By Jim Newell
Review Editor
ORION TWP. — There was a time before video games ascended to the throne of Toyland that a model train set under the Christmas Tree was the king of children’s toy dreams.
On Saturday, kids can grab their engineer hats, have their parents drive them to the Orion Township Public Library and revel in the train whistles and plastic scenery as a toy locomotive pulls its cars ‘round and ‘round the tracks.
The “All About Trains!” program at the library is from 11 a.m. to noon in the Linda Sickles meeting rooms.
Model train enthusiast Dennis Lakomy will be there with one of his Lionel model train sets.
Librarian Ashley Lehman, head of Youth Services, said Lakomy and the kids are always excited for the train display, especially since the kids get to be train conductors for a few moments.
“I know it was super popular when we had the model train set up a couple years ago. We did have a big turnout with a lot of people were waiting because Dennis will let them actually drive the train and control it themselves.,” Lehman said.
Lehman said kids will also be able to enjoy other train-themed activities during the program.
“We’re going to have different train crafts, like making a train whistle. We’re going to build the longest train we can build with construction paper, and I have some matching games for younger kids where you build a train out of certain shapes,” Lehman said.
For information on library programs, visit www.orionlibrary.org.