Calling your attention to the top of the Blog

  For the 3rd straight year, we are continuing a great new tradition! The Maine Mall Holiday Train Display.  At the top of the Blog, Please notice a new link labeled the "2012- Maine Mall Operator Schedule and Sign-up Form"   If you click on that, you will see a calendar with the names of members who have signed up so far. 

  We started the paper version of the calendar at the Annual Meeting and several people signed up that day and since then.  Carl will continue to keep the hand written version at his house and you can contact him directly by phone to sign up.  You are also invited to use the new electronic version now available anytime by clicking on the link at the top of the Blog. You can choose your own date(s)  and submit the form whenever it is convenient for you.  After you submit the form, your name will appear printed out on the calendar within 24 hours.

Thank you for your continued support and contributing your time to this very worthwhile event.

Paul & Rebecca Schnell attend National Garden Railroad Convention

Paul and Rebecca

The 28th Annual National Garden Railroad Convention was held August 15th to 19th  in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles, Illinois. Maine Garden railroad members Paul and Rebecca Schnell attended for several days while also visiting their son who lives in Chicago.

The convention was hosted by the Chicago Area Garden Railway Society, the LGB Model Railroad Club of Chicago, and the Midwest Rails Club. Over 1300 garden railroad fans of all ages came from all over the United States, from Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia. Words cannot adequately describe the adventure of the week.

The Tuesday pre-convention event included a day trip to the Chicago Botanical Gardens which includes a garden train layout with over 18 trains running on 1600 ft of track, through 50 different beautifully landscape American scenes. Wednesday – Saturday began with a bus trip to local backyard gardens. The varied layouts of mining towns, small villages, city streets, woodlands, farms, circuses, or just wide open spaces were inspiring. Large or small, they were full of ideas to take home and try in your own garden train layout. A DVD featuring all of the garden railroads that were open for visitors during the 5 day convention was available.

Botanical Garden Mt. Saint Helen

Botanical Garden Train

The afternoons offered workshops and clinics on various interests and skills for the beginner or advanced railroader. Clinics included locomotive maintenance, tips for scratch buildings, adding water to your layout, intro to battery powered engines, and using live steam power. So many choices filled with great information,

The Exhibit Hall, housed over 60 exhibitors of G scale engines, rolling stock cars, track, bridges, garden plants, sound effects, track connectors, buildings, animals, cars, people, and any other item you could imagine to enhance and expand your train garden. The hall also included 2 large layouts by the local clubs.

Garden Tour-1

Garden Tour-2

Garden Tour-3

Garden Tour-4

 

 

G-Scale in g-scale

 

 

Round house

Scale

Signals

 On Thursday evening convention attendees visited the Illinois Railroad Museum in Union. The museum has America’s largest collection of historic railway equipment, street cars, passenger and freight cars, with steam, diesel and electric locomotives. Three trains and a trolley were on the track ready to take guests for a ride through the Illinois countryside. An outdoor BBQ capped off the event.

Other special events included an ice cream social, banquets and speakers highlighting the days of trains in Chicago, and a bit of ‘historical nostalgia’ of the 1920’s.

Like many conventions you may have attended, you couldn’t do it all, but we certainly had a grand time at all the workshops and events we were able to attend.
 Next convention: Cincinnati, Ohio, 2013.


  John added:  (Wow, What a trip.  Thanks for sharing it with us!)
 

Condolences

It is with regret that we have to offer our condolences to MGRS member Walter Fossett Jr. on the loss of his mother.  Carl just notified me that she passed after a terminal battle with cancer.  Walter is a fine gentleman and director of our organization.  We  are all saddened for him and his family. 

From MGRS member Paul Smith

Paul sent me this email.  He lives way up in Northern Maine and he is building a fantastic railroad.  He also has some fantastic help!  Wow, take a look.  Thank you Paul.

