The "Bark Park"

That is not the full name. I will have to take a picture of the sign that is over the entrance to Carl and his neighbors network of trails and displays. But, for short I think it is OK to refer to it as the "Bark Park". A beautiful flower planter made of large logs is a recent addition as well as the sign post which is based on the original road sign near the Town of Bethel, Maine on Rt 5. I remember stopping there to take pictures of it many years ago. The neat thing about the sign in the "Bark Park" is that it has been done in reference to where it stands, right there in Buxton. The designers used Google Earth to obtain new reference point to measure the distance! How cool that it.
For those who want to see the Bethel sign: click here.

Expanding my Layout

Click image to view, Use Back Arrow to return


This is why I enjoy model railroads of any type. Looking forward to something new! When we first moved in, I was down in the basement with Keith my son in-law and I said pointing to the back wall, along here is where the track will go and over there will be a big trestle with a mountain and a waterfall from the ceiling all the way down to the floor. When I set the track at the level of the windows and had those two little sections of track aimed outdoors, I did not know what it would lead to, but what fun it was to think about. Looking forward to your next project big or small particularly if it is a G-scale project is just great enjoyment.

So, that window which leads outside ended up going to something I labeled Area-1. The 90 degree crossing is what I have always wanted to do to automate two trains running without hopefully crashing into one another.

This is still a long way from becoming a reality but it is now within much better sight. I have not ordered any loam or fill yet, but the hard part (which is the wall itself) of building what I hope to be a garden terrace area with lots of nice flower beds etc is nearly complete. By that I mean 'the wall part' is nearly complete. I have enjoyed the 'digging in the dirt' playing around with the rocks and cement blocks and the 1-1/2 stone which is very heavy to work with. Plus, I pretty much do work the old fashioned way with hand tools. I figure it helps me to exercise and as I said, I really enjoy it a lot. I don't know when any track will go down. I am sure it will be next year before any track crosses the walkway and goes into Area-2. But that is exactly the whole idea, something to look forward to and dream about.

Take a look at a short slideshow of the project to date. click here;

Wardwell Retirement Home Special Event on Thurs. Aug 27, 2009 at Maine Garden Railway Society

It was a great day to hold a special event for the Wardwell Retirement Home from Saco, Maine. Trains were running well and the folks were having a great time exploring all the things to see around the property. I know for sure a deer was sighted out on the back trails bounding through the woods.
Carl's latest addition to the fleet is a limo style People Carrier! It is great but we still like the Golf Carts because they are very quiet running. Traffic was moderate out in the 'Bark Park' today as occasionally vehicles met on the trails.

The weather was perfect, lunch was great and Pat's doll collection was also a point of interest as well as Carl's buildings, ponds, waterfalls, and the trains themselves. Special thanks to Scott, Walter, Ralph, John and of course Carl & Pat and to all the folks from Wardwell who made today a special event for all of us.

Friends of Ivan & Gerry sent them this video link to the worlds most elaborate model railroad.
We have seen it before, but it is worth another look. Over 800 trains, is what I thought I heard the announcer say! Amazing.
Thanks for passing it along.

Take a look for yourself, click here:

Conrad "Doc" Hill

Doc Hill did love trains. His basement in Westbrook was filled with them, in scales from HO to O to G. Here's Doc during a visit a few MGRS members made to see his trains a couple of years ago. His son's magnificent model of the Portland station is behind him. I don't remember anyone who had a greater love of trains. Heaven knows where, but let's hope Doc is happily riding one right now.

We are sad to announce the passing of 'Doc' Hill

MGRS members were saddened to hear of the passing of our oldest member, know and loved by many. Conrad N. 'Doc' Hill, 86, of Cumberland Street, Westbrook, passed away Thursday at St. Joseph Manor. He was born in Westbrook, where he was raised and educated, the son of Merle and Albertine Duchaine Hill. He served in the Army during World War II. Conrad worked at S.D. Warren Paper Co. for 37 years before retiring. He was an active member of St. Mary's Church, now St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Westbrook. He was a member of the St. Mary's Charismatic Prayer Group. Conrad also had a passion for model trains; He was a member of the Maine Garden Railway Society and the Four 70 Railroad Club., as well as a member of the Westbrook Historical Society. He was married to K. Lorraine Stack Hill who passed away in 1982. He was also predeceased by a son James Hill in 2003. Conrad leaves behind his dear sister to whom he was very close, Irma Hague of Westbrook. A visiting hour will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St., Westbrook, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony's Church at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Hyacinth Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Animal Refuge League P.O. Box 336 Westbrook, Maine 04092 Conrad N. 'Doc' Hill

Thank You Veterans ~ It was a Great Day!

