Holiday Junction
| Company type | Event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Model railroading, Holiday event |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati , United States |
Area served | Cincinnati metropolitan area |
| Owner | CSX Transportation (model train exhibit) |
| Parent | Duke Energy (sponsor) |
Holiday Junction Featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains is a yearly festive event centered around railroads, held since 1996 at the Cincinnati Museum Center located within Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio. The highlight of this celebration is a historic model train exhibit owned by CSX Transportation and sponsored by Duke Energy.
Duke Energy Holiday Trains
The event’s hallmark attraction is the Duke Energy Holiday Trains model railroad. Initially displayed in Duke Energy’s downtown Cincinnati office, it was cared for by workers and retirees from Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company (CG&E) and its successors, such as Cinergy and Duke Energy. This O scale layout spans , containing approximately 300 railcars and 50 locomotives running on more than of track, representing in miniature. Operating on a 12-volt power system, it illustrates the Cumberland Subdivision as it appeared from the late 1930s through the early 1950s, including a rural station inspired by Maryland’s Point of Rocks station.
Constructed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) in 1936 at a cost of $, the display toured B&O’s network until 1946. Rather than transferring it to the B&O Railroad Museum, B&O collaborated with CG&E to retain the exhibit in Cincinnati at the utility’s headquarters, launching a cherished annual Christmas tradition. This free-admission event ran for 41 days each year, initially providing popcorn and later cookies to children. Over the years, additional decorative scenes were added, starting with a slaughterhouse in 1939. By 2010, visitor numbers reached 300,000 annually, with over 9 million guests attending throughout 65 seasons. In 2011, Duke Energy moved the display to the museum center, incorporating it into the Holiday Junction festivities. The original elements continue to be owned by B&O’s successor, CSX Transportation.
Other model train displays
Holiday Junction also features model railroad layouts in G scale and HO scale, constructed by local model train clubs.
Additionally, the museum presents the Cincinnati In Motion exhibit from the Cincinnati History Museum, showcasing an intricate scale model of Cincinnati complete with model streetcars.