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Model Train Collection Brings Holiday Cheer This Weekend to Santa Barbara County

Model train on display at Goleta Library

A little bit of holiday cheer is happening at a library this weekend in Santa Barbara County. 

It’s the Holiday Festival of Trains at the Goleta Library, and it features the extensive model train collection of Santa Barbara resident Dave Halbeisen.

"Traditionally, from the 30s through the 50s, at Christmas time, department stores would put big layouts of trains. And everybody would come see them," he said. "For most kids, that was a big event. That's not being done anymore, so I thought I would do it."

Halbeisen's trains that date back to the 1930s chug along about 28 feet of tracks through a wintry display of people, animals and other miniatures.

He’s been doing this for more than 25 years and says he expects about 800 people to enjoy his collection this weekend.

The display kicked off on Friday. It runs on Saturday from 10 am until 5:30 pm and on Sunday from 1 pm until 5 pm. The public is invited at no charge.