I am going to have to wait

I wanted to see what Barry's Bridge would look like, but it is to hard to cut and paste.

I know it will look good.  Even better when Tiny's big metal bridge is beside it. 

 The grass carpet will look good after it's all decorated with buildings and ballast and trees.

click to enlarge

Carl called to say the water fall is running and a thousand pumpkins are being carried in!

Carl, Mac and Ryan are watching Keith inspect his work as we are all excited to see the platform go up in Center Court in the Maine Mall today.  Thursday the Waterfall will be running into the pond and a thousand pumpkins will decorate the platforms!    Two days later they will all be gone and green grass will cover most of the levels with a snow blanket and Christmas tree at the very top.  Then it will be our turn!  Monday Carl will bring in track and smaller items that we will need when we begin setup on Tuesday morning!

Here is the view from the side the MGRS Control Area will be located.  We are under that beautiful big skylight facing the Sports Authority side.









This is the Thomas and Water fall side.  The 1st level is only 15 inches high which will give the smaller children an easy and close up view of Thomas and Percy circling the pond, going through tunnels and under the waterfall.  Tiny and Barry's new bridges will span an eight foot open area as the double mainline crosses over the back of the pond.  We are on the road to our most awesome display.  If you haven't already, please  add your name to the list of people who will take part.
Thank you.

From Trainworld online

Arrived today by UPS.  Runs great.  Very nice and smooth,  heavy weigh feels solid. Highly detailed.
I love it.

Where we will be located

  One way is to go in the new  BON*TON  Store.  Walk through and go out the inside entrance that leads to the Mall.  Walk up the corridor and we are right straight ahead in Center Court (Gold Star).
If you have lots to bring in take the Service Entrance-7 [behind big green dumpster] through the "tunnel" and out the other end. Turn right.

From my Hideaway

Here is a picture taken today.  I enjoy my indoor tracks and usually run them every day in the winter time.  I don't use them very much in the summer.  That is just the way it seems to work out.  The layout will hold up to 5 or 6 engines or small to moderate length trains and run any one or two at the same time.   That is plenty for me.  Plus I have lots of isolated tracks and switches to give me little changes in operation. As the Mall setup gets closer, I start getting more and more interested in running trains!

  I enjoy my basement and like to dabble around my workbench.  If your interested to see more please click here: 

Greed - a good motivator

I get lots of emails selling things.  But, this one worked on me.  It sounded like to good a deal to pass up. From Trainworld online.com  Supposedly a G scale close out on Bachmann 1:20 Spectrum Rail Trucks.  6 different types No's  82394 to 82399.

I went for it. (remember what P.T Barnum said)

Building question from Paul Smith

Hi John,
I have an unfinished building which I used MDO board to build the walls and roof. I am trying to come up with the best solution to create clapboard siding that will withstand the weather. I know Eric Schade has successfully used a dado blade on his table saw to cut them directly into the plywood, but I don't have a dado blade, and even if I did, I don't know if I would trust myself to use it for siding.

There are styrene sheets of 1/4" clapboard siding available commercially which on a 1/24 scale building would be a 6" exposure. That would be a realistic scale. Do you know anyone that has used styrene on their outdoor buildings and if so what type of adhesive and paint that they used?

Please comment or contact me, I can give you Paul's email, thanks John

Close up view

Please click on the image below for a close up view of this years Maine Mall layout.

Iron Horse

Thank you!   I love our Newsletter, the September - October issue is now available to read on-line. Remember, you can go back and reference all copies of the Iron Horse from 2009 by clicking on the "Moving Wheels" on the left side of the Blog.

Automatic Reversing Unit

I spent quite a while comparing different units and closely read their detail specs.  And I came away liking this particular model.  It is made and shipped out of Canada. It has good reviews and a Utube video plus I thought the price was reasonable at $49 dollars so I hit the ever dangerous buy-me-now button.    The setup is easy and the delay control is a simple adjustment screw.  That suits me fine, I like simple things.   Last year Barry and I talked about a small train moving logs back and forth around the Sawmill.  And that is what I have it in mind for.

Scale Figures

Approx height of 6 foot man

  G   =  3 inches
  O   =  1   1/2 in
  HO = 3/4 in
  N   =  1/2 in
  Z    =  1/4 in

Automatic Switching

  What this is supposed to be is a building (like the saw mill)  that has a point to point  track going back and forth around it.  The two switches are wired together so that when one is activated it also changes the other.  Switches are powered by the weight of the engine momentarily connecting a devise called a TAD (track activation device).   This slides under the track but has no electrical connection to the track. The weight of the engine presses down on a contact is what completes the circuit.

  I actually have the components of this wired up on my workbench and it works very nicely.  

 

What does Setup Day involve?

