Lobster Boat docks in Center Court

   Today the Linda Bean Lobster Boat Cafe opened in South Portland at the Main Mall.  Carl called and said he was going in.  I thought it would be fun to see as well as give me a chance to check out the area we would be moving to for this years display.    Our area does look good.  I think it will turn out well.  So, I snapped a nice picture of Center Court and turned my attention to the ceremonies which were about to start.

  Governor LaPage, Senator Collins, and Linda Bean all spoke as many interested visitors looked on and watched the ribbon cutting ceremonies.  Look close below and you will see Carl and Dennis in the crowd.  The boat looks very good and most of the Mall management team was present and assisted in the ceremony.    

        

  We wish them success and we will be located very close to them.  Looking ahead, it should be another festive year of Holiday Trains at the Maine Mall and now all the more reason to be there.

Pencil and Paper

      I do remember as a kid I always loved drawing a railroad layout.  Graph paper and a pencil was all you needed.  It still is that way.  But if you like to play around with a computer track drawing program I did find a free one.  It is called AnyRail5 and I have been using it to help try and come up with track requirements for Carl and our requirements for the Mall.   It is kind of like Window 8.1 in that there are no easy to find instructions but once you figure it out it is pretty good.  I am using the free version which has a limit of 50 pieces of track for each picture that you do.  Here is one example.

  May 26th was the official day of recognition to honor all those valiant men and women who have given their lives in the service of our Country.  We pause to thank them and give remembrance to them.  

Time to Plant!

Wait until Memorial Day to do your planting is the advice we always hear.  Makes sense to me.  Paul Smith really loves to plant.  Look what he has done on his Bagley Mt Div of MEC.  

Paul wrote and said:    Hi John,

  A couple more photos for you:  I had ordered 25 Jean’s Dilly Alberta spurce and 5 Pixie Dust miniature trees last fall from Greencare in Hermon (unfortunately they are closing their greenhouse and nursery in June….will be doing the farmers market in Bangor in the future). We had some sun this morning, so I got into my loam stock pile, built up a mound of earth a bit, plugged the trees in, and topped it off with more rocks to create a “cut” for the train to pass through. I have used up a big chunk of my plant budget for this year with these babies, but I think it was worth it. : - )

Photo # 3 shows MEC GP-38’s 253 and 254 traveling light with two box cars through the cut.
I need to work on the stone dust for the base of the rest of the track this summer which is currently just supported by stakes and boards. My back is aching already!

Not your normal Barbecue Grills

I know it is Memorial Day Weekend and some people cannot avoid mixing barbecue grills with some of there favorite things.  Here is one for the guys that like trains and the gals that like guns.  Be careful and enjoy the weekend.

New cribbing for the Bagley Mt Division of the Maine Central RR

 Paul Smith and his wife have returned to Maine and I bet he could not wait to see his railroad!  It did not take him long to find a worthwhile project.   Here is his story and pictures for all of us to enjoy.  Thank you Paul for sharing it, your workmanship looks terrific!

Hi John,
So it stopped raining long enough today for me to mow my lawn and build a couple of sections of cribwork for my railroad. I had some sections where the stone dust ballast settled a bit over the winter. The rocks along the side of the berm weren’t stacked high enough to prevent some of the top from washing away. So, I dug out the table saw, chop saw, pin nailer and glue and went to work. The wood is from an old stock pile of western red cedar that I had stored overhead in the garage (part of my wife’s dowery 28 years ago actually). I cut the boards into 1/2” X 1/2” strips and treated them with a wood preservative that Jack Verducci had recommended to me last year. It is called Green’s Wood preservative. I bought it in a clear but it is also available in some colors (like green for wharfs). It has a 1% content of copper which is supposed to help with wood placed in the ground. These photos show the process that I used. I hope they stand up! Time will tell.

Track Requirements

Not terribly interesting right now but wait a while and its time will come.  Carl keeps a close eye on what we need and makes sure everything is on hand on setup day.  The diagram below shows each piece of track with a shorthand notation I made up.  Straight track just shows a number for its length,  Curved track shows the diameter of the curve followed by "c" for curve.

Sorry:  If its to small for you to read, right click and open in a new window or tab. 

  

Proposed layout for 2014

This year the Mall gave us as much space as possible but there were some unique dimensions to the area. It was 50 feet long by 12 feet wide with an 8 foot height restriction.  That was less area then we used last year so some adjustments had to be made but we feel all the integral parts have been retained. The result so far is the image below.    Please click on it to enlarge the view.  Thanks to Carl, Scott and Art who contributed excellent ideas and Barry and Tiny for their bridges.

  Last year we approached 15 feet in height, so  this year the Christmas tree had to be a lot lower.  Scott suggested a 10 inch platform for the tree with the idea of making it look like a room with a fireplace and the Lionel train going around the tree!  That evolved into having a background panel with Thomas and Percy lines disappearing into "mouse hole tunnels"  behind the wall.    The panel also screened off our control area and provides a nice work surface and storage for MGRS.  There will be no room for a fence this year but we will have a very comfortable space to sit in and operate out of.

