LIHUE — Scott Johnson had a surprise in the bed of his pickup truck Wednesday afternoon at the Grove Farm Homestead Museum train facility on Haleko Road. Johnson, a locomotive engineer with the museum, said he’ll have a model train
LIHUE — Scott Johnson had a surprise in the bed of his pickup truck Wednesday afternoon at the Grove Farm Homestead Museum train facility on Haleko Road.
Johnson, a locomotive engineer with the museum, said he’ll have a model train setup when the museum opens its doors to the Old Time Games event Saturday.
Serving as a fundraiser for the Grove Farm Homestead Museum and the Waioli Mission, patrons are asked for a $2 donation per person.
Admission is $8 for families with more than four children.
Doors open at 10 a.m., and Johnson said he has been asked to come up with some “train games” centered around the vintage wind-up locomotive.
“The last time this Marx wind-up locomotive was operated was two years ago in Cheyenne, Wyo.,” Johnson said while unpacking the locomotive weathered with nicks and scars accumulated over the years. “
This one is from the early 1900s. The caboose has plastic wheels and is from much later. The other cars have tin-plated wheels, which date them.”
Grove Farm Museum staff promises “an affordable day full of some real old-fashioned fun with games, races, and entertainment from the 1800s and the early 1900s.” Prizes from the era will also be presented.
The setup will include the Marx operating while a vintage Lionel set will be available for inspection atop the tunnel.
“You can’t have a train setup without tunnels,” Johnson said.
During the tour, visitors can chat with Johnson, who has an abundance of train history, including the two operating steam locomotives, Wainiha, all 28 tons in full splendor, and Paulo, named after Paul Isenberg.
Short histories of other activities taking place in the historic museum will also be posted to educate and help transport guests back to the past.
Registration for any of the games must be done at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.
A watermelon eating contest takes place at 10:30 a.m. followed by the potato sack race at 11 a.m.
At noon, a family relay race unfolds followed by the Hokey Pokey at 12:30 p.m.
Is it raw, or hard boiled? Find out at 1 p.m. when the egg and spoon race takes place followed by the pie eating contest at 2 p.m.
The day closes with the hoop and stick race at 2:30 p.m. followed by an encore potato sack race at 3:30 p.m.
Games have a $2 entry fee, booths have a $1 donation and races are free.
During the activities, guests can enjoy a magician, pony rides, a barber shop quartet and the trains. Closing time is 4 p.m.
