Behind the Beloved Holiday Walk Trains

By Mary Casey-Sturk

For the last twenty years or so (nobody has an official count), the holiday trains on display at Warden and Associates (1 South Fort Thomas Avenue) have been bringing joy to the young and the young at heart in the community. From their debut during the Holiday Walk (the first Sunday of December) through January, this thoughtfully curated collection of Lionel trains is a highlight for many. Over the last few years, hundreds have stopped by during the Walk. 2024 was no different with 2,000 smiling faces enjoying the trains and being treated to cookies (Warden’s daughter and granddaughter are the cookie elves) and Nativities from Warden’s collection. The brainchild of Irv Bacon, aka “the engineer”, features three tracks showcasing various trains, trolley cars, and a gang car (hand car). Packed with festive features, buildings, and props, it’s reminiscent of the department store train displays that many of us remember so fondly.

Rail travel in the United States is a rarity and kids often don’t have train sets or collections like they once did, so the opportunity to view these intricate trains on display is a true treat for all ages.

Bacon, of Southgate, has been collecting trains for decades and enjoys showcasing his prized Lionel trains every holiday season at Warden and Associates. Beyond the Holiday Walk, visitors could see the train when Warden had office hours.

Fort Thomas Living Magazine spoke with Ken Warden and Bacon about this tradition.

FTL asked Bacon to share when he first began collecting trains: “I started with a little income here and there, and I wanted something (and bought trains). I got trains for Christmas from my dad and my uncle. My brother and I wanted trains,” shares Bacon.

What are the challenges of setting up this display? “The boards need to be level, the track level, it takes time (though nobody keeps track officially) to set it up. I run three trains at the same time, on three separate tracks.” Bacon adds, “It gets more difficult every year (to put it together).”

On the afternoon before the 2024 Holiday Walk, Bacon’s grandson, Grant, and his friend Austin were busy putting it all together for the next generation of train lovers.

“We have people every day the trains are up, they’ll stop in, and I will ask them if they want to see them run and I’ll run them”, adds Warden who has been in the real estate business for fifty years and I suppose you could say the train business for twenty.

“Irv works very hard every year putting this together.” Warden shares, “We’re from the age where people rode trains, to Washington, to Atlanta. Today, many people have never been on a train. Kids don’t play with trains. That’s the appeal of this display, and it’s impressive.”

“Hopefully it will inspire kids to collect trains in the future” adds Warden.