 The opposite end of the layout will hold the circus train which has expanded to 8 foot curves with more space for Norm's diorama.  It will also go through a small tunnel and has been integrated with the main lines which will pass right by the circus area.

 The main lines will still be double and travel in both directions.  The North Conway Station stop and Amtrak will return.  The main line will wind down some sections of 20 foot curves passing beneath a trestle line and then separating to pass over 2 of Tiny's iron bridges and a waterfall.  A small one but with a 30 inch straight drop that might even be interactive.  

There will be space for many of Carl's favorite buildings as well as a Trolley trestle line for the Clubs new addition.  It will travel point to point over the trestle, through a short tunnel and crisscross over the main lines returning and pausing out of view before reversing its route.  On top of this will be another elevated line connecting the two highest points of the layout with Barry's 8 foot long bridge he made for the Club last year.  That will provide a small engine with a dramatic point to point crossing run.  All together we are proposing to operate up to 8 trains on 4 different levels.  The Mall is expecting us to present our layout design and construction requests for their approval after Memorial Day.   If you are aware of anything that looks like a problem,  please contact Carl.  We are looking forward to another fun season at the Mall.  Year Number Five with our Fifty Foot Layout.    Thank you!
 
Note: I discovered on my computer if I right click on image I can open it in a new tab and it will magnify the picture.

Quick Change

 I saw that stone sitting next to the crossing and said  that is perfect for weighting down my latest idea for a waterfall.  Presto, it literally took about a minute and the goldfish had a waterfall!  When I start talking waterfall you know that there is a four letter word creeping into my mind. . . "Mall" !

        Actually it works very well and the fish seem to enjoy it.  

Some Good Stuff for Sale

Happy to pass along this email from Eric:

Hello Eric.

  I remember a while ago you emailed me in regards to the Downeast
Steam Guild and the owner of the club. You mentioned that if I had
anything for sale that was large scale you'd pass the message along to
the other members in your clubs.

I'm selling my Bachmann Spectrum mogul for $300. The listing and
details are here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151303149330?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I also have a few LGB train cars I'm selling such as my 103 Jubilaums
Express jareswagen. $80 As well as my Lowenbrau van $40 (s railing is
slightly bent and it has been weathered)

 I wish I had an opportunity to see your garden railway. I've been a
subscriber to GR magazine for a while now and I really like your
layout and the articles you write for it. I'm in the process of
building my new railroad here in Rockland, should come out nice.

Thank you again!

sincerely,

Caleb

An invitation from Eric Schade

It is spring here in Phippsburg and the line is awaiting you!  I am hosting the first official outdoor steamup of the season  this Saturday the 17th from 10-4.  I hope we get good weather. we can rain date on sundae if necessary.  drop me an email if you want to attend.  

the track has been reworked with larger bridges and larger radius return loops, your bigger stuff should fit fine!  minimum radius 8.5 feet clearance 7"+ wide by 11"+ tall

 On Saturday we will also have a big-band concert which will include some of your favorite train tunes (no rain date).  We will also have a barbeque.  I will supply basic burgers and dogs, soda and chips.  Any favorite potluck additions are welcome...bring your favorite appetizer, side, salad or desert.

I will also have a "swap table"  set up.  Don Jackson has a bunch of stuff to sell off, I have a couple items too including some nice live steamers.  if you have some excess cars, steamers or sparkies bring em along, perhaps we can find a new home for them. 
   

Welcome back flowers

  I know it is nothing to get excited about.  But, I still love to see them again!  Old flower bulbs from at least a couple of years ago popped up all around the layout.  The warm sun feels so good to me also, ahhh I must be related to them.  Plus I have two bags of  "stuff" labeled plant in Spring bloom in Summer.  If only half of that is true going by those pictures on the package it will look great!  Hope springs eternal.  Enjoy the beautiful day but remember they just had a foot of snow in Colorado.

Happy Mothers Day from Maine Garden Railway

Please enjoy this beautiful sunny day as one of the best Spring days we have had this year. Many of us enjoy gardens and flowers.  Here is a short story about tulips and Mothers Day.  Please click here:

An email from a fan.

Dear MGRS - It’s been my pleasure to observe, film and post video online for your annual display at the Maine Mall. I work at the Apple store as a Creative (teacher) and have always been fascinated by the Society’s work.

Now I find that I’m living in North Windham and have a garden - of sorts - to work with. This leads me to ask if there are any sources of G-scale (or outdoor O-scale) supplies for a basic, self-powered layout.

Model railroading has fascinated me since childhood (I had an uncle who was a brakeman on the old Midland Valley Line out West). I’m not in a hurry to build - the garden/yard has to be reclaimed - but it’s fun to plan it out right so it works.

