s the father of the current owner, Laura Busse Dolan. Paul loved model trains when he was a kid. His parents didn’t give him coloring books. Paul always made his own drawings instead. “His parents encouraged him from a young age to be creative,” says Laura.

Paul planned the first NYBG Holiday Train Show. It was held in 1992. Today, the display covers a 1,210-square-meter (13,000-square-foot) area. It attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year. Many of the show’s biggest fans are children.

“The kids bounce all over the place,” says Johnson. “They run wild with the trains.”

Light It Up!

Can you use a battery and wires to power a light bulb?

Observe

An electric circuit is a path through which charged particles can move. Circuits supply electricity to devices that we use every day, such as computers, microwaves, cars, and trains.

An electric circuit is a path. Charged particles can move through it. Circuits supply electricity to devices that we use every day. They include computers, microwaves, cars, and trains.

Materials

D cell battery
small 1.5-volt bulb
light bulb holder (see Teacher’s Guide for tips about where to buy)
two 20-25 centimeter (8-10 inch) pieces of insulated wire with the ends stripped
invisible tape
paper and pencil

D cell battery
small 1.5-volt bulb
light bulb holder (see Teacher’s Guide for tips about where to buy)
two 20-25 centimeter (8-10 inch) pieces of insulated wire with the ends stripped
invisible tape
paper and pencil

Design a Solution

Examine your materials. Think about how you could use them to light the bulb. Where might you connect the wires to the battery and the bulb?
Plan a design for your circuit and draw it on a piece of paper.
Build your circuit. Remember: Don’t touch the stripped ends of the wires. Only hold the coated areas.
Test your circuit under your teacher’s supervision. If the wires get warm, immediately disconnect them from the battery.
Evaluate your design. Did you successfully light the bulb? If so, can you find another way to make the bulb light up using the materials? If not, how could you improve your design?
Modify your original design based on your evaluation. Then repeat steps 2-4.

Examine your materials. Think about how you could use them to light the bulb. Where might you connect the wires to the battery and the bulb?
Plan a design for your circuit and draw it on a piece of paper.
Build your circuit. Remember: Don’t touch the stripped ends of the wires. Only hold the coated areas.
Test your circuit under your teacher’s supervision. If the wires get warm, immediately disconnect them from the battery.
Evaluate your design. Did you successfully light the bulb? If so, can you find another way to make the bulb light up using the materials? If not, how could you improve your design?
Modify your original design based on your evaluation. Then repeat steps 2-4.

Conclusions

Share your results with your classmates. Do you notice any patterns in the designs that were successful?
How did you know whether electricity was flowing in your circuit?
If you were trying to build a larger circuit with two light bulbs and two batteries, what problems do you think you might encounter?

Share your results with your classmates. Do you notice any patterns in the designs that were successful?
How did you know whether electricity was flowing in your circuit?
If you were trying to build a larger circuit with two light bulbs and two batteries, what problems do you think you might encounter?

Take it Further

Materials that can carry electric currents are called conductors. Materials that do not allow electric currents to flow are called insulators. How might you test which materials are conductors and which are insulators?