Larry Mosher- Open House

Tiny invited us to click the NHGRS Link, Click on 'News' and look at pictures from Larry Mosher's June 20th, Open House. They are very very nice and great job! (When your done, use the 'right click on Back Arrow' tip to get back).

Schnabel car

A Schnabel car is a specialized type of railroad freight car. It is designed to carry heavy and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. On June 20, 2009 a special train on the Conway Scenic Railroad moved two transformers for the Public Service Company of New Hampshire. Bill Lee the son of member Denneth Lee was one of the men who did the road flagging for the special train. Watch Slideshow
Good Video - Check it out!

"Just Do It"

Thanks to Doug and Marsha for all the hospitality and a great "Open House" today in Gorham on the Meadowbrook and Casco Bay Garden Railway.

The event drew a large crowd as we got to meet new people and see old friends again. Doug has done a really nice job on building his layout and it was packed with lots of action! Thanks again Doug, I know everyone that came had a very good time!

Mt Div Freight Run Update

Originated by Ian M. MacMillan Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club.

Just as a heads up for everyone the schnebel car carrying the new transformer for the PSNH substation in East Conway has left Searsport enroute for Conway. Routing is MMA/SLR/NHC/CSRR. (Conway Scenic Railroad)

PSNH is expecting the car to be moving over CSRR on Saturday but that was with a scheduled move out of Searsport of yesterday....so it may possibly be now on Sunday.

This should be some great action as it is the first revenue freight move over the line in ~24 years.

The train consists of the schnebel car with the transformer, a flat car with an exciter, 3 support flat cars, and a caboose. Should provide for some great photos and video.

'Nother update for those who would like to catch the action.

CSRR is still planning a Saturday early move from Hazens starting at
0700hrs! Train is currently in Quebec for on time delivery.

Here is a photo of the train showing what it consists of. CSRR will add
2 more flatcars for braking power, and the sisters will be the motive
power. Possibly with a 3rd loco for tail braking power. There is
possibly a meet scheduled at Bartlett.

I plan on being up at Hazens around 0630 if anyone wants to follow along.
Ian

Link to some excellent photos

Mt. Washington Valley News Story

Thanks to member Denneth Lee and friends of NHGRS, CVRTC and CSRR. Paul Hallet ( operation manager ) and Bill Lee (Denneth Lee's son) did the road flagging for the special train.

Thank you Veterans

As a tribute to the Veterans that just visited MGRS I would like to post this slide show of
The American Freedom Train. This is from 1975-76. The original Freedom Train toured America after WWII from 1947 to 1949.


~To watch and listen please click here ~Great pictures and a teriffic song ~

Tractive Effort

As John Jackson reports, a good part of the fun for the veterans who visited the Overlook Railway on Tuesday was getting stuck in Carl Churchill's yard. The veterans' van sank to its hubcaps. When Carl's tractor needed assistance to extract it, Mac McLaughlin came to the rescue. You can't beat good neighbors (especially ones with tractors).

Carl will host another event for a group of seniors in mid-July. If you have some spare time, come and help. It's great fun to meet the visitors, to hear their stories, and to share their pleasure in seeing Carl and Pat's magnificent railway.

Maine Veterans Home of Scarborough visits MGRS

A group of at least two dozen shared sun shine, trains, stories, sandwiches and adventure as some of the Maine Veterans from Scarborough came to visit MGRS at Carl’s layout in Buxton. It was an exciting start as they got stuck on the way in cutting across a wet area. Carl and Mac quickly solved that with their tractors teamed together to easily pull them across. They set up under a great open tent like structure providing shade and picnic tables and chairs. A perfect spot to watch trains go by. Walter and Paul kept all the trains operating perfectly as people looked at everything. Conversation was easy and enjoyable. I learned a lot about the Merchant Marine. The North Atlantic storms and U-boats, The Baltimore Orioles, Faneuil Hall and much more from a great guy named John and his friend another Merchant Mariner. Carl and Scott and Mac where giving great Golf Cart rides. The staff that came with them was super! The time flew by quickly and it was as much a pleasure for MGRS as it was for our guests. Even Sophie got in on the fun. All together, it was a very good time with a bunch of very nice people. Thank you Veterans!