I’ll be checking the MGRS website from time to time for tips and tricks.

A link to my video from this year is here.

Thanks for all you’ve done.

Best regards - Jim Alberty

       Note:  To see the video Jim made:  Please Click here.

Photos from Scott

Scott takes very nice photographs.  He sent me an album of pictures of his layout.  You can see them if you

 Click here



Thank you Scott!  A day like today really gets you in the "moood" for summer.

Latest Version of the Iron Horse is now on-line.

  Thank you once again Art Handman.  You do a great job of keeping us informed and I always love to see the Iron Horse arrive in my mailbox.  You are also very fast at publishing it and making it available on-line.  We all appreciate it!

To see the current version, please click on the Icon at the left hand side of the blog showing the Iron Horse logo or CLICK HERE:

A little more detail.

  Below is one of the drawings that Keith will require.   It shows the overall footprint with specific dimensions of the main deck risers.  The major change shows the Thomas area lowered to 15 inches which is the height we used last year.  Carl had lots of good reports on that and thinks we should keep it.
It also shows the detail of the bridge areas.  It has Tiny's 3 foot metal truss bridge and Barry's 8 foot long wooden RR bridge.  The bridge area is "double decked" to produce a 15 inch deep space for the two bridges to span.  The actual sides will be filled in with the "rock paper" covering that goes around the risers and the bottom part with the black skirting.  Click on the image  below to enlarge the view.

  Note that the Lionel and the Circus display areas will be on the same level as the main lines.  That will make the Circus and Lionel lower and easier for the children to see. This diagram is only to show the main deck.  There will be more risers and tunnels added above the main level.

  I am waiting to make sure the 50 foot overall length is the legal limit.   And also confirm 8 feet is maximum height.  Then I will work on adding some more risers and profile of a Christmas tree.  I have had positive feedback on the location of our proposed Control Area.   Remember we will not have a fence this year. (The Mall requires 10 feet on each side of our display and 12 feet is the total available remaining space available including a fence if we wanted one).  But, by dividing the sections, we should be nice and comfortable inside our own private area. Carl came up with the idea of using plexiglass and said the Mall  agreed to that.   Note, only part of the track is shown.  Percy, Lionel, Circus and Trolley are still there and will be drawn in later.

   

Possibilities Abound!

  I don't want anybody to be left out.  The fun part is planning a design. I encourage all ideas from everybody. So this is the first look.  Art already contacted me and said 48 feet is to long for two people to manage easily and I agree with him.  Especially if you are both sitting at one end.   So I think a top priority is establishing a MGRS Control Area.   I ended up with a nice one by making two sections with our control area in between them.  Last year it was 10x4.  This year it could be 12x4.   If you look at the drawing below the Circus area is also larger,  It can hold 6 of Norm's diorama squares.  The Lionel area is also a lot larger.  Just to show something I sketched in a design similar to last year that Jeff and Maurice did.  Scott has been wanting a fireplace with stockings hung with care around a Christmas tree.  As I said, possibilities abound!   Thomas and Percy also have plenty of room on their own "end display".   We have kept the double main line.  It has 10 foot curves and 15 foot straights.  We do have all the track that I show on the diagram.  I also  show a trolley line for the Club's new addition.  See image below.

  The next drawing shows a 48 foot layout for comparison.  The main lines are longer and it has trestles and bridges which I like but I think we need our "enclosed" control area and would not be happy without it.   I have sent these to Carl and I will post all his comments and changes as soon as we talk.   Again, now is the time to contact Carl with your suggestions, or let me know.  I will draw up everything and get it ready for the Board or Committee to work on.  Thank you!

  

You can contact us by email to mgrsadmin@gmail.com

Surprise!

   Okay forget all about J.C. Penney I told you yesterday.  Carl just called to say they found out Santa Claus Photo Co. has a signed contract for the space.  So here is the new plan that the Mall has come up with.  It does amount to the same square footage but the dimensions have changed.  Instead of a 24 by 24 foot square we will be changing to a 12 x 48 foot rectangle.  

     We would move to the front of  BON*TON where it opens into the Mall.  People coming out of  BON*TON would first go by a seating area with chairs and couches and then pass by our display which will be centered in the hallway and extend a distance of 48 to 50 feet  down the hallway headed toward Center Court.  There will be 10 foot wide walking areas on either side of the display.  Carl has suggested that they add some plexiglass around the layout to help protect it from little hands on the track.
 Hey, at least we are inside the building!   Space is a premium and that it about the last available spot where we could fit.  Actually, having a comfortable place to rest right beside the layout might be great.  We might even have our controls at that end.  Plus we will have the fun of looking down an impressive 50 foot layout.  And hear is another thing, if we use the "Tunnel entrance" I call it, we will come out right at our layout!