Maine Veterans Home of Scarborough visited
Maine Garden Railway Society
on Monday Aug 24, 2009.

Antique Truck Show

If you are out Sunday taking a ride, Tiny Lee recommends stopping by the Calef's Country Store at the intersection of Rt 9 and Rt 125 in Barrington, NH. Take in the 23rd Annual Antique Truck Show. Lots to see, Vendors, Firetrucks, Cars. Antique parts and a great collection of Antique Trucks from all over the Northeast. Free admission and Tiny said it's a lot of fun and they have good food there too.

Ahhhhhhhh . .Nice and Cool!

OK Guys, If you have been too hot today. Here is what you need to look at.
Video-1
Video-2

Amtrak Train Slices Tomato Trailer In Half

Our NH reporter sent me this day ago and I was very slow to post. Tiny found this train story in the New Hampshire News.

http://www.wmur.com/news/20369393/detail.htm

Under Development

OK, I always wanted to do this and now I am getting closer. This is my plan for 'Automatic Train Operation' where two trains control each other and one stops just before a crossing to allow the other to pass by safely. It should work fine and the infra red controller (I called it a 'scanner' in the drawing) is very reliable and looks like a railroad accessory shack. As a train passes in front of 'the scanner' it breaks an invisible beam which sends power to the section I named 'Stop track' which will start up the train that was sitting there, it will run along track 'DD' in the drawing running parallel to the first train on track 'CC'. The two trains will run through the new part of the layout (to be built) and both return to the crossing at approximately the same time. The train which had been stopped before, now has the right of way and has the green light to go through the crossing. The train which had activated the scanner now has a red signal light and is stopped on the 'stop track' and will stay there until the other train completes the inside loop around the trestle and waterfall (not shown) and returns to start a new cycle. The trains continue to swap positions back and forth taking turns at stopping at or driving through the 90 degree crossing. Then with no more than the flip of a toggle you can shut off the scanner and power up the stop track and you are on your own with 'manual overide' and can turn power on and off to the stop track section as you wish.

A look inside modern day train travel

For those people who wonder what the inside of a modern Amtrak California Zephyr looks like I offer up this video of a trip between Denver, Colorado and Provo, Utah. Not exciting, just factual, but still looks like a nice way to travel.

Please click here to see the video

Rail Car Rides plus More!

I was just talking to some members about current photo's. These are a couple of years old but well worth taking a look at. That is our very own Denneth 'tiny' Lee in his Rail Car taken part in the July 2006 special in North Conway. It included Thomas the Tank Engine, Passenger train rides and Rail car Rides! Lots of things to eat and buy. It looks like there was even an Helicopter Fly By!
To view Slideshow Click here:

Conway Scenic - Check it out

Here is a good link to Conway Scenic. If you look under 'Photos' there are new good ones of Transformer Train. Or watch the Video Postcard. There are lots to look at. (Thanks to tiny for sending it in).
Take a look. Click Here:

BAR Snow plow Restoration Project

Here are some pictures of a BAR Snow Plow restoration project going on in Union? Wakefield? N.H.. We were riding north on 125 in NH toward Rt153 and came across this at a Station Restoration project. Privately owned . Opened to the public to view.




Obviously not the original name plate. Just a plate to let people know it's origin.

Thank you Scott & Kris

Thank You to Scott & Kris Gould for a great Open House today in Cape Elizabeth. And thank you to the MGRS Members that participated. Two dozen folks some of whom traveled long distances got together to share a beautiful day with terrific food and hospitality. (BTW the chili was delicious) It was a very good get together enjoyed by all. Scott found his A-B-A Unit that he had not used for years. All three of the units are powered by two motors. I am sure it will become a favorite again because it ran so smooth and dependably.

