Halloween Costume: Train Engineer Redux

2007: Our First Engineer 

2013: Engineer #2 runs to catch up
with the big kids and candy!

Momma bragging moment: Take a look at my youngest decked out as a train engineer for trick or treating tonight. Of the three costumes we needed to assemble this year, it was the easiest since this outfit is exactly what his big brother wore at the same age. I couldn't help but be sentimental remembering the first time this ensemble hit the streets, worn by someone who thought he was supposed to share the candy in his bucket with the people who opened the doors. (Aww...) Even though it was almost impossible for this little guy to keep up with the rest of our speedy group, he was determined to carry his own bucket and walk to every house. The rain didn't stop the big kids and it didn't stop our little engineer, either. The only thing he didn't like about the day was mom's insistence on taking pictures (He hates cameras -- too much flash in the eyes). He didn't really understand why he couldn't eat candy as soon as it was given to him, either, but really, who doesn't want to dive in to that glorious loot right away! 

So, let's hear it for the easiest, guaranteed-smile producing costume for a toddler boy: train engineer. One pair of stripped overalls, one engineer hat, one cozy fleece shirt and one snug red handkerchief. Done and happy. He even kept the hat on his head!

(By the way, the Union Pacific patch that appeared on the overalls the first time around has since been relocated to at least two other, larger overalls. Not everything gets passed down to Little Brother!)   

Pumpkin Farm Train Rides

Image courtesy of nuchylee
 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The clock is running out on opportunities for pumpkin farm fun this season. Most farm and orchard activities wrap up this weekend or run just through October 31. To find just the right last minute afternoon outing or day trip for your family -- with train ride options, of course! -- try these links:

"Looking for a Great Pumpkin" -- This Sun Times article offers a multitude of suggestions. Do a page search for "trains" and plenty of ideas appear, including All Seasons Apple Orchard in Woodstock, Dollinger Family Farm in Channahon, Harms Farm Garden Center in McHenry, Johansen Farms in Bolingbrook, Kuipers Farm in Maple Park, Randy's Vegetables in Sleepy Hollow and Siegel's Cottonwood Farms in Crest Hill. Take a special look at the steam train rides offered during the weekend at the Dollinger Family Farm. For $3, riders get a ride the rails on a real mini-steam train. 

Pumpkin Patches and More: Trains appear at Yaegers Farm Market in DeKalb, Anderson's Fun-E Farm in Plainfield, Stade's Market in McHenry,  All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock, Royal Oak Farm in Harvard,  Tom's Farm Market in Huntley, Konow's Corn Maze in Homer Glen, and Settlers Pond Shelter in Beecher. The Royal Oak Express at Royal Oak Farm offers a ride for parents and kids on a miniature replica of a 19th century train. Rides are $2.50. 

Make it Better:  A crisp, clean site with orchard suggestions for Northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. 

University of Illinois Extension: If you would like to head beyond the Chicago area, here's a good resources for farms in other areas of the state. 

Illinois AgFun Another list of Illinois pumpkin patches. 

Be sure to call ahead before you go to be sure your farm destination is still open! 

Deerfield: Halloween Hoopla

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There is just one more weekend before Halloween and it will be filled with so very many local family activities. For those in the Deerfield area with young ones, head over to the Jewett Park Community Center for the annual Halloween Hoopla. Thanks to one of the event's sponsors, Koenig and Strey Realtors, a trackless train will be on hand for rides, as well as inflatables and other activities, too. Other activities will include visits by costumed characters, hay rides, crafts, face painting, balloon twisting and games. Kids are encouraged to come in costume. Activities are scheduled for the evenings of Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26 and Saturday afternoon. Check the park district's website for a complete schedule of activities and times. 

Jewett Park Community Center is located at 836 Jewett Park Drive, Deerfield. 

Union: Illinois Railway Museum

The signal collection at the Illinois Railway Museum
has always been a favorite spot for our family

In a new entry in the Best Ways to Keep Mom from Saying Goodnight contest that my oldest seems to run nightly, my train guy was studying an old calendar from the Illinois Railway Museum and trying to make me guess what events different colors represented. Since I found it easy to resist getting lured into a conversation about last year's activities, the procrastination was cut short. It did remind me, though, that the Union museum still has a few activities for visitors this year. If your schedule permits a drive out into the country, IRM is a great destination. On any visit, kids will love the train rides and seemingly endless cars and engines to explore. Special event days make the trip even more fun. 

Coming up this weekend (October 26-27), kids in costume will be able to take home treats from the Railway Museum's Trick or Treat Trolley event. Their website promises "free pumpkin and snack for  kids." It's a regular fare event of $10 for adults and $7 for kids, with a $38 family maximum. The grounds are open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. 

For those who are older (at least 13) and enjoy being super scared this time of year, save Friday and Saturday night for the Terror on the Railroad Haunted Event. This runs from 7 till 11 p.m. for $13 or $18, depending on how much fear you'd like to cram into your evening. Check the link above for full details. 

