Christmas contest

When I rode the LIRR every day (1963-1966) I recall there was a Christmas decoration competition between the stations. Seems like the local communities would decorate each station. Made for a nice scene rolling through Stewart Manor, Nassau Boulevard, Garden City, Country Life Press & Hempstead (well, not "rolling through" Hempstead! )

Is this still being done, or when did it end?

The MTA and the LIRR have forbidden the public recognition of Christmas, opting to display celebrations of "Winter Holiday". Typical, dumb behavior of the Public Affairs losers of these agencies to jump onto a trendy extremist bandwagon that insults 96% of their workers, "customers" and taxpayers.

I don't know when the last contest was held, though many communities still decorate. Some still mention Christmas too.

manumuskin, who posts here may have had a hand in those contests or may remember more about them.

Clem

The contest was very popular, even among the riders.

I remember Brentwood station with a santa in a sleigh and reindeers stretched all along the ridge of the roof!

Dave

Hi Everyone,

Back in 1997 or 1998 the eastern facing FL9 on the DM train had Christmas Lights or “Holiday Lights” and a Wreath on the front around the M. This was the first and last time I have seen that on the railroad.

I know the town of Port Washington use to hang light up Christmas Trees on the telephone poles just outside the station area on Main Street back in the mid 90’s. They have been replaced by light up snowflakes. Still adds a nice touch I suppose...

-Barry

It's this type of attidued from the public that ruins the fun and festiveness of the holiday season. and if there was a way to show the politicians that we just dont care we can show whats right and wrong, but this is not the place to fight over our political views.

Malvern has a nativity just across from the station, OMG that is too religous and I have yet to see any one complain.

but this anti christmas crap is one of MANY things ruineing America

Joe . . .

It's Satan at work through others.

Plain and simple.

With all the temptation that is out there today, bombarding children and adults daily, it's easy to turn to "the dark side" and fight everything religious.

Then you're one step away from all those people that fight having prayer in school and the 10 commandments portrayed on public monuments.

This backsliding has been accomplished nonchalantly over a period of years, so it's not noticeable as it's happening, but, suddenly, one day you wake up and say . . . "Hey! When did all THIS happen?"

By then it's too late. Laws have been quietly passed. Restrictions have been quietly approved. Local ordinances have been quitely put into place . . . the stage has been set: all by those representing evil.

It's absolutely insidious!! Like ants at a picnic.

Unfortunately, many people only want to celebrate Christmas for the commercial aspect, and wish to forget the real "reason for the season."

We can't say we believe in Christ on OUR TERMS. . .

We can only believe in Christ if it's on HIS TERMS. And He has specific terms!!!

Everyone have a blessed Christmas and may God be with all of you and your families throughout the upcoming year.

Dave

P.S. If this post gets deleted or the topic locked . . . .. yup! You guessed it: Evil at work!

well said Dave, I totally Agree, It's just amazing how quitely these laws are passed and saiten at work. I said it once and ill say it again America is not what it used to be. sad but true. It's a shame when ones pro countury but countury is not pro its people.

well back on topic.

Lets go as a bucnh of buffs and decorate a station of choice for the hell of it, but a nice big santa and slead I bet we catch some hell for that one

Here's an idea.. Maybe we should decorate the heck out of something we'd like to save, like PD Tower. It might make Newsday, and there would be lots of publicity for "the cause". -pat

I like that one!

T'was nice when the GP38's rolled through decorated in Christmas lights

<img src="http://www.trainweb.org/nyar/276-3.jpg">

Joe

I totally agree with dave. It is so sad whats happening. I remember when I was a child in the early 60's we used to go to the Bayside Railroad Station, and there were Christmas Carolers singing songs dressed in turn of the century costumes. I dont recall if they worked for the RR or the local civic groups, but the fact that they were allowed to use the station was great. When I first started working for the RR, there was actually a large nativity scene that was displayed right outside hall tower, that was put up every year. There was also a nativity scene in penn station. Those days are gone and its kind of sad. Even in Washington, they were going to call the National Christmas tree, the National holiday tree this year, untill some senators put a stop to it. Hey Dave, and some of you old timers like me...do you Remember Bing Crosby singing Oh Come All ye Faithful on TV every year...IN LATIN! lolol Bing was my Favorite for Christmas music...still is. Merry Christmas all!

LirrConductor:

Not only do I remember the Nativity set up at Hall tower, but I certainly remember Bing!!

Just saw "The Bells of St. Mary's" the other evening in which he sang "Adeste Fidelis!"

He's one of my most favorite singers of ANY type song and he was great as Fr. Chuck O'Malley!

National Holiday Tree!!!!! Just wonderful!

Dave

And another thing from the past . . . . .

A pipe organ would be set up in the old Penn Station by the LIRR and Christmas songs would be played for the holiday season. On occasion, LIRR locomotive engineer Jimmy Keebler would play the organ for the enjoyment of the commuters.

My how times have changed!

Dave

One nice thing, will cause such political termoil, it seems as being nice and enjoying the holiday sprit is a crime. Is this still "the land of the free and home of the brave" if it is there are a lot of puss's that dont have the brass set to enjoy what this countury is for and are rather dragging america into there grinch like minds.

if i took a keybord in NYP and started playing for nothing more then my enjoyment not for money or anything, I can almost garentee you that MTAPD or NYPD will find some BS reason to say being in the sprit of the season is a national crime.

When our "founding fathers" started this nation, they wanted to create a nation that was not only under God's protection and worshipful of God, but would serve as a place for freedom of religion.

Separation of church and state is an old concept. It wasn't meant to separate prayer, religion, etc. from schools or from the workplace. It was originally meant to separate the Control of the Church of England (and the English government) from OUR new nation.

In England, the Church of England was, and still is, controlled by Parliament. In Colonial times, Parliament was controlled by the King.

We in the U.S. wanted our religious institutions but wanted those institutions to be free from governmental control. We did not want the church to be regulated by government. We did not want a STATE religion. We wanted FREEDOM of religion.

Somewhere over the years, it lost something (a big something) in the translation.

Now it appears that the majority of American's want a place that is a freedom FROM religion.


Dave

OK . . . .. History lesson and Sunday School are over. Get ready for midnight mass!!! DK