Stolling Through the Overlook Railway

Today was a perfect day at the Overlook Garden Railway. Here are a few more pictures to add to John Jackson's fine report on the day's events. Thanks to Carl and Pat for hosting the Gorham House, and thanks to the visitors from Gorham House for being so appreciative of our efforts to share our pastime with you.

The Gorham House visited MGRS Today

The Gorham House held a special outing today at Overlook Garden Railway in Buxton. Pat and Carl, Jeff Waring and his wife, Mac, Scott, Dick Cosgrove , John and Sophie were there to meet them and they brought in a great group of people! Carl set up a shady 'cook tent' area to house the nice looking grill he has set up out back. As soon as two of the ladies got off the bus, I heard one comment to the other about the lilies. They knew their flowers and they were impressed. I think Pat gets the credit for picking out the spectacular looking plants. The Garden is really looking great! The Trains were running and looking/sounding good. Controls were functioning perfectly, sun was shining, it was a very good day. The folks from the Gorham House made us a great lunch and served us too, thank you very much!
The best part was a dozen or more residents that came to visit. I think they really did enjoy the trip. And it's not like these folks don't go places, I mean they have a busy schedule! Thanks goes to the activity director Donna Davis who has been there 16 years. She explained all the very good things that Gorham House does to provide for their residents. One great program she mentioned is bringing in pre-school children. They are there M-F and they give residents an opportunity to make use of all those grand parent skills they have. They oversee the children in supervised periods and really help them to develop. They are called 'Grand Friends'. I would not be surprised if some day we saw some of the children on a visit of their own, who knows!

I met a very nice man named Forest. We talked about the old Lionel trains that we used to have. He said, well I am older than you and I remember one that I had to wind up. (I think I remember one also.) He said, boy those engines were heavy. Yes, they were, they don't make em like that anymore. Forest remembers liking real trains too. He told me a story about growing up in Westbrook and said he loved the old steam engines and described the 'slipping' sound they would make when straining to pull a heavy load of cars. He said one day he remembers he and his friend jumped into an empty box car and they ended up in Rigby Yard! Wow, I said did they catch you? No, he said we did not get in any trouble. Now, that is the kind of story I like to hear. One that has a good ending. Forest said "Do you like baseball?" Well, he asked the right guy! What he really meant was do you like the Red Sox? When he mentioned "the Splendid Splinter" and said that Ted Williams had missed several years due to military service, another women joined in and said " Wasn't that in the Korean War?" WWII someone said. "Both" replied Forest, settling the question to every ones satisfaction. He had a very good presence about him and I am sure he is an exceptional Grand Friend.
As they prepared to board the bus, we shook hands and told each other how much we enjoyed the conversation. But, that was typical of the visit. As the two ladies that were talking about the lilies boarded, Scott thanked them both by name. And they thanked him. You could tell they had a great time. Probably on one of the Golf Carts rides which are very popular. All the members that where there talked and joked and enjoyed the company of the residents and staff. I am sure that they all have a story to tell. Carl was of course in charge of everything and he really deserves a lot of credit for setting all this up and keeping it all going smoothly. He seems to have the right knack. Well, Thanks from all of us, Great Job. We had a great time too.

Here are the slideshow pictures from today: Click here:

Link to the Gorham House: Click here

You Can't Get There From Here

What a cool sign! Made by Carl's neighbor this is one of the sights added to the expanding network of trails behind Overlook Garden Railway. Now there are three golf carts! There is even a 4 way stop somewhere out there. Carl never goes the same way twice so you need a really big bag of bread crumbs if you are planning on finding your way back.

Flying Yankee Restoration Group - Update

The Flying Yankee Update is available by clicking here:

Weather Forcast ~ Tuesday Bright and Sunny

That is because the folks from the Gorham House are coming to visit MGRS for a special event. Trains, Gardens, Golf Cart rides, Food, Sunshine,. . . . Ahhhh "The way it ought to be". Plan to stop by, take part, extend a hand and enjoy it all yourself.

Hard to Believe

Click here and select 'Slideshow'

One of Denneth Lee's friends sent this to him. I could not imagine having all those engines hooked together. I thought it must have been a 'doctored' photo, but I do not think so. It is just amazing. Take a look at the slideshow.