All-aboard… With nearly 500 feet of track, and 16 miniature trains, The Morton Arboretum’s Enchanted Railroad stands at the perfect height for kids to enjoy the scenery.
“We love having a place for kids to come during the winter and get out of the house and come here. It is so much fun for families to come at least after the holidays to just get moving again and break that cabin fever,” said The Morton Arboretum Special Events Coordinator, Gina Steele.
Kids can watch trains whip around the tracks, get interactive by pushing buttons along the two-story display to see lights shine bright, or get their favorite train chugging along. They may even see familiar sights from the arboretum like a mini size troll.
It’s all the work of the LGB Model Railroad Club of Chicago, who’ve been setting up the exhibit for 18 years. This time around, member Kevin Kell brought out a set of his own trolleys.
“I’ve been a serious model railroader since 1974. My wife gave me a train set for our first Christmas together and she’s paid the price ever since,” said Kevin Kell, Coordinator of LGB Club Member of Chicago .
The exhibit is free with admission but you’ll need a timed ticket to get in. New this year, sensory friendly times were added for kids who may be sensitive to the sights and sounds of the exhibit.
“It’s just a way where we kind of keep the lights down a little bit, keep the sound down a little bit, and keep the capacity down to a minimum so folks can enjoy. They can put headphones if it’s a little over stimulating and it’s a great for every child to be able to explore the exhibit,” said Steele.
These G-Scale trains run electrically and are durable enough to withstand indoor and outdoor environments… And even the littlest hands.
Naperville News 17’s Antonia Acuna reports.