  You probably have a pretty good idea already.  You might bring a small micro Philips head screw driver along with you and a Split Jaw tightening tool if you have one. (Bring your glasses too).  Carl will meet us at the Mall Center Court 8am Tuesday Nov 5th.   Bring a smile and a good attitude and we will have fun building a layout together.  If you want to see a large drawing of the latest track plan and a description of most of the major steps we need to do, click on the link below.   Please remember before any of this happens there is a large effort required to move buildings, track and other items into position so that they will be available for members to use when Setup Day arrives.    Please Click Here for Setup Day list

In the News ~ South Berwick, Me.

From Tiny:  No trains or people were hurt in this story but it is a real waste of a motorcycle.
 Click here:

Please notice the Big Blue Button

The Maine Mall is the greatest Train Display that I know of.   Every day thousands of happy people will stop by to watch, smile and reminisce.  Help be a part of this great annual tradition which begins in just under a month. We have half of all the shifts filled with MGRS volunteers but we need you to help complete filling out the roster.  Please help by clicking on that new big blue button at the top of the Blog.  You will see a calendar of available dates and a simple Form to complete.  Or you can call Carl direct.  I know he will appreciate your help.

Women trapped on RR Drawbridge

Click here to view video

A positive view of Railroads

 Thomas G. Hoback, president and CEO of the Indiana Rail Road Co.
has some good news:  Click here for story:

Spooks Alive!

Residents of CASA and the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough were in for a scary treat today at Pat and Carl Churchill's home in Buxton.  Deep in the woods behind the Churchill's house were ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night.   You should have been there.  And if you weren't, you can still visit every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening from now until Halloween.  If you dare. . .

Friday Halloween Outing

Two groups,  the Maine Veterans and Casa will both be visiting  Carl & Pat's  this afternoon!
 The Halloween Walk is a big treat to the visitors, they are having a terrific time and thank you to MGRS members that are there to give them all the necessary support they need.   They are doing a wonderful job and the weather has been beautiful.
   "A plus" to all involved!

Ghost Songs

Ghost Train
    Hank 
    Snow     

Ghost Riders
    Vaughn 
    Monroe

Gorham House to visit Halloween Displays at Carl's on Thursday 10/10

  If you never saw Carl's Halloween displays all throughout the property and trails  then this Thursday Oct 10th is a good time.  Remember Jeannine, well she is bringing over a group from the Gorham House.  They will arrive at 2:30pm.   They will be taking rides out through the park and enjoying Cider and Donuts plus other good snacks and having a good old fashioned Halloween Outing.    

  If you are available to help out Carl please give him a call and let him know.  

Thanks!!

Casa joins Halloween Walk this Friday 10/11

Casa an excellent group located in Scarborough offering help to physical and mentally disabled persons will bring 4 residents , two of them in wheel chairs over to Carl & Pat's Halloween walk on Friday at 4pm.  
Same afternoon that the Veterans will visit.

These 2 pictures are not from Shaggy Bark Park.


In the 'spirit' of Halloween I found these pictures of ghosts on the web.  Very clever and effective in the day time.  If interested Google "How to make a wire ghost".    

I am hoping someone will take some pictures of the real "Halloween Walk" at Carls so we can post them on the Blog.  

Another Outing - The Veterans will visit on Friday

The Veterans called Carl and said they would like to have a Halloween Outing on Friday afternoon.   They plan to arrive about 1:30pm and are looking forward to the trail rides out to see all the Halloween Displays!

 If possible please help them have fun and enjoy their outing by stopping over or call Carl for more information.

Update from Paul Smith

I took a couple days off from work this week and finished the stone work along the arch deck girder bridge. I used the same technique of landscape foam to adhere the stones next to the abutments and then filled them with stone dust. 

I also placed leaf netting over the pond to catch the leaves this fall. I had a lot of leaves to clean out this past spring, so hopefully this will make spring start up a bit easier and less messy!

I think I am about done landscaping the railroad for this year. Next year I’ll begin working on the roadbed on each end of the long deck girder bridge. I’ll need another load of stone dust. I used up almost all of my 14 yards this year.

I see there is a train show scheduled for Nov 2nd at the Auburn MIddle school. Maybe I’ll see some of the MGRS folks there!

Question For the Blog:  I do have a question for the blog though: I was running my USA Trains GP-7 in a lash up with my USA Trains GP-38 Friday and one of the wheel sets kept derailing on the GP-7. Upon removal of the locomotive from the rails, I found one of the tires on a traction wheel had come off and was just floating along side the wheel. I don't know why it came off; is it possible that while both locomotives have the same motor and gear ratio that the GP-7 wheels were turning a bit faster causing the tire to grip harder and thereby peel off the wheel? Has anyone experienced that? A problem for the experts!

Thanks.

Paul

30 Days to "Setup Day"

Thank you Barry,  the 8 foot long bridge you made does look very good!   It will be one of the new items on display this year and it is only 30 days before it will take its place on this years Maine Mall Train Display.  Setup day begins on Tuesday November 5th at 8am.   By then the platform will be setup, the green grass will be down and the pond, waterfall and the tree on top will be in place.  Carl and his advance team will have moved buildings, track and metal bridges into special areas set aside for MGRS storage.  At 8am it will all begin to come together, right there in Center Court!  