Hi John,

I spent the last three days working on the water feature for my railroad. On Thursday, I roughed out the pond and installed the skimmer. On Friday and Saturday, Nancy Norris was here and designed and built the stream and waterfall system from the top of my "mountain". What a pleasure it was to have her here with her expertise! I think she came up with a great design and the series of waterfalls are really spectacular.

The photos below show Nancy hard at work. I lost count of the rocks that she had me tote for her.....

Oops. Here is a trellis that I built for Brenda last week which will support a wisteria vine next year.

I ended up moving the skimmer more to the left so that it would be directly across from the stream outlet. It houses a Beckett pump which has a 3600 GPH capacity (2900 gph at the approximately 5 foot height to the top of the water feature.

 

We used a 45 mil EPDM liner.

Howard Black stopped by to check things out and assist with carrying some rocks.

 The plan is to have the pond overflow go under the bridge and across the lawn down the hill.

Here is Nancy with her latest creation.

Paul Smith

Toy Train Auction

Saturday September 8th.  Looks like mostly O scale but there is some nice G-scale.   Here is Auction Catalog
Sent to us by Tiny. Thank you.

Veterans Visit

 A Beautiful day for the Maine Veterans to visit. Everyone had a very  good time together!  If you click here you can see some more pictures and 3 short video clips from yesterday's outing. 

Maine Veterans' Home Visit

After a few morning rain showers, it cleared up beautifully just in time for Carl and Pat Churchill to host a repeat visit of guests and staff from the Maine Veterans’ Home of Scarborough, Maine.

Some of the guests were experiencing their first visit to the Garden Railway and were delighted with the venue and of course the trains. Nine MGRS members were present and participated not only in operating the Railway but also assisting the guests getting around.

A special guest was Nancy Norris, Horticultural Editor of Garden Railways magazine.

Nancy jumped right in and helped set up the trains and entertain and inform the guests from the Veterans Home.

Carl, Mac McLaughlin, and Scott Gould provided tours of the wooded expanse behind Carl’s house.

Dick Cosgrove and Art Handman commiserated with the veterans about their military days. After a picnic lunch under the tent, the group bid us farewell and looked forward to a return visit.

Upcoming

Just a reminder:   Tiny says remember the  Antique Truck Show this Sunday, Aug 19th.   

Carl says remember that the Vets visit and Nancy Norris also plans to joins us this Tuesday, Aug 21st.

Western Live Steam Narrow Guage

Here is a good video Carl sent me and one that he got from member Jeff Waring.
Thank you guys for passing this along.

Click here:  Bitter Creek Western Live Steam Narrow Gauge Meet 2007 - YouTube

 

 

Our new Location.

Someone asked me recently if we had a map of the Mall showing where we will be and what entrance to come in.  I do have a map but need to double check what service entrance we should use.

While I was looking up the map I found this old photo from our first day.  We will be back again before you know it.

MGRS Visits the Seashore Trolley Museum

Terry and Sue Norton, Dick Rubin, John Jackson and grandson James

 MGRS members who visited the Seashore Trolley Museum this Saturday were rewarded with good weather and informative tours of a unique museum that features trolleys from around the country and the world.  John Middleton and Dick Rubin were our guides as we saw many beautifully-restored examples of these wondrous forms of transportation.  We also toured the museum's extensive shops, where massive equipment from bygone days is still used to rebuild the cars.  Ralph Luby has helped to reorganize the shops, and has volunteered to renovate a light-rail car.  Dick and Denny Rubin also expect to undertake a restoration.   We were also treated to rides on several of the trolleys as well as the initial run of a set of Boston subway cars.  What a treasure this museum is, especially for those of us fortunate enough to live in Maine.  Thank you so much, John Middleton and Dick Rubin, for arranging this visit and sharing this superb museum with us.
.

Just a few of the trolleys which ran the rails today

Visitors watch John Middleton throw a switch

Kris Gould and Seashore Conductor Dick Rubin

Trolly Trip

Wow, I had a great time!  My grandson came with me and he really liked it too.  Thank you to MGRS members John Middleton and Dick Rubin who were our guides today plus thanks to many other Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers who were excellent.  Personally, I loved all the different type cars and the nostalgia they created.  I took lots of pictures: Please click here to see them.
Note: Last four are videos that do not show up in 'slideshow' you need to click on them.

