Train Video

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If you watch all of this you should have all the trains and whistles you need for a year.  Of course that begins again tomorrow.
 

New video from Eric

  Eric said "I learned how to give voice to my little steamers!  watch and listen as I run trains outside on my Winnegance and Quebec railway to the sounds of the full size thing on the WW&F railway museum."     Whisltles in the Woods

We are pretty amazing.

   I don't know how we do it.  I do remember contacting Doug Johnson whose name I found on some little scrap of directory of train clubs buried on the Internet back in December of 2008.  He said he was going up to South Paris to do a train display.  So I went up to meet him. He was nice and I asked him how to build an outdoor RR.  He invited me to join and I went to the Spring Meeting where our first BOD was formed. Little did I expect that 4 years later we would be hosting the longest running model train display at what I believe is the best facility we could ever find in Maine.  And, doing it for the 3rd year in a row!  Each year more people become involved and the display becomes bigger and better.  I truly don't know how we do it.   I mean we are not a large organization.  But we manage somehow to bring together enough volunteers to pull this off and we enjoy doing it!  How is that possible?  I guess we are just lucky!  The Maine Mall is part of a giant Corporation but they treat us, and we feel, just like family.  The Security guards, the Food Court people, the Service people, the Management people all provide a friendly welcome environment for us.  The biggest return we receive is smiles of appreciation, little children's excited faces, words of thanks, and all from people we never met before.  Stories, questions, comments, all favorable.  Think about it, we are Lucky to be part of this!  It is great, it comes at the perfect time of the year, lasts a long time and is in a great location offering all the conveniences we need.  Plus it provides a continuous flow of people who are interested to see what we are doing. That is the secret ingredient, PEOPLE!
   Speaking of people, this year something new happened.  Fourteen members and family members combined to produce the greatest volunteer fund raiser in MGRS history which was charity gift wrapping at the Mall.  It was the ladies which showed us how to do it.  They organized themselves into efficient teams and did a fantastic job!  And, all without any help from us train guys.  Wow, all we can say is THANK YOU and we hope we can learn from your bonding experience.  Perhaps some of the bonding you have done may lead us to something different as an organization.  Who knows?    We do have a Spring Meeting and lunch coming up.  Perhaps we can discuss some new ideas for this summer.  Train rides, trips, activities.  We earnestly want to engage more members and family members, particularly those that live farther away or cannot participate at the Mall with ideas that they can enjoy during the Summer time as we join together in other types of event activities.  The Mall is great, but we do have 10 other months in the year and we want to include as many people as possible in other things that we do. Who knows what we will think of. As a group: We are pretty amazing! 

New Helicopter View of Train Display

 This is pretty cool!  I had not seen this before and so I had to post it up on YouTube.   These are never before-seen views of our train display we just completed yesterday.  Mike told me he saw the helicopter radio control operator maneuver around  get on the other side of the tree in the center of the layout which blocked the radio signal and caused him to "crash".  It landed in the soft snow blanket and no damage was done.  I would have loved to seen the actual flight.  The picture is very clear and you can hear the sound of the helicopter engine.   To see the video please click here:

Clean Sweep

Poof!  In less than 4 hours the dynamic clean up team had completely stripped and moved out everything belonging to MGRS from Center Court!  Keith was standing by ready for the Mall phase which he plans to complete in the next 48 hrs.  Yes, it is always sad to see it end but,  all the talk was about what we could do to make it better for next time.
 A special thank you today to Art, Carl, Dennis, John, Mac, Mike, Norm, Paul, Scott and Tiny.
And everybody else too that supported the display. Thank you from Maine Garden Railway Society.
Well done.

Last Day for this year.

Merry Christmas from the Mall!   The final day has arrived for the 2012 display.  

     Carl wants to say a 'Big Thank You' to all the members and family that helped make this year successful.  Thank you to all the gift wrappers, and family members that contributed their time to make this the best year MGRS has had at the Mall!

Each year we improve and yes we are looking forward to 2013.  All-a-board!

Excellent photos from Scott

Thank you Scott!    These are some recent pictures from Scott which he has posted on an album which we can access by clicking on the link below:
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Sunday 12-23 at theMall

 Mike, Preston, James, Norm and Suzanne were enjoying the sunny day in Center Court.  The crowds were big, Santa and the gift wrappers were busy.  Keith stopped by and complimented us on the display this year.  Here is an interesting idea he told me about decorating next year.  The main deck will be grass instead of snow.  The snow will be used on the upper levels similar to Maine's higher elevations which get snow.  That is good for several reasons.  First, the public will instantly recognize  a change from prior years,   plus it is easier to decorate with and no more snow blanket in our engine and wheels!  The Mall will use an AstroTurf type product  and it opens up some more diorama possibilities.  There will still be snow in the mountains and on the ski slopes.  Mike suggested a Maine seacoast harbor scene  with lobster traps, a light house using the glass water we used this year. Maybe a tug boat at a dock.  That type of thing.  I think that has a lot of very good possibilities!   Flashback ( I remember using brown colored pieces of broken material that looked just like Maine's rocky coast to model my Lionel layout with).

