The train garden at Arbutus Auto Painting and Bodyworks proved to be a wonderland for 1-year-old Jacob Altamirano.

With a cookie from the refreshments table in one hand, the Hanover youngster roamed among the garden's U-shaped setup Dec. 7, pausing occasionally as one miniature scene or another caught his eye.

Asked to name his favorite item on display, Jacob pointed toward a 5-foot Christmas tree in the shop window decorated with toy car ornaments.

Below, a model train circled the tree continuously.

"Yes," Jacob said, nodding.

Now in its 11th year, the model train garden at the auto shop, owned by Richard Greene at 4621 Leeds Ave., has attracted about 3,500 people annually, according to the "conductor," Charles Richter.

The overall setup covers more than 500 square feet of green cloth-draped tables with an untold number of train pieces and other items neatly arranged in a variety of city, town and county scenes.

The display opened after Thanksgiving and continues through Jan. 3.

Admission is free, although donations are accepted and guests are asked to bring canned goods for the Arbutus-based Southwest Emergency Services.

"I like to see a kid come through the door and say 'wow'," said Richter, 43, the Arbutus resident who owns the setup and plays host to visitors.

Richter first made model trains a hobby about 20 years ago. He works days managing an auto glass shop in Gaithersburg.

He and Mike Kraft, who works at Greene's shop, typically spend about three months setting up the garden.

Operating without a plan, they create a new layout each time, adding trains, buildings, characters and other scenery as they go along.

"It's totally different each year," said Richter, who estimates the annual cost at $2,000, which is paid for by donors.

New this season is a traffic tunnel with a car accident at one end. Police and rescuers treat victims and direct traffic at the scene.

A "train garden trivia" handout challenges guests to count Christmas trees, cars on the longest train, deer, cows, Baltimore Ravens items and Volkswagen Beetles in the various scenes.

Children with reading skills can report the movies playing at the miniature theater, while everyone searches for dozens of other features, including some beekeepers, a fisherman and a gorilla.

The train garden runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, including Christmas Eve, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Christmas Day.

A miniature billboard atop a high-rise buildings in the display suggests that guests also visit the train garden a few blocks away at the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department, 5200 Southwestern Blvd.

Admission is free at that venue, too although donations are accepted.

Returning for a 15th year, the fire department's train garden runs through Jan. 3 and is open Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Monday through Friday, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., excepting Christmas Eve. Hours for Dec. 24 are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The display is closed Christmas Day.

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