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All Aboard! Lionel Train Adventure Debuts at Lincoln Park Zoo Thursday

By Kyla Gardner | October 2, 2014 2:53pm
 The trackless Lionel Train Adventure debuted at the Lincoln Park Zoo Thursday morning.
Lionel Train Adventure Debut at Lincoln Park Zoo
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LINCOLN PARK — The Lincoln Park Zoo hummed Thursday with the "choo choos" of 50 toy train whistles as kids eagerly awaited the chance to take a ride on the new Lionel Train Adventure ride.

The track-less, electronic locomotive debuted at the newly renovated West Gate as part of a partnership between the zoo and Lionel, the famous model train company.

"We've been talking about it all week, and they've been so excited the whole week. They're like, 'The train! The train!' said Ashley Matyschock, a preschool and pre-K teacher at American Kidz Academy in Lincoln Park.

 

Four-year-old Harper Rasmussen, a student at American Kidz Academy, got the chance to cut the official ribbon with student Evelyn Basken, from Lincoln Park Preschool and Kindergarten, and student Layla Budnik, from L&L Academy and Preschool.

After a tour on the train, Rasmussen said she'd definitely be riding again.

The four-car train takes passengers on a ride through evergreen trees, over a bridge and through a canyon to catch a glimpse of dinosaur fossils.

The Lionel Train Adventure "is a great way to engage the youth of today with a hobby that has been loved by so many for 114 years," said Howard Hitchcock, president of Lionel LLC.

Lionel Corporation has sold its model trains since 1900, and they're part of the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Kevin Bell, president and CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo, presented Hitchcock with a photo of the zoo's male lion Sahar, and Lionel mascot Lenny the Lion was on hand to take photos with guests.

"We get about 3.5 million visitors a year and I bet a good majority of those people will be riding on the Lionel train in the next year ahead," Bell said.

The festivities also included an elaborate train cake and model trains whirring around tracks. The first 50 children in line Thursday and through the weekend receive a Lionel wooden train whistle.

Four-year-old Hannah Lin, a student American Kidz Academy, was on the inaugural ride.

"I like it [when it] goes fast," Lin said before showing off her train whistle and being joined by three other students for a chorus of "choo-choos."

"They'll probably go in their cubbies when they get back to school, otherwise we'd hear them all day," laughed teacher Matyschock.

Rides on the train cost $3 per passenger, but will be free to zoo members through Sunday. The train will operate between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekends in October, weather permitting.

The zoo will also sell Lionel train merchandise in its gift shops and will give away a Lionel “Thomas and Friends” train set at gift shop "Wild Things" Oct 23.

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