A blank wall in the train room at Tel Hai Retirement Community has been transformed into a 20-foot mural depicting a scenic view of the surrounding Chester County countryside.

Painted by Tel Hai resident Loretta Gable Englerth, the mural was unveiled and dedicated on Nov. 22 by members of the Tel Hai Train Club, which uses the room to house its extensive model train layout. The display, which is located on the second floor of the StoneCroft Commons on the Tel Hai campus, features HO-, S- and O-gauge railroad cars that run through miniature communities, as well as a large G-gauge train that runs along the perimeter of the room.

During the dedication, Englerth spoke about the process of creating the mural. "My dad was a train (enthusiast), and he had a big train set in his basement. I got so inspired (when I visited the train room) here that I (realized) I had do to the mural," she said. "I (originally) drew some sketches of rolling hills and barns. I thought about what I see when I step outside this door, so I decided to put more of Tel Hai in it."

Features of the mural include a pond and farm that can be seen near the Tel Hai campus, grazing horses and cattle, an Amish farmer and his horse plowing a field, an Amish buggy and geese flying overhead. Englerth noted that her grandchildren added their own personal touches to the mural, including rabbits, a fox and a salamander that can be seen in the pond.

"My youngest grandson is into dinosaurs, so we have a skeleton of a dinosaur in the dirt. My other grandson painted the cat (to represent) the many feral cats we have here," said Englerth.

It took Englerth, who offers watercolor painting instruction at Tel Hai, about six months to complete the project. "I did it on paper first and then I drew it on the wall and then I came back and painted on top (using acrylic paint)," Englerth said. She added that varnish will be added to the painting after the club's holiday open houses.

Train club member Bob Stevens said that Englerth worked closely with club members to make sure the mural was exactly what they wanted. "It is unbelievable," Stevens said of the mural. "Everything on the mural you can see at the Tel Hai property - the farms, the houses. She added some personal items, but it's all about Tel Hai and the beautiful area we live in."

The community is invited to view the mural and train layout during holiday open houses, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17, and Thursday, Dec. 29. Admission is free.

The StoneCroft Commons on the Tel Hai Campus is located at 4000 Tree Line Drive, Honey Brook. Visitors should follow signage on campus for parking and entry instructions. For more information or directions, visit http://www.telhai.org/contact.