A Great Day on the Bagley Mountain Division

A Great Day on the Bagley Mountain Division

Yesterday, August 15, Paul and Brenda Smith entertained a large turnout of friends and garden railroaders at the Bagley Mountain Division of the Maine Central R.R., located at their lovely home near Lincoln, Maine.  The manicured grounds and flower beds around the Smith home were worth a drive from anywhere in Maine, whether or not you came to see the trains.  Brenda says she loves to garden, and that love is reflected everywhere one looks.  Judging by the bird houses, the grounds at the Smiths are favored just as much by birds.  Then there is the Bagley Mountain Division, a large G-scale layout Paul began five years ago.  Its features include a beautiful pond and waterfall, designed and constructed by Paul and Nancy Norris (famed columnist of Garden Railway Magazine).  The Japanese red maple and dock house have been featured in the magazine.  Long-sweeping curves allow Paul to run long consists of 1:29 trains.  These operate on a clever loop that runs around the pond, past a small town, and up, over, and through a mountain.  The layout features several bridges, each constructed with the same care as the Smiths have lavished on the surrounding grounds.  Paul has also built a beautifully-detailed HO railroad in his basement, featuring Maine Central engines and rolling stock, a town that looks like Lincoln, and a model of the farm where Paul grew up.  A highlight of the day was a potluck lunch, including among several memorable dishes a blueberry pie Brenda made from blueberries she had just picked. 

Thank you Paul and Brenda for a great day enjoyed by all.