Veteran Collector Returns Train Man Display to Downtown Library
Michael Lavrich, 79, brought his long running Train Man model train display to the downtown Deschutes Public Library starting Dec. 20, offering the community a multitrack holiday attraction that delights children and local families. The display runs Dec. 20 through Dec. 23, and again Dec. 26 through Dec. 28, and matters because it showcases a quarter century of local commitment while providing a carefully managed, hands on seasonal event.
The Train Man model train display opened at the Deschutes Public Library on Dec. 20 and is operating through Dec. 23, then returns for a second run Dec. 26 through Dec. 28. The exhibit features five separate tracks carrying six trains, bridges, station scenery and holiday touches across a table layout that veteran hobbyist Michael Lavrich has refined over roughly 25 years with a pandemic break. Lavrich, now 79, and a team of volunteers assemble the layout using a repeatable process documented by a diagrammed table plan. They lay track first, then add transformers, followed by lighting and accessories to ensure consistent results from year to year.
The display draws families and children to the downtown library and serves as a hands on neighborhood event that emphasizes safety and reliability. Organizers schedule multiple timed sessions and limit the number of visitors per session to fit room capacity and keep close interactions comfortable. Volunteers manage operations during each session, switching locomotives and adjusting traffic to prevent crashes and to keep the scenes running smoothly. Lavrich keeps the collection in multiple storage locations year round so pieces are ready for setup without long delays.
Practical details make the event accessible. Sessions are structured to allow repeated short visits rather than open access, which reduces crowding and gives more families a chance to see the trains up close. The library setting adds accessibility for downtown visitors and for those looking for a free, festive outing during the holidays. For volunteers the display provides routine and fellowship, while for kids the moving trains and miniature landscapes provide immediate wonder.
The Train Man display is a reminder that small scale railroading can be both a craft and a community service. The setup methods Lavrich and his helpers use make it possible to transport, rebuild and operate the collection reliably, keeping the annual tradition alive for another season.
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