Wardwell Retirement Home Visit

On a gorgeous day, Carl and Pat Churchill hosted 7 residents and two staff members of Wardwell Retirement Home, Saco, Maine.

Nine MGRS members were present and participated in operating the Railway and assisting the guests getting around.

Scott Gould provided golf cart tours of the trails on the property.

The group enjoyed the Garden Railway locale and the running trains. A nice sandwich lunch was enjoyed by all prior to the guests’ departure.

Join the trip to Seashore Trolly Museum this Saturday August 11th

Update from Dick:  

We run rain or shine. 

The picnic grounds are under a tent and we use closed Cars in inclement  weather so we can run rain or shine.

I would recommend an umbrella as you do have to walk from one car barn to another and my guess is we will be running a shuttle car to the main part of the collection.

It might help if you can put this on the Blog as I have had others ask the same question.

Dick

 Saturday, August 11th MGRS is planning a day at Seashore Trolly Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.   Come and join us and enjoy the day and all the Museum offers!   Please don't miss out on this terrific opportunity.  Share this with family members and friends.  The event starts at 10am.  Just  let them know you are with the Maine Garden Railway group and receive a special rate.  Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy the many activities available such as the shops, displays, rides and tour of all the buildings.  New MGRS member John Middleton will be our host and help us coordinate our group activities.   So may MGRS member Dick Rubin who has also become a volunteer (see below).  We hope to draw a large crowd, there is no limit, as many as want to come are welcome.  Please plan to join us and enjoy this excellent opportunity.

Antique Truck Show - Coming up soon on Sunday August 19th

Here is a reminder from Tiny about a large antique truck show held in Barrington NH on August 19th.
Behind Calef's Country Store at junction of RT 9 and Rt 125.  It is Free and and has been there every year for over 45 years!  Growing better all the time.  Truck from all over New England, NJ, NY and PA. Lots to look at and stuff to buy.

 august 19 2012  sundaaay at junction of rt=125 and rt-9 behind calef's store. starting around 9 am.  they start leaving around 3 pm
alot of them come in saturday to get parking spots under the pine trees and for old friends to meet again.
and its free
plenty of food
plenty of vendors of old parts and toys
and even meet some  old friends yourself         

                          tiny
 
Here is a slideshow from a prior year.

Barrington NH Antique Truck Show 

Coming up on Sept 8th Dick Clarks Open House

Dick has hosted this event for many years.  He schedules it as part of the Town of Greene Celebration Day and as a member of both Maine Garden Railway and Great Falls he invites us all to his Open House.  Dick has a great layout and he has done some pretty amazing things such as building his own track and switches and casting his own resin figures.  You can bring your own lunch or stop by one of the local Greene Town Day vendors.  Admission One Smile.

Quick Clips from Jim's

These would normally be considered as "out takes". But, they are all I have so I hope you will enjoy some short videos from Saturday.  Thank you again to all the people who participated, it really was a very good time!  Please click here: then on each clip to watch it. 

Jim Jenkins Open House

About a dozen members, neighbors, and friends visited the home of Jim and Ann Jenkins and enjoyed their hospitality and, of course, the great garden railway

here viewed by Jim (left), John Jackson, (center) and Tiny Lee (right). The railway is replete with a waterfall, a coal mine, a wild-west scene and much more. There is so much to see on this railway, it will be covered in more detail in the next issue of The Iron Horse. A highlight of the day was the exhibition by Eric Schade of his 1:20.3 scratch-built, steam powered Forney locomotive pulling two scratch-built passenger cars.

Folks of all ages enjoyed the day which bodes well for the continued existence of the next generation of model railroaders.

Thanks again to Jim and Ann for opening up their home and garden railway for all to enjoy.