December 3, 2024
SINGAPORE – At the heart of the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay (GBTB), miniature model trains traverse tracks of various kinds, such as complex railroads, loops and overhead trails spanning more than 100m, bringing cheer to the festive season.
The GBTB Christmas Train Show was launched on Dec 2 by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat and US Ambassador to Singapore Jonathan Kaplan. This is the first time the Gardens has brought in this longstanding American festive tradition, and the show will run till Jan 5.
The train show is a partnership between the Gardens’ horticulturists, New York Botanical Garden, the US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, and garden railway specialist company Applied Imagination. Since train shows are a staple for families at the two US gardens during Christmas, GBTB aims to replicate the celebration of family bonds in the same manner here.
Five miniature trains will chug around intricate botanical models of iconic landmarks, such as the Empire State Building and Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, alongside a stationary train on the tracks. The landmarks are handcrafted from plant materials such as pine cone scales, twigs and seeds.
Singapore residents who want to see the train show must buy a ticket to the Flower Dome – $12 for adults and $8 for children and seniors on weekdays, and $27 for adults and $23 for children and seniors on weekends and public holidays.
GBTB did not disclose the cost of putting on the train show when asked by The Straits Times.
Surrounding the train show and its exhibits are festive plants, including 16 varieties of poinsettias – a “flower” known for its bright red leaves – and 480 conifers in 49 varieties.
Ms Melissa Tan, deputy director of conservatory and a horticulturist at GBTB, told reporters that the effort started a year ago, with her team visiting the gardens in the US and learning the ropes of running a model train show.
Inspired by their visit, the Gardens’ team took what they learnt to create the show. “We also had to make sure that the botanic models arrived in Singapore in the same way, as they were fragile, so all care was going into the packing to endure the long journey.”
Train shows started in the early 1900s during the era of the great American railway, when people would take the locomotive back home during the holidays. Over time, the tradition evolved into large-scale shows that families would visit during the Christmas period.
A train expert based in Singapore, Mr Thomas Bhat, was brought in by GBTB for his expertise in selecting the right trains for the show.
The German-born Singapore permanent resident loaned six model trains to the Gardens for its train show. A total of 15 trains, belonging to Mr Bhat and those bought by the Gardens, will be going round the tracks during the show.
Also within the Flower Dome, the re-creation of a vintage Swedish railbus allows visitors to explore railway artefacts, such as lamps and signs, on loan from the Swedish Railway Museum.
In a homage to the Singapore MRT system, visitors can find a replica of an SMRT train cabin that illustrates fun facts about the Singapore rail system. When entering the Flower Dome, visitors are also greeted by a re-created facade of Raffles Place MRT station.
Housewife Rachel Loh, 60, who visited the Flower Dome on Dec 2, said she was so fascinated by the architectural details of the botanical models that she will come again with her friends.
“Every year, during the holiday season, I would come to Gardens by the Bay for their Christmas show, but this one is the best so far.”
Mr Chia Laimeng, a 68-year-old audio-visual electronics manager, said the train show reminded him of the times he took the train when his son was studying in the UK.