November 21, 2003
- M.T.H. Electric Trains, one of the world’s leading manufacturers
of electric toy trains, kicks off the New York holiday season with a wonderful
fully automated model railroad located in Macy’s on Herald Square.
M.T.H. and Macy’s
have formed a unique partnership through an M.T.H. sponsorship of Macy’s
Santaland to return electric toy trains to this world famous location
for the first time since 1996. Located on the 8th floor, the Santaland
model railroad is a 70+ square foot museum-quality display that features
three different operating trains meandering through a highly detailed
village full of lighted buildings, operating accessories, realistic scenery
and hundreds of miniature figures. Framed by a backdrop of mountain peaks,
bridges and train tunnels overlooking the village, three distinct levels
of train tracks allow steam locomotives, freight cars and passenger cars
to make their rounds – each equipped with digital sound created from
real-life locomotives for an added touch of realism designed to bring
the layout to life.
Automated control
over each train, the layout’s lights, and operating accessories like
Mel’s Diner located throughout the layout is handled with M.T.H.’s
Digital Command System or DCS. The regular starting and stopping of trains,
tooting of whistles and ringing of bells, activation of lights and operation
of accessories gives Santaland visitors a unique glimpse at the power
of model railroading with M.T.H. Electric Trains.
The display, which
operates during Santaland’s operating hours (Beginning November 28
and ending December 24) was designed and built in a joint effort between
M.T.H. Electric Trains and Miami, Florida based Scale Models, Arts and
Technologies, Inc. (SMARTT) – a museum quality model railroad display
design firm.
SMARTT is a Florida
corporation established in July 1995. As the name implies, Scale Models,
Arts, and Technologies is in the business of fabricating scale models
and miniatures, as well as offering various artistic services, all in
conjunction with the use of the latest technologies available to support
all these services.
Foremost of SMARTT's
services is the design and fabrication of turn-key custom model railroads
for corporate, institutional, and private clients throughout the country.
SMARTT has served clients seeking fulfillment of a diverse model railroad
wish list in a variety of price ranges from the mid five figures, up to
the 2002 $3.5 million HO layout that SMARTT was co-builder of for the
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
SMARTT's model railroad
work is unsurpassed, and can be characterized as museum quality, three-dimensional
art. In fact, the company's most often received accolade from its client
base is "Wow!. This is way more than I expected!"
Founded by Michael
Hart, SMARTT was begun as a culmination of Mr. Hart's desire to offer
only the highest quality in craftsmanship and realism of 3-D miniatures,
while catering to a diverse clientele. In addition to producing custom
model railroad work, the company has provided scale models for architects,
developers, engineers and industrial designers, as well as fabricating
three dimensional miniatures for use as film props, and trial exhibits.
For more information
on SMARTT, please CLICK HERE.