The trains were all running well!  See the short video below:

Young man from Kennebunk wins Thomas

  Carl called from Mall.  They decided to pick the winner tonight.  Stefanie emptied all the slips into a big box and Norm mixed them up.  Santa picked out a winner and Stefanie notified him.  They put him on speaker phone and he was all excited to win Carl said.  He will be in to pick up his Thomas train set in time for Christmas Day!

Update from Norm ~ I heard it was actually a grandfather who won the Thomas but he will give it to his grandson.  That is Great!  Merry Christmas from MGRS!

Directly from the Mall

Here are some photos from Dick who is in today running trains.  Looks like another BIG crowd for the Saturday before Christmas. They all look like they are enjoying the trains!

Thoughts on next year

As the display winds down thoughts of how to make next years layout better begin to simmer.

1.Replace Station Masters with our own design.
   Let's build a devise that will:
     A. NOT require ANY PROGRAMMING.
     B. Will NOT burn up if POLARITY is reversed.
     C. Is capable of working with any amperage the transformer produces.
     D. Will not of itself cause a transformer to burn out.

2. Let's keep it simple.  The only adjustment MGRS Operators should make is to the individual speed of each train.

3.  Use a heavy duty master power strip with ON/OFF indicator light. We want ONE BUTTON  control of the entire layout.    With the exception of train speed no other controls should be adjusted.

4. Expand the use of ANIMATED devices that create ACTION, LIGHTS, SOUND and tie them in if possible to the Interactive Controls.

       A.  For example bring back the Firetruck with flashing lights perhaps putting out a small fire of flickering lights. 

       B.  Add the Ice skaters that move around to part of our  frozen pond scene. 

       C.  Consider a couple of automated "Carnival Rides" such as we see at local Town Fairs or Town Celebrations Days like the Yarmouth Clam Festival.  They can be slightly smaller scale. For example the Ski Lift this year was very successful!  The public enjoys the Interactive devices very much!
     
5.  Add some point to point lines for Trolly and the Saw Mill as suggested by Barry. 

6.  Carl has suggested  lowering the Thomas track below the level of the main line to make it easier for small children to see it.   That may also require some trestles or small island to support the main line as it passes over the Thomas display area.

 7.  Add moving water feature(s) to the display: 
  This offers many different possibilities:
  
    A.  A recycling water fall passing under some of our bridges.
    B.  A small pond with floating swans or small water craft moved by the circular motion created by a submersible pump gently directing the current.
    C.  A small fountain:   I used to have a G scale Park fountain with statues and lights that was really neat!  But even a small bubbling display would be very attractive. 

8.  Add some real LIVE plant life.  Within easy reach for occasional watering. 

9. Add some accent lighting perhaps with changing colors like some of the inexpensive Garden accessories we have in our own gardens in the summer time that are solar powered.

10. Your turn - write down your thoughts today!  Leave comments or email mgrsadmin@gmail.com
THANK YOU!

12-21-12

Rain & Wind Outside - But still nice and cozy inside.  Today Hunk was the man! In fact the only man.
Some how it worked out that he was alone on the display today and he just took care of it all!  Nice going.  After lunch people started arriving and he did have company as he stayed on the evening shift with Paul and Terry. I think Walter is also planning to come in.  I stopped by to pick up some trains and when I left the wind was really strong outside!   After I got home the power dipped a couple of times.  But as far as I know the Mall stayed nice and bright, just the way we like it. By the way, Thank you Stefanie for arranging all the free coffee at Starbucks!  Today was a good day for it.

Thurs- 12/20/12

Here are pictures from Art on all the activity yesterday.  It was a very busy day!  Lots of people stopped by, particularly as our schedule has become condensed into its last week.  It was great to see Frank and Janey Howard stop by as well as Peter Crimonese and Hunk, Paul, Walter, James, Art, Carl and Norm!  Paul brought in his White Pass Railroad snow blower car.  See photos below:
Happy Holidays everyone!
Click images to enlarge size

Maine Mall video for 2012 Train Display

Sent in by members Bill & Robin Goodrich.

Thank you for making another great video!
To view Please click here:

In the News -

Railroad Mud slide video - To view click here:

 

Winding down

 

   Hard to believe we are in the last days of the Mall display. I know we cut back a few days but still the time just seemed to fly by.  So, here is a final look for this year at one of my favorite trains.  Tiny's Number 470 Maine Central passenger train.  It completed its final run of the year yesterday.

Blog Alert !! Our train display needs to end early!

  Carl just called from the Mall with some important news.  The train show needs to be cut back 6 days.  Clean up will start right after Christmas day.  8am on Dec. 26th we will start to take down the layout.  Everything needs to be moved out of Center Court and stored out back so that the Mall will be able to take down the platforms and clean up so they can rent the area out.