Things calm down at the museum in November, although work is always being done behind the scenes. (Check IRM's blog to see some of those repairs and improvements.) The 2013 season ends with Christmas spirit during the first two weekends in December. Guests of the Happy Holiday Railway will be able to enjoy a wintery train ride and visit with Santa and the elves. Check with the museum for details and availability as holiday programs tend to sell out well in advance.

The Illinois Railway Museum is in Union, Illinois. For directions, click here. 

Mt. Prospect: Hoot! Hoot! Express train at Howlin' Halloween

Image courtesy of supakitmod
at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Halloween train alert! This Saturday, October 19, visit the Mt. Prospect Park District's Lions Recreation Center for their annual  Howlin' Halloween event. The kid-friendly activities include rides on the Hoot! Hoot! Express. This colorful, trackless train is just right for the youngest railroad fans. Kids are welcome to come in costume and enjoy all the festival's activities, including kids' games, crafts, face panting, hay ride, pumpkins and live entertainment. Edible goodies will be available, too. (Take a look at the park district's website for photos from last year's event.) Everything happens between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Kids' tickets are $4. Adults get in free! 

The recreation center is located at 411 S. Maple St., Mt. Prospect. Call (847) 632-9333 for more information. 

South Elgin: Pumpkin Trolley (and the very scary Terror Trolley)

The Pumpkin Patch (a few years back)

Crisp fall weather and the gorgeous leaves of the Fox River Valley mean its time for the annual Pumpkin Trolley. This weekend and next, Oct. 12-13 and Oct. 19-20, visitors to the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin can enjoy a stop at the pumpkin patch during the trolley's run from the museum grounds to the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve and back. The trains run from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at regular prices.

A pumpkin to keep!

The museum will also be presenting the spooky side of the season Oct. 19 and 26 with the Ghost Story Train and the Terror Trolley. Just a very few seats remain for the Ghost Story Train, but plenty of brave souls can reserve seats on the Terror Trolley. The Ghost Story Train is appropriate for all ages. Only junior high-age students and older should attempt the Terror Trolley. Check the museum's website for additional details and to reserve tickets. Tickets for both events are $13.20 per person for all ages and will be available to pick up on the evening of the event. S'mores are included at both programs!

Here's a post I wrote last year about Trolley Fest at the Fox River Trolley Museum. 

Mundelein and Highland Park: Spooky Train Run

Get in the Halloween spirit this weekend with a visit to Mundelein as the North Central O Gaugers present their Spooky Train Run at the Fremont Public Library. Trains will be running 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 on the library's second floor. The youngest guests are welcome to also visit the wooden train table in the youth services department's program room from 10 till 4:30  for their own train-driving fun. The monthly Friends of the Fremont Library book sale will be taking place during this time, too.

The O Gaugers will put on another Halloween-themed  run October 26 at the Highland Park Public Library. "Spookytown" is an eagerly anticipated annual event. The library promises that some visitors will have the opportunity to drive a train and earn a "NCOG Honorary Jr. Operating Engineer" certificate. Trains run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Highland Park's library friends group book sale will also be open for business on this day.

(As an aside, I have to say how absolutely delightful it is to know that there are so many other families who also love spending a Saturday watching trains and picking out books!)

The Fremont Public Library is the North Central O Gaugers home base, so set aside future second Saturdays of the month to visit the layout in action. (They do take off in November but will be back in town Dec. 14.) Club members also take their traveling layout to other libraries throughout the area, so check their detailed website for a calendar of events. While you're waiting for Saturday to get here, also check out their numerous videos of past layouts.

If the northern suburbs aren't right in your backyard and you're wondering if it's worth making the trip, note that the O Gaugers received a 2012 Honorable Mention from model railroad company MTH's Blue Comet Awards. The awards recognize clubs who excel in promoting the O-gauge model railroading hobby. Only eight clubs from around the nation (and Switzerland!) were honored, so it's safe to say, a drive to see one of the O Gaugers' layouts will be worth the effort.

Glencoe: Chicago Botanic Garden's "Trains, Tricks & Treats"

I have a special place in my heart for the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe because it was there that my husband asked me to marry him. We were there the day after Christmas for that special event, but it's always a treat for us to visit in any season to see how the plants of the many gardens change with the seasons and the special events featured in such a beautiful setting. Autumn is a can't-miss time to go. 

In honor of Halloween, the Chicago Botanic Garden is decorating in especially spooky fashion in the delightful Model Railroad Garden. On October 19 and 20, young ghosts and goblins may visit in costume and trick or treat amid the train tracks.  "Tricks, Trains and Treats" happens from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. and full details -- there is an entry fee -- can be found at http://www.chicagobotanic.org. 

If you can' t make it to the Model Railroad Garden for the Halloween treats, be sure to visit before October 27, when the garden closes for the season. 

Expect fall color and spooky scenes during
the Model Railroad Garden's
"Trains, Tricks & Treats"
at the Chicago Botanic Garden