Looking back at some Slideshows

Festival of Trees






 
Trolley Museum







 
WW&F







 
Owls Head

Old Cars

I know we all love old cars.  We model them on  our railroad all the time!   The Drive In Movie scenes or the Diners of the 50's.  All Great Stuff!  I was playing some old Utube rock and roll and came across a picture that reminded me of the very first car I ever owned.

 

 I said "reminded me" not the same.   My best friend and I payed $15 dollars for something that resembled this. It had a stock grill but it looked the same.  It had no exhaust system, open sides and flames shot out the sides of the engine block!  Some how we got it from the guy's yard to the Town sandpit where it lived for a couple months as we all took turns learning how to drive.  It finally died from an electrical fire under the hood and all the wires burnt up.

In fond memory of my first car Click here:

The Circus Train returns

 I am glad I got back to running trains again!  My layout is finally back in action and that feels good.  Today was a beautiful day with Fall colors and lots of sunshine.  It was a perfect day for the Circus to return.

     

Ride the Rails with some good old fashion Train Songs

Casey Joney - Johnny Cash

Hank Snow - Waiting for a Train

Foggy Mountain Boys - Big Black Train

The City of New Orleans - Willie Nelson

Maine Mall Update

   Carl just had a meeting and here is the latest:      Stefanie just visited Carl's layout and she picked out some new buildings to bring in for this years layout.  The Mall loves Carl's buildings and wanted to see some of the other ones that he has.  She was delighted and had a great time going over ideas and possibilities with Carl.  This year we will be able to bring in the track a little earlier and store it right under the stage area behind the black covering with goes around it.  That will make it very convenient for us on Setup Day which has been changed to Tuesday November 5th.    

 The Mall has decided on a "green grass" type rug for covering the deck and risers.  They plan to install that on Monday the day before we come in to put down the track.   That way we can lay our track right over the rug and we still plan to put our ballast on top of the green covering.   The Mall plans to put the "snow blanket" only on the very top level where their tree will be the center decoration similar to last year.

  Opening Day will be moved to Monday November 11th.   I have made these changes on the Operator Schedule which is found by clicking on the link at the top of the Blog.  A copy is shown below.   We will be located and featured once again in Center Court in the same area which we were in last year.  The layout will be larger and with more levels than we have ever had before!  Plus this year we are adding an expanded Thomas and Percy and a real waterfall and pond and more trains and trolleys.  

 

A Letter from Scott Polk

 

Polk’s Will Close Its Doors 12-31-13

October 1st, 2013

Since 1935, we have provided service and innovation to the Hobby industry. In this latest downturn, we cut back staff to the minimum required to survive. Then the government battle over the debt ceiling drove the consumer market down even further.
We’ve managed to stay in business, but the continued depression for the consumer has caused us to fall into debt that is unsustainable. We have put several million dollars into product development over recent years, but the need for customers to cut back on non-essentials has caused this investment to be lacking in returns.
We have seen leisure activities like golf courses plunge in popularity, as funds for such recreation have dried up. It seems to be the same for hobby time investments. Our products are no longer inexpensive as they were in the 1930s-era Depression. The cost of manufacturing along with minimum production runs and long lead times has caused a lack of ability to continue as a sustainable entity. It’s no longer a business!
It has been a pleasure to help our creative consumer base to enjoy their hobby and we have no regrets in doing so. Our business grew every year until the 2008 as the recession caused a shrinking of the mindset to stay active in our large-scale model train arena. We know that smaller scales have remained viable, but the higher cost of Large Scale trains and the space required to run them have not maintained their share of the market. Our airplane R/C portion of our business was lost when our patented frequency changer was lost to the 2.4Ghz portion of the marketplace, with no frequency compounds needed any longer.
For 80 years, the Polk family has made a fair living in the Hobby industry. I can’t help but remember the scores of co-workers that have helped make this organization as special as it was. Thanks to them all, but notably: Gil Rose, B.M. Song, J.K. Kim, Sam Kimm, Tom Flynn, Cliff Crane, Charlie Binder, Marvin Binder, John and Sherry Shievdayal, Aixa Lebron, Joe Bamberger, David Newell, Walter Matuch, John Mikesh, Navin Shievdayal, Marguerite Hubert (Rose), Michael J. Vickey, Jonathan Polk, Scott Polk, Fred Polk, Irwin Polk, Nathan Polk, Maryann Polk Bob Calandra, George Adams, Michael Hauptmann and so many others, it would take a book to list them all. While I can’t list all the hundreds that were part of the team, they remain in my heart and mind.
Our humble thanks to our loyal customers. Our apologies for not being able to keep this almost 80-year-old business going. It’s a heartbreaker for us all.

All the best,

The Polk Family