If this had been real

You would have seen a video of Eric's Jazz band.  OK, I will explain.  For some time now I have not been able to load a video to the blog. I just tested and now it works!  Your looking at the Cumberland Crossing on Rt 9. (Amtrak goes through there).  I want to go to Eric's Steam up (May 11th) and I am glad to see that this is working.

From Art Handman

April 26, 2013

Help NARP Grow on National Train Day

Saturday, May 11 will mark the 5th annual National Train Day--a date chosen to mark the anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike in 1869 to complete the first Transcontinental Railroad and to celebrate trains and their many contributions to American life.

This year, Amtrak is sponsoring National Train Day festivities at 97 Amtrak stations across the country, and there will be several other observances at stations, excursion railroads, rail museums, and elsewhere. These events provide one of the year's best opportunities to spread the word about the vital work that NARP does to preserve, improve and expand passenger train service, and we need members like you to help us do that.

Below is a list, organized alphabetically by state, of stations where National Train Day celebrations are being held this year (italics indicates an event not sponsored by Amtrak).

You can also click here and locate your city on the map to find more information, including the event's hours.

If you're available on May 11, please email us and let us know which city you'd like to volunteer in. We'll make sure you have NARP brochures and other giveaways to hand out.

Make up a story

I have had this happen on my railroad.  To a GP7 type diesel.  I ran it out of a tunnel onto a siding and threw the switch behind it to quickly. Ooops! I guess someone must have done something similar.  If no one was hurt, then I think it is kind of funny.  Anyway, I just came across the picture and I have no idea of what the real story is.

Scott  came up with the best comment on this picture:  Who was it who said, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”


I do remember doing this with my engine.  It ran great, right down both tracks!  I shut it off before it reached the switch at the other end, but I bet it could have been all straightened out.

Nice looking bridge

This is more of a light hearted post.  I am not even sure that is the right bridge.  But it is cool looking and in the right area.  Here is a link to more info.  about the Niagara Cantilever Bridge.   That was a good story and we may never hear any more about it because nothing sensational happened.  I say hats off to the Royal Canadian Mounties.  I have always loved them.  I don't know why, I guess it is just those great looking uniforms.   Anyways, congratulations Canada.  Thank you.

News from Canada

Thwarted terrorism plot may have involved passenger train over Niagara River.

Royal Canadian Mouted Police make arrest

Video clip of announcement

The Evolution Series Locomotive - GE

Denneth Lee sends us a link to some information about the latest locomotive being built by General Electric.

To take a look, please click here:

An email from Paul Smith

Thanks Paul for the info, I will be happy to post this for you. If anyone wants Paul's address please leave a comment and I will send it to you.  Thank you.

  Hi John,

I joined the 470 Railroad Club several years ago and I was wondering how many other MGRS members are also a member of this group. The 470 club coordinates an annual trip from North Conway to the Notch each Fall. I did the trip two years ago and got a seat in the observation car which was spectacular. It's a special day-long trip for the club (which owns some of the locomotives and rolling stock) with a stop along the way at a cider mill. They also do a couple of stops with "run by's" for the fans. A ticket in the observation car is $80.00. They also have regular coach and first class tickets with meals. They stop for a couple of hours in the Notch so that people can visit the AMC center if they want.

The trip this Fall is Saturday, October 19th. As of this week, they still had plenty of tickets available for the dome car which offers great views of Frankenstein trestle and the cliffs. I thought you might like to post that in the blog.

Dues for the 470 Club are just $18.00 per year. (www.470rrclub.org)

Paul Smith

How does 500 feet of track sound?

  Amidst all the bad news of late (I grew up as a kid that lived right beside the finish line on Newbury St in Boston and remember how much fun it was to see the Marathon runners come in.)  So, as a distraction to real events I decided to work on our possible total track requirements and sketched in a trolley and sawmill rail line to see how much we were talking about.  I came up with 470 feet of track.  When you add in the Circus and the Lionel lines it puts us up over 500 feet!  

   The totals sound impressive for our 4th year at the Mall.   A large oval 40 by 36 feet.  A possible 5 levels of display operating eleven trains and seven interactive displays!   All in Center Court occupying an area of 1,453 sq feet of Mall space.

  Here is link to a draft of possible track plan.  

Going Once, Twice, SOLD !!

  Spring Cleaning?  Hold on to those items.  Bring them to the MGRS Annual Auction.
The auction is one of the best fun(d) raiser's we have.  A highlight of the annual meeting this year to be held on Saturday July 13th.  

From Eric Schade

John--

Last week I took the train on a road trip to several interesting places.

Departing the main terminal at Winnegance and proceeding to freind's layouts and the East Coast Large Scale Train show in York PA was a fun week of train play.

I made some videos of the trip:
through train ride: http://youtu.be/InLPAaaat8U 
ECLSTS at York: http://youtu.be/qPGyvK56TGI


Thank you Eric.  These are excellent videos.  Wow, it looks like your little engine really had a great adventure! 

Railroad Logo's and Links

Here is a list of all the unusual Railroad Logo's and Links you should ever want.  You will be surprised at all the railroad information you have available with just one click!  Try it out  CLICK HERE:   and keep clicking on individual Logo's of interest.  Explore and enjoy!

Note: This is an amazing collection of information.  It demonstrates the power of the Internet's  capability to help organize data.  There are hours of interesting things to find.

Stop, Look and Listen

A Tall Tale

Model Railroaders have a great imagination!   Here is a story which is a humorus example of that.   NHGRS member Scott Suleski reports  the gory details of an "accident' at the Milford Train Show.   

Tiny showed me how to find this on the NHGRS web site.  Thank you to Tiny for his good nature and thanks to Scott for his photos and creativity!

Part-1

Part-2   

National Train Day - Please click here to learn more:

National Train day Website

Here is a snapshot of events in Portland and Brunswick

Click on images to enlarge

No Fooling the turkeys are back.

Hello April,  There will be one more turkey out there pretty soon!  I was enjoying opening day of baseball on TV and looked out and saw a dozen of my buddies out side .  The next warm day, I am headed out to clean up the track and join them.