Note: Click on 'Home' below to return to the regular Blog.

Speaking of Conway Senic Railroad

Hi All, As you know we usually operate #7470 during a portion of the summer and for the fall operating seasons. This year because of the restoration of our new dining car and our goal of having it in service on the Notch Train by foliage time we have decided to shift personnel and other resources away from operating and maintaining steam this summer in order to devote more time to working on the "Hattie Evans". We expect steam to come out for the fall & winter operating seasons as normal. Best regards, Paul
Here are some great pictures of #7470

Good catch "Tiny"

Member Denneth 'Tiny" Lee recently received an offer from Garden Railroad Magazine advertised as a Father's Day Special. Tiny responded to them:
to grm
bad picture to show to kids and public walking between rails, like its okay to walk between rails and it looks like active rail which they are trespassing. don't know if the picture will come thru. part 2 coming.
tiny lee

Paul from North Conway Scenic Railroad commented: EXCELLENT point Tiny. Good job bringing that to their attention. I am sure that someone in the office didn’t give it a second thought when they sent that out.
Safety First is more than just a slogan.

I wonder if GRM will respond?

Charity Events now listed on Blog

MGRS Members - I would like to call you attention to a new item listed on the Blog.
Down the left hand side are some important links. Now under "Open Houses" is a new item "Charity Events". Please use this as a handy reference to see the current status of these 2009 Maine Garden Railway Society supported activities.

Goodbye to MrandMrsDeere

I am very sorry to announce that Ed and Brenda Leslie have left MGRS and of course that means they have left the Blog also. This happened last Friday but I waited until it was officially announced before putting anything on the Blog. Sadly they have chosen to delete all their old blogs and I will be removing their "blog awards' and Logo's, etc as requested. But I will always remember and appreciate their enthusiastic attitude toward blogging. They were the first to sign up and post. It was not easy but they did it and I remember that first short video as they waved as their train went by. Ed particularly, was a great story teller, I remember he would post very early in the morning and stories like telling how he as a boy was with his father as they raced the Freedom Train to the next stop and watched it thunder by. You could sense the smoke and vibration and excitement as he told the story. He had great advise, real clear Maine thinking that went right to the point. We will miss the adventures of Spud City as we say goodbyeto to MrandMrsDeere. We truly wish you happiness in the future.

Train/Truck Accident Scene

From some of the NH Boys who were looking at a recent CNN Website posting. Complements of John F and Denneth L. Thanks Guys. . .
To view click here:

It is June and Doug Johnson's "Open House" is coming up!

Open House at the Meadowbrook and Casco Bay Garden Railway
June 20, Saturday, 2:00PM -6:00PM

DESSERTS AND SNACKS, LEMONADE, COFFEE, ETC. Bring a dessert if you wish.

Bring a chair.

This is the smallest MGRS layout, but I do have an 8' curve loop with a turnout, and a 5' curve loop. There is a 4' curve oval and a 31" Aristo circle. Trolley reverse line has a 4' curve. My goal is to have a lot of motion. And I think that this has been achieved.

Directions:

Meadowbrook West Condominium complex is on Main Street, Gorham, State Route 25, across from the Gorham Fire Department and Police Department Building.

The street address is 44-2 Meadowbrook Drive, and there is a sign at the entrance. We are on the Westbrook side of the center of Gorham.

From Portland take route 25 west to Gorham.
From the North take 202 to 25 and turn left.
From the West take 202 and go straight on Main street.
From the NW take route 25.
From the South take 22, to 114 north and turn right in the middle of Gorham down Main Street.
Phone 839-2946

Parking
Parking should be on the egress side of Meadowbrook Drive, or in the town lot across the street. If anything needs to be dropped off, like chairs or trains, it can be done in my parking area, and the vehicle put on the egress side of Meadowbrook Drive or across the street.

Images: Click to enlarge