Josh Faia, who grew up in Lansdale, and his grandfather, Bruce Morrell, worked side by side to bring Morris Arboretum’s Holiday Garden Railway to life, writes Mike Newall for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The 77-year-old Morrell is a longtime trainmaster at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. When he needed to hire a helper three years ago, his 26-year-old grandson, whom he taught all he knew, was the obvious choice.

While the duo works on the railway throughout the entire year, this is the season when they transform it into a magical Philadelphia winter wonderland filled with chugging choo-choos and clanging trolleys that pass by replicas of landmarks, such as Independence Hall and the Art Museum. These replicas are made using twigs, pine cones, acorns, and walnut shells and adorned with beautiful holiday lights.

For the last several months, the duo has been busy preparing the Holiday Garden Railway for its November 24 opening.

“It’s become a generational feature for families and a tradition in people’s lives,” said Vince Marrocco, director of horticulture for the arboretum.

Read more about the grandson and grandfather train duo at the Morris Arboretum in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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