Aiken Train Day event delights crowd June 14

AIKEN – Whether it is the bells and whistles, nostalgia, or just the striking appearance of them, trains fascinate many – especially children.

Trains of all sizes certainly fascinated hundreds of children and their parents, relatives, and guardians Saturday morning and afternoon at the Aiken Visitors Center during the delayed National Train Day event. The event was slated to be on May 10 but was moved forward to June 14.

Just opened to the public for the event was a restored 1918 Illinois Central Pullman car with exhibits and a model train with scenery.

 “The model train and scenery are in the Pullman car, but it is not always open to the public. We hope to have it open to the public after this event in future,” said Sam Ellis, museum coordinator at the Aiken Train Museum.

A small crowd gathered into the Pullman car to watch a model train go through elaborate scenery. Adults and children looked at and discussed the historic aspects.

“Because National Train Day is primarily a kid-centric event, it’s certainly an opportunity to have fun. There’s food, rides, model trains, etc. But, most importantly, it gets a young audience into our museum! Whether or not they’re already into trains is somewhat beside the point,” Ellis said.

Ellis said they want the children to think about the fun they have had and dig into Aiken and America’s rail history when they get a little older.

“There’s just something about trains that appeal to young people. If our program inspires even one kid to take up modelling, or photography, or pick up a history book, National Train Day has done its job,” he said.

Toy trains and various exhibits were available for children and their parents or guardians.

Hezeki Holmes, a young child present with his mother and playing with toy trains on the first floor of the museum, said the little train ride outside was fast and that was what he liked about it.

Raine Watson, another young child who was playing with the toy trains alongside her mother, said she enjoyed playing with the trains but also wanted to ride on the train ride outside.

The train museum has two floors. The Glasgow family looked at one of the interactive exhibits on the second floor of the museum, including a model of a rail line that ran on to Blackville.

Several of the family members said they had frequented the museum before the event.

Special to the event at the museum was a well-known local children’s entertainer, retired librarian, and educator.

Donning a conductor’s hat in front of the museum, Jo Lize also known as “Mother Goose” enthusiastically told the story of “The Little Engine That Could” with various props and gave out themed coloring sheets. Lize was a children’s librarian for 30 years and has been reading aloud to children for at least 40. After she would read to the children, she promoted a visit to the Aiken Public Library.

With her puppet, Muffin the Moose, Mother Goose said, “If you give a moose a muffin, he’s going to want to eat more muffins. If you give Mother Goose a story, she is going to want more stories.”

Young children Greyson Clark and Mallory Clark sat enraptured as Mother Goose read the story of “The Little Engine That Could”.

Mother Goose enacted the train’s wheels’ motions with her arms and encouraged the children to do the same as she said, “I think I can. I think I can.”

Greyson said he enjoyed the story and also liked the train ride where he could hear the bell ring. Mallory also said she liked the train ride.

The little trackless train ride that started at the museum and went around the park and near a real-life, climbable parked caboose drew many during the event.

“National Train Day is important for a modern audience because it’s a springboard for education; lots of people, kids in particular, like trains because they’re big, loud, and powerful,” said Ellis.

“But, just as often, the modern perspective on trains is that they’re a nuisance. Folks gripe when a train blocks a crossing temporarily, when, really, they should sit there in awe. Trains are emblematic of the best of American endeavors, and, when Amtrak first created the holiday in 2008, I think that was the message they were trying to convey.”

Children also painted model railroad scenery at the event.

The Aiken Model Railroad Club had an exhibit at the event as did Operation Lifesaver: Rail Safety Education which gave out coloring books and cardboard conductor hats along with rail safety information. A few food vendors were present as well and a “Freight Yard Sale” was happening inside the museum as a fund-raiser.

Barnwell, S.C. author Ron Baxley, Jr. is a social media manager for Paula’s Family Restaurant in Bamberg, South Carolina, a correspondent for Augusta Good News, and a graphic novelist and screenwriter who is currently writing a series set in a small Southern town which he has codenamed “Project Neon.”