Santa's trains bring new magic to Look Park

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - As they filed into the Garden House at Look Park Friday evening, a crowd of local children were handed their tickets to the North Pole and greeted by a cast of Christmas characters, including a jolly train conductor who asked if they were ready to see Santa.

They were all there for the opening night of Santa's Trains at Look Park, a new exhibit that has transformed the park's Garden House into a Christmas wonderland, complete with antique model trains, elves, hot chocolate, a crackling fireplace and the opportunity to meet the big guy himself.

As they entered the main hall, each child was given a list and challenged to find a dozen items hidden among eight model train displays, carefully constructed by a group of local model train enthusiasts.

Dressed in a conductor's hat and suspenders, George Reneris, of Sunderland, checked train wheels and put the finishing touches on the elaborate exhibit, funded in part by a number of area businesses and organized by the Pioneer Valley "S" Gaugers.

Sharianne Walker, vice chairwoman of the park's board of directors, said more than 100 volunteers worked together over two days to arrange the display, which is free and open to the public. It will be held every day until Christmas from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Christmas Eve from noon to 4 p.m.

"So many people contributed their time, talents and treasures to make this all possible," Walker said, adding that board members hope visiting the display will become a seasonal tradition for local families. She expects it will grow more elaborate every year.

Splitting the role of the jolly conductor at the front door Friday were City Council President David Narkewicz and Mayor Clare Higgins. The part of guest conductor will be assumed by a different city resident every day, including Gazette Publisher Jim Foudy on Dec. 18.

"This is a lot of fun for the kids, it's really beautiful, and they've done a great job with it," Narkewicz said, as he greeted children in full conductor attire and stamped the train tickets of incoming guests.

As they raced around the room looking for scavenger hunt items such as Santa wearing sunglasses, a man fishing and SpongeBob SquarePants, Jake and Jenna Baranowski, of Florence, laughed and shouted to each other as each discovery was made.

Other children waited patiently in line as Santa's personal receptionist checked to see if he was ready for them.

On display atop the Garden House's fireplace was a hand-crafted hardwood train made of oak, maple, cherry and birch created by local craftsman Harold F. Koebke, of Florence.

For more information about Santa's Trains at Look Park, residents are encouraged to visit the park's website at www.lookpark.org.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.