Billboards at the Holiday Train Display

Ernie made some very nice billboards. Here they are with new pictures.

Maine Mall Display Pictures on Sunday, November 29

Looking at North Conway Station

Ernie's Really Used Cars

Installing New Poles

Time for a quick shave and a game of pool upstairs

Bert has a lumber mill and this furniture store

If you need a hat, this is the place.

Moving a lot of skis this winter

Just q quick stop for coffee

Circus by a lighthouse???

Wagons and the Petting Zoo

Circus Parade heading for Gorham Station

What getting on the band wagon really means

Some wagons just unloaded at Gorham Station

The Circus at Gorham Station

Santa's Workshop has a smoke unit!!!!

The Great Chimp Escape

Elephants on Parade

Zebras and Hippos on Parade

Trolley Car and  Fishing Cat

Sailboat by the Lighthouse

The Paradise Diner - Car Hops in Front

Hunk's Garage and Junkyard

Freight Passing Amtrak at North  Conway Station

Herbal Healer Academy

Feed and Grain Store by the Tracks

Tourist Lodge and Overnight Cabins

Where Mac makes sawdust...

Mall Circus Information

The Circus  has a map like the "Can You Find" and a short article about its life and times.

Mall Layout Information

This year we have a "Button Box Map" and a "Can You Find" for the layout at the Mall. Norman said that the "Can You Find" was done a few years ago by a Girl Scout Leader for her troops.

Button Box Map

                                                 

GG1 Video

Here is a short demo video of the new Lionel GG1 remote controlled pantographs, catenary arc effects, sound, and smoke.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWJjUBQZKbE&sns=em

Amid the height of the Great Depression, the Pennsylvania Railroad continued an ambitious modernization process of its mainlines between New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The investment kept employees working during the lean years and would pay dividends as World War II brought record-setting traffic levels to what was already the world’s busiest rail corridor.

As part of these improvements, the Standard Railroad of the World needed a new locomotive for mainline operations. True to its engineering pedigree, the Pennsylvania began vigorous testing of two potential designs in 1934. When the victor was chosen, Raymond Loewy was given the task to refine the new power house into a modern beauty.

Loewy’s vision – a locomotive which appeared to be already at speed as the passengers walked beside it on the station platform – provided not only a fitting shroud but a unique form as striking and iconic today as it was on its debut.

While the public marveled at their looks, railroaders quickly came to respect these new motors for what lay under the hood. Designed to propel heavy passenger trains at sustained 100 mph jaunts, the GG1’s were quickly proven capable of much more

.

A total of 139 locomotives were completed by 1943. Used in both passenger and freight service throughout their careers, GG1’s could be found on everything from the Broadway Limited to ore trains.

The legendary status of the GG1 grew stronger with age. Outliving the PRR itself, the G’s went on to serve Penn Central, Amtrak, Conrail and New Jersey Transit. They finally lost their grip on the catenary in 1985. Today 16 of the memorable motors have been preserved in museums, some far from the corridors they once owned.

Thanks to Rick Hills of the Maine 3Railers

Mall Support

We need mall coverage. The mall will not erect fences around the layout and hands can reach the trains. We already had a derailment of the the Amtrak train which caused damage to a passenger car and one of the circus wagons.
More volunteers would allow more eyes on the trains.
Please help protect the layout and the clubs rolling stock.

Model Citizen - Have Fun Your Way!

This NMRA documentary  is just under 3 minutes long and worth a look.

Model Citizen

Coffee and trains

Starbucks will give free coffee to MGRS members wearing their MGRS vest while manning the trains at the mall. 
The patch for 2015 is available from Carl (not required to get the coffee)

Mall Hours after 12/11/15

There was a typo on the hours for the mall after December 11th. The Sunday shift stays at Noon to 6 and NOT Noon to 8.  
Please sign up for a time slot so we can share the work load.

Operating Hours for the layout REDUCED through Thursday, December 10th

Effective today, layout hours are reduced through  Thursday December 10th.


Monday through Friday
--1st shift 10am to 2:30 pm
--2nd shift 2:30pm to 6:30pm

Sunday the shift will be from noon until the Mall closes at 6pm

On Friday, December 11 shifts will return to

Monday through Saturday
--1st shift 10am to 3:00 pm
--2nd shift 3:00pm to 8pm

Sunday will be from Noon to 8pm or when the Mall closes

On Christmas Eve the layout and the Mall will close at 5pm on December 24

Maine Mall Display as of Tuesday, November 17

Today is our 5th day of trains at the Mall. We had good crowds over the weekend. Things quieted down on Sunday about the time of the Patriot's game. We are running 10 trains and over 400 feet of track. The "teething troubles" of starting a big layout have been fixed and things are running smoothly. Here are the pictures. :-)

The Polar Express

Super Market Snow Flurries

Gorham Station

Fishing Cat with Creel, Lighthouse in background

Ernie's Really Used Cars

Hunk's Garage and Junkyard

Linicka Railroad running on raised bridge

Percy with Teddy Bear riding in comfort

Thomas area with lattice fence

 op

Amtrak stopping at Santa's Workshop

German Wonderland update from Valerie and Dave Chnupa

Remember the two brothers, in Germany, who had a wonderful model railway that was something to see? This is an update for their German Wonderland. 

There have been little clips about this place for the past few years; it is still not finished but might be shortly as they will soon run out of space.  Their latest finished area is the airport. Planes look like they are flying and landing as day turns to night.

To review... it was started by two brothers as a place to show off their hobby and then it started growing by leaps & bounds.  Soon they were joined by other 'Model Railroad Clubs' and other craftsmen. Some were electricians, model makers, carpenters, computer programmers. Their wives would stop by to see what they were doing and usually bring them lunch. One thing led to another. Three of the ladies had worked at a bakery, several visitors would ask if they had a snack bar. The Idea was planted; some of the carpenters came and built a nice restaurant area for the bakery and a kitchentoo. If the fresh Coffee smell didn't get you then the bakery definitely would. This was about 5 years ago. One of the Breweries came and furnished all of the tables and chairs, serving counter etc.

GERMAN WONDERLAND link below – AMAZING!

German Wonderland Update Link

                            

Garden Railway near Philadelphia at Longwood Gardens

Here  are some pictures and a short video of the garden railway at Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, PA, thanks to Rich Young.

OPENING

WE OPEN 11/13/15 at 1000

Maine Mall Setup Report for Sunday, 11/8 Ready to test track

We made  good progress today. The last five bridges are in place. Track is complete except for the  dual track bridge loop. Test runs and cleaning were started on the Main and Circus lines. The new button box wiring and electronics are set up in the Control Area.

 The crew today included Jim Jenkins, Mike Tarbox, Barry Sanford, Hunk Erskine, Terry Norton, Bill Goodrich, Norm, Mac and Carl.

Barry's rusted iron triple track bridge

Barry's MGRS triple track bridge

Control Area on Main Liness ide

 Three Raised bridges

Control Area Thomas side with button box electronics