Ag on the right track

Titus Konold ogled and followed a miniature steam engine as it circled a tiny replica of small town America inside the Culpeper Depot Sunday morning.

His persistence paid off.

The 8-year-old second-grader was rewarded the task of operating one of those scale model trains.

Grinning from ear-to-ear, Titus held the wireless control as he sped up and slowed down the little locomotive.

This operation was part of the 2009 Harvest Days Farm Tour, which kicked off Saturday with 12 area organizations showcasing their businesses to the public free of charge.

Donning an engineer’s hat, Phil Irwin, Piedmont Railroaders vice president, operated two trains while he answered visitor’s questions Sunday morning.

And he was doing well until a mishap involving one of his trains occurred on the track.

“We’re getting awful close,” said Irwin, briefly pausing from the interview to direct his attention toward his derailed train. “This is dangerous.”

The Warrenton-based club was formed in 1995 and provides shows for train enthusiasts throughout the Piedmont region.

Irwin believes people are fascinated with railroads because of their historic significance.

“The United States was built by railroads,” he said. “Railroads were the only means of transportation until the automobile. They are still the only method for moving heavy freight (such as) coal and grain. It’s a fascinating thing to see something move.”

Irvin sounded a train’s horn for visitors to enjoy the full experience. And he even gave out whistles to the children.

Tucked away in northern Culpeper County, Tom and Donna O’Halloran, owners of Glengary Christmas Tree Farm in Amissville, provided hour-long tours for more than 100 visitors during the two-day event.

The third generation farm was converted from a beef cattle ranch to a Christmas tree farm in 1974.

The 130-acre family farm has 60 acres dedicated to tree farming and about 40 acres filled with forestry or in hay production.

The remaining property has spacious family homes on it, including Tom and Donna’s log home, their son’s home and Tom’s mother’s home.

“We refer to the farm as the O’Halloran compound,” Donna joked Sunday afternoon.

The evergreens include: white and scotch pines, white and Colorado blue spruces, Fraser, Douglas, Concolor and Canaan firs.

The O’Halloran’s also create and sell wreaths, garland and centerpieces.

“It’s a lot of work, but we love it,” said Donna.

Last year, the O’Hallorans entered into a conservation easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to protect the preservation of their land.

The property also features walking trails, breathtaking mountain views and a portion of the Thornton River.