Published: November 22, 2008 07:39 pm         

Train exhibit takes visitors into county’s past

DANVILLE — What happens in the evenings when the lights go out at the Vermilion County Museum?

If you have a vivid imagination, you can almost see the little town in the atrium come to life — the tiny plastic people and animals go about their business, the trains chug around the tracks and the place bustles with energy.

That’s how realistic the new exhibit, “Bloomin’ Rails,” looks.

“As you walk around and look, you see more and more detail,” said Sue Richter, director of the museum, as she helped set up the pieces.

In the little town, a wedding party poses outside a church, a man eats his lunch outdoors, a sheepherder tends to his flock, passengers with baggage wait for the train, a woman walks her dogs, men lounge in front of a gas station and cars and trucks head down the roads.

A barn with livestock, cemetery, gazebo, body shop, a bank, homes, railroad trestles and even wildlife lurking among the trees add to the realism.

The model train and floral exhibit, open now through Dec. 27, is a community effort, with several groups and individuals adding their own touches.

The exhibit is set on a 32-by-12-foot platform built by Tom Day, a museum board member. It took him three days to build, Richter said.

The platform sets 3 feet up, and there’s a 2-foot border with floral decorations around the sides.

A passenger train from the 1920s or ’30s, complete with a coal car, chugs along the outer track, while a freight train delivers its goods on the inner track.

There’s even a street car that follows a shorter track.

Two time periods from Vermilion County’s past are represented on the platform — from the 1920s and ‘30s, and earlier than that. Pieces from the different eras are set up at opposite ends of the platform.

Most of the pieces belong to Dr. John and Jody Legett. However, members of the Danville Junction Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society laid the train tracks.

The floral and landscape arrangements were provided by Danville Gardens and Berry’s Garden Center and Floral Shop. Lowe’s Home Improvement supplied the materials for the raised platform.

Richter said she got the idea from the Missouri Botanical Garden, which had a model train layout and tribute to the national parks.

She decided to capture the flavor of Vermilion County and its past with an exhibit.

“I got hold of everyone to see if they could collaborate,” she said. “Everyone was excited about it.”

Just in time for the holidays, the exhibit has a Christmasy-feel about it. Tiny lights sparkle through the evergreen boughs that trim the edges and a 16-foot decorated Christmas tree rises up through the platform.

While the floral arrangements will delight plant lovers, the main focus is on the trains. Visitors will be able to take home pamphlets with historical information on railroading in Vermilion County prepared by museum intern Emily Knight and students from professor Rich Pate’s history classes at Danville Area Community College.

Other information about Danville’s railroad history will be on display.

Richter recalled the days when it was every boy’s dream to see a model train under the Christmas tree. Kids still love train exhibits, although they’re getting away from that desire to get one for Christmas.

“People never grow out of their love of trains,” Jody Legett said.

She and her husband, John — who said he’s been interested in model trains since he was 5 years old — go to a lot of model train shows and conventions.

“The boys and men can sit there for hours and stare at the trains,” she said.

The Legetts have a display — combining trains and plants — in the backyard of their Danville home, which was one of the sites featured during the 2005 Master Gardeners’ walk.

The miniature buildings, people and animals are brought inside during the winter, while the 300 feet of train tracks are left outside.

Some of the buildings and a covered bridge were made by John Legett. He was enthused about the chance to share his hobby with others, saying of the museum exhibit, “I think it’s going to be good.”

Jody does a lot of the miniature landscaping at their home display.

Visitors will pay regular museum admission to see the exhibit. However, with many families going through difficult times, Richter said she wanted families to enjoy it for the holidays. Starting this Saturday, admission to the building with the display will be free on Saturdays.

“People can sit and enjoy it,” she said.

IF YOU GO

Bloomin’ Rails, a model train and floral exhibit, is on view at the Vermilion County Museum, 116 N. Gilbert St, until Dec. 27. It’s open during regular museum hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

There will be no charge to view the exhibit on Saturdays, beginning Nov. 29 and continuing through Dec. 20.

For additional information, contact the museum at 442-2922 or check the Web site at http://www.vermilioncountymuseum.org.