A group of local Lionel train collectors are currently workin' on the railroad as they prepare for the opening of the holiday toy train exhibit All Aboard: Lionels at Laman, sponsored by the William F. Laman Public Library System.

The free hands-on train exhibit from the Lionel Collectors Club of America will open Dec. 15 in the library's exhibit all at 2801 Orange St. The 12- by 14-foot exhibit consists of three main train lines with nearly 100 feet of track, model buildings from the North Pole and Snow Village collections, modern and vintage trains and many of other accessories. Children can operate the trains and accessories, providing for a more exiting experience.

To add to the holiday cheer, Laman Library is giving away a state-of-the-art Polar Express train set. The Lionel Collectors Club of America also donated a Lionel Scout Train Starter Set to be given away.

Jeff Baskin, executive director of the William F. Laman Public Library System, reflected on his love of trains as a child. "I loved putting pennies on the tracks as the big freight trains rumbled them flat. And, oh, how I envied the kids that had model trains of their own. This exhibit, which was so popular last year, puts me right back to those nostalgic days of growing up where many storefronts had Christmas scenes with model trains in them," he said. The exhibit, which runs from Dec. 15-30, will be accessible during the library's normal operating hours.