A Backyard Train Set Reopens for Pride and Healing
Christmas Tree Lane resident brings joy back to the neighborhood
Nearly six months after the Eaton Fire, Rob Caves is finding his bearings again. He spent weeks defending his home from the windstorm-fueled blaze and months cleaning up smoke damage by hand, going corner by corner with brushes and a vacuum.
Now, Rob is reopening his massive backyard model train layout to the public for the first time since the disaster. The open house, set for Saturday, is part of the community-wide Pride celebration in Altadena. Visitors are invited to stop by 2085 Santa Rosa Avenue between 2 and 8 PM and view the intricate setup he’s built with the Christmas Tree Lane Model Railroad Society
For Caves and many of the club’s 50 members, this reopening is about more than model trains. It’s about rebuilding joy, rekindling connection, and finding purpose after disaster. Several members of the LGBTQ+ community, including Rob and his partner, Larsen, have long called the group home. This weekend’s display will feature a rainbow-themed Amtrak train reading "PRIDE WITH US."
The club has been slowly picking up where they left off. Some sections had minor fire damage. Others were left incomplete due to the evacuation. A new expansion is in the works, and if all goes well, the annual Christmastime open house will return this winter.
Across the street, the Altadena Library is hosting the official Pride program with a walk, art, entertainment, and healing spaces. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will attend the 3 PM opening ceremony. As the neighborhood continues its slow path to recovery, Rob hopes the trains can bring people together again.
"We are kind of still a day at a time with everything, but it's a much more optimistic future for the club and Altadena," he said. "You just don't know what the community is going to become, but I think we're headed in the right direction. That's my sense, and I wanted to be hopeful."
Details:
Christmas Tree Lane Model Railroad Society Open House
Saturday, June 8 PM
2085 Santa Rosa Ave.,
Altadena, CA 91001
Altadena Pride
Saturday, June 14 - 3 to 6 PM
Altadena Library
3330 N. Lincoln Ave.,
Altadena, CA 91001