Train stuff: Cuckoo Clock

     File this under "Unexpected Interests." This past weekend I was flipping through the American Profile magazine that came with our local newspaper and stopped at the full-page ad for the "Golden Spike" Cuckoo Clock. Now, I'm the first to admit it: I have an image in my mind of the person who buys collectible items. First characteristic: it's not necessarily someone who saves his allowance quarters in a plastic piggy bank. I forgot for a moment that my dear 7-year old son has never seen a train, in any form, that he doesn't love. I tore the ad out of the paper and handed it to him with a,"Here's something you might like." He spent at least 10 minutes pouring over the picture reading the description, and considering where in our house the cuckoo clock should be placed. This particular item isn't just a train on a clock, but a commemoration of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. I was pleased, then, that my little guy knew that the train that circles base of the clock is the Jupiter locomotive, something he recognized from countless hours spent studying books of railroad history. Once again I was happy to see that episodes of history have become exciting to him simply because of the railroading part of the story. For now just the picture of this clock will join the many other train pictures posted on the wall of his room. You never know, though. Santa gets Christmas present ideas from so many interesting places. Our house may yet have a train tooting it's whistle at the top of every hour. 

Tinley Park: Odyssey Fun Farm's Cow Train

In my on-going quest to find the perfect combination of fall fun and railroad love, here's what's piqued my interest today: the Cow Train! Many orchards offer rides on a barrel train, which is usually a tractor pulling 55-gallon barrels hitched together. Odyssey Fun Farm in Tinley Park has taken the concept a step further with the Cow Train. No plain ol' barrels here. This "train" takes its farm location seriously with bovine-inspired, Holstein-patterned cars. 

In addition to the train and a pumpkin patch, Odyssey Fun Farm's other activities include pig races, a corn cannon, a pillow jumpy, kid zone, and a corn box (because corn is a lot less trouble to clean up from the floor of your car than all the usual sandbox sand!). There's plenty more to do and if you truly need more activities, or the weather doesn't cooperate, the farm is right next to Odyssey Fun World with ample inside entertainment options. 

Odyssey Fun Farm is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through October 27, weather permitting. Look it up on Google Earth before you go and you'll know you've found the right place by zooming in on the corn maze (although, as of this writing, last year's maze is what I saw). 

Schaumburg: iHobby Expo

As real autumn weather slowly arrives in Chicagoland, it's time to think of indoor weekend activities for the family. Keep your eyes open for (or your search engines pointed to) hobby shows around the area. For example, this weekend's iHobby Expo in Schaumburg features a free ride-on Thomas train and model train layouts in addition to plenty of other activities, such as model building and racing. Kids under 10 even get in free. (Adult admission is $12. Seniors pay $10 on Sunday only.) The show happens from 10 a.m. till 5 pm. today (Oct. 6, 2013) and tomorrow at the Schaumburg Convention Center. 

Batavia: Pete's Train at Poplar Acres

A favorite miniature train ride from north-central Illinois has a new suburban location this fall. The Waterman & Western Railroad is currently chugging away at  Poplar Acres, just west of Batavia. "Pete's Train," named for builder and owner Pete Robinson, is a  "1/4 scale model F-3 Electromotive" in bright red and yellow pulling passengers in open-air cars also built by Robinson and his team. This is Poplar Farm's first public season in over two decades, and they have plenty more activities for fall fun. For $10 guests can ride the train as well as enjoy a tractor ride, two corn mazes, three big slides, baby animals, larger farm animals and more. Individual train ride tickets are $3. Hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 pm. and Sundays from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. 

Poplar Acres is at 39 W. 100 Main Street, Batavia.  

Update: The Kane County Chronicle features a profile of Poplar Acres in the Oct. 5, 2013 edition of the paper. 

Naperville & Chicago: Pullman lecture and bus tour

For the history-loving adult railroad fan, Naperville is the place to be. Tonight North Central College professor Ann Durkin Keating will present "The Town of Pullman Lecture." The event, beginning at 7 p.m. at Naper Settlement's Century Memorial Chapel, will give attendees a look at George Pullman's model industrial town. On Saturday, Oct. 12, a bus tour leaves at 9:30 a.m. for the  40th Annual Historic Pullman House Tour.  The tour will include visits to historic homes, from modest worker dwellings to the grand mansions of company executives. 

The Historic Pullman House Tour happens only once each year, but visitors can attend on their own either Saturday, Oct. 12 or Sunday Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Contact the Pullman Visitor Center at 773.785.8901  for more details. 

To attend the Naper Settlement lecture or tour, call 630.420.6010. 

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

St. Charles: Scarecrow Fest trolley ride

St. Charles is gearing up to play host to its annual Scarecrow Fest, and getting around the expansive fall festival is as easy as hopping on the free trolley. The fun happens October 11-13, with trolley service available from 10 a.m. to 4:30 pm. One of these stops brings visitors to the "First State Bank Kids Zone" just south of the Main Street Bridge in downtown St. Charles. Activities at the kids zone will include scarecrow making, pony and carnival ride, Radio Disney and a live entertainment area. Children will also love other areas of the festival: scarecrow displays, petting zoo, car show, dog demos, pumpkin carving, ice cream eating -- the list goes on and on. So, pull up the schedule to plot your activities and your route around the fest. (There's also a handy shuttle bus to get you to and from parking lots.)

There's plenty more information about the festival online at http://www.scarecrowfest.com.

How time flies!
Here's one of my little guys enjoying the
Scarecow Fest petting zoo in 2007.