I am sorry to say that we had to cancel 19 people who were originally signed up from Dec 26 to Dec 31.  However, if you check the schedule there are some openings in the evening on what has now become the last week.  If possible, you are invited to re-schedule.

We are sorry to have to cut back the display time but it is also good to know that there are businesses who need the space and who are anxious to be ready to go at the start of the year!   



Thank you VERY much for your participation. And by the way, we have been officially invited to return back to the Maine Mall next year. 

Aerial bridge view

  I enjoy looking at the birds eye view of the layout.  Tiny's bridge looks great and I noticed the way they were able to cut the snow blanket back from the track.  Painting the riser top white makes it blend in well and I think it looks good.  

Nice Job Gift Wrappers!

THANK YOU!   To all the ladies who combined their efforts to help raise money to benefit MGRS.  
You worked hard and you did a terrific job.  We really do appreciate what you have been able to achieve and we certainly know that we could never have done it without you.  Thank you!  

Trains In A Mall ~ An Aerial View

   Here is the video I shot last week. Hope you enjoy it. The music is original, written for the video. I'll drop a DVD at the Mall in the next day or so. It was a lot of fun to make - almost as much fun as seeing what you folks come up with each year. Best - Jim Alberty 

Please Click here to see the Video!! 

"A Great Video ~ Must See"
Click on image above to watch.

Big Saturday at the Mall

Wow, there was a lot going on today at the Maine Mall.  I will try to keep adding to this post over the evening but to start here are some videos:

  

It was a very Festive Atmosphere!  There was a concert going on very near us put on by "The Boy Singers of Maine".  That lasted 2 hrs and was very good.  Plus being a Saturday, the crowds were large and Santa Claus was busy as well as lots of train viewers.  Luckily there were lots of MGRS members on hand to help out.  I know Art was in earlier and Dick, Scott, Terry and Hunk with added muscle from Jake and Ben were in the AM crew and Carl, Paul, Dave, Norm for the PM shift.  So many guys with Vests, It was Awesome!

Here is an unusual "high angle" view taken from the temporary stage erected for the concert:

 Plus it was MGRS Gift Wrapping Saturday.  There was at least ten generous members, family or friends that donated their time to help raise money for MGRS who came in today.  I only have some of their pictures below:  

Thank you so much for all the effort. Just today I think the following people were in donating their time:  Suzanne,  Denise, Kris, Morgan, Sue, Pat, Maureen, Trish, Ann, Rachel.
We hope you had fun, You were all Fantastic!  


 Here is a great video sent by Dick while at the Mall today!  The California Zephyr in G scale.  Thanks Dick, I love the look of that train!

  A train like this was called the "Flying Yankee" and ran 750 miles a day, six days a week starting from Portland to Boston to Portland to Bangor to Portland to Boston and returning to Portland.  

Here is Paul Corbett and his "Double-header" Steam engined freight train.  

The Boys were there too!

Also big Thanks go out to Hunk, Andy, Paul, Jim, Carl and Mac and others that I missed.  It was an excellent day to run trains.



Below are some short clips of Paul's Maine Central,  Jim's  street cars stopping at the new Station master stop and Carl's beautiful sounding B&O passenger train. 

Friday 12-14-2012

It was Gift wrappers Day-1 for MGRS.  Thank You!! 

Kathy, Pat, Wanda, Suzanne,Maureen, Grace, Rachel You were all Fantastic!  MGRS Thanks you all so much.

12-13-2012 at the Mall

 Thursday AM the Circus comes to town!  Norm and Art combined for the delight of all the on lookers.  One little fellow in particular made a point to say how good the trains are!  I bet you could spend the entire day just talking to one person after another, Continually! 

Grace and Dave came in for the PM shift and Art was nice enough to stay on with them.  Santa was doing well and it is definitely taking on the holiday feel.  Remember tomorrow MGRS begins a two day gift wrapping stay.  The very best wishes to all the Volunteers!




Here is one of the little guys that really loves the show.  And of course, Thomas is his favorite. 







Click on the video below for a close up look at Norm's  Circus train.

Dec 11, 2012

 Dana and Tiny look relaxed but we were pretty busy today trying to get everything running.  Luckily Jeff stopped over with his Polar Express and applying his calm approach  and electrical knowledge got us all squared away.
Thomas continued to delight the youngesters and the oldsters were equally delighted with  Tiny's sleek ME Central.  Several people said they remember riding similar trains.

    

I ran my little LGB "Garden Train" up high on the upper level and we enjoyed the day.  Art was in for a long time and he covered for everyone as we went to lunch.  He also explained some of the Lionel wiring tricks to remember.

Our regular Tuesday Team of John and Mike came in early on the PM shift and we switched over some trains and put back some of the favorites such as Carl's Amtrak and Walters LGB "Little engine that can"

Keith stopped by and said how the Mall was getting excellent feedback from everyone and this years display was very well received!


So, we are happy to hear that but the time is moving by quickly.  Thank you again everyone that is supporting the event.  You are helping to bring smiles to many many people.  Probably a lot more than you realize.  PLease click here for more pictures and video clips