Hooksett Model Train Show

Hooksett Model Railroad Show

Sunday, April 27th, 2014, 10:00am to 3:00pm

Cawley Middle School, Hooksett, NH

Sponsored by the Hookset Lions Club and NHGRS.

New live steam engine for Eric

I had placed an order with Jason at the Train Department a year ago at the York Large scale train show for a new Accucraft engine.  Fairymead came via UPS on Tuesday.  I spent a little time installing some detail parts and prepping her for her first run.   She is a 7/8" scale of a very small Baldwin industrial engine and Accucraft did a fine job of her, she's a beauty.

Here is a video of the first run:  Click here:

Train Show tomorrow in Topsham Me.

Saturday at Mt Ararat High School.  Put on by Great Falls Model Railroad Club.  For more information, click here: 
   

PIKO new engines for this summer.

You probably get the same emails that I do but if not here are a couple of PIKO of America's new engines for 2014.  The top picture shows a kind of unique engine called  a "Camelback Locomotive" and the bottom an American favorite "2-6-0 Mogul".   I am not trying to sell either of these but I don't see a lot of new G scale items on the market.    

They are back!

  This is why I love living in Maine!   We are lucky to have a woodsy back yard and I love watching the wildlife.  Pair of Red Cardinals,  The turkeys are back and also those little frogs that sound like ducks! (no I am not crazy).   Trains are not far behind.  If you have a picture to share, send it to me at mgrsadmin@gmail.com

  

First Run of the Season from WW&F

  Happy Easter to all.  Here is a link which Eric sent us.  Thank you very much!
To watch please Click here:

Let's get back on Track

 I am speaking more to myself than to you.  But, instead of complaining let's be thankful.  I am reminded that the Jewish Passover is being celebrated,  Easter is tomorrow.  Many of us are planning family gatherings or correspondence.   Spring is just around the corner.  As a Club, we are expecting to hear soon details from the Mall about where we can setup this years display.  Then we can start some serious planning.  Whether  it be personal or business, may we all pause, be refreshed and to use an old railroad metaphor, get back on track.   I guess I can add an  "All-aboard"  to that!
 

I am really beginning to dislike computers

First, I hope you notice that there are NO ADDS on the Blog.  I have tried hard to prevent adds from appearing as pop ups or annoying side bar distractions that you get on most web sites.  I hope you enjoy the drab brown pattern on both sides of the Blog without the deception to click on something that you don't want.  I say that because I am spending a lot of time on another machine trying to fix things.  In my opinion, if you are an old person you will not like Windows 8, but that is a different subject.  On the good side at least the snow from yesterday and the overnight ice on the pond has melted.  It was windy yesterday also.  I had set up a light house on the side of the pond and it got blown over!  We will see if it works after it dries out.
Ok, stop complaining and back to work. John

Struggling with a new computer

Don't you wish you just plugged it in and turned it on and it worked (the way you want it to?)   My wife was concerned because her old Netbook ran Windows XP which Microsoft has discontinued support for.  I told her not to worry about it but she was and I figured it was a good reason to get her a newer one.   I think I picked out a good one for a good price it is a Dell Laptop running Windows 8.1.

I like the computer, the problem is there are no instructions.  I do not care how dumb or how smart you think you are, changing to a new operating system is difficult. I am sure there is on-line help but I would guess your best help will be a young person!  Good luck, John

Old Toy Trains

Performed by Roger Miller.  "Old Toy Trains"  Here is what began our hobby.  Please take a look at this short video.
  Click here: 

Note:  I do not know how to prevent the adds, sorry.

Canada's Train Show

  Going on right now.  Here is a video from their gallery which shows why we have a fence on our layout.  Although the second half of video shows how a small 1 foot high plexiglas barrier helps!  Kids everywhere love trains, Take a look click here:

Link to their web site: Click here

Video of Modelers group.  I love his closing comment.  "You don't stop playing with trains because you get old. . .   You get old because you stop playing with trains"   Click here:

Ice Out from Doug Johnson

Glad to hear from members who are getting their railroad ready!   This one comes from Doug:

To John,

Please put in the Blog or newsletter that the Meadobrook and Casco Bay Garden Railraod is operational as of 4/12/14. Ice was out of the pond on Sunday April 6.  The 2 maine tracks are running.  The Blue Mighty Mack and the Butterfly are buzzing around.

If I can figure out how to use the blog I have some good stuff from the winter.

Best wishes, from
Douglas R. Johnson

From Paul in Florida

Thank you Paul.  Lots of good info to pass along.

Hi John!

I read your blog every day (sometimes more than once) just to keep up with what is going on with the MGRS. Thanks for all of your hard work keeping it going with good information.

I'm glad that you got your pond serviced today. I'm still in Fort Myers. We plan to come back home to Maine about the first week of May. I was hoping to see part of the annual garden Railway convention in Tampa, but Brenda is getting a bit homesick I think and is anxious to get her hands in her gardens. Friends sent us some pictures last week of our driveway. It has only one small bare spot showing and still some very high snowbanks so I think we have a few more weeks before we can get into some serious gardening. I'm also anxious to see how some of my very small shrubs did this winter. I planted two Jean's Dilly Alberta Spruce in October, so I'm hoping their roots were established enough before the ground froze. It will also be interesting to see how my bridge abutments that I built last summer did through the winter.

I ran my pond pump 24/7 last summer after putting a small burlap container of barley straw in the skimmer and didn't have any algae problems. I didn't use any other chemicals in the pond. I may try putting the pump on a timer this summer and let it run 16 hours per day (resting at night) to see if I still have satisfactory results. I did some calculations last fall to see how much it cost me for electricity to run the pond pump per month at 24 hours per day and I think it was about $30.00. (amps X volts = watts @ 0.17 per kWh -  Bangor Hydro/Emera rate). I guess it is worth $30.00 per month to keep the pond maintenance free….I would spend more to run the pump even just 8 or 12 hours a day and then buy the buckets of algaecide needed to keep it clear. The bag of barley straw costs just $8.00, if I recall correctly, and lasts 3 months (I buy two for the summer season and they can be purchased at the local nursery in Herman (Greencare) for 50% off in the fall). One of the biggest advantages of using barley vs. other chemicals is that the water is safe for wildlife such as frogs and the birds that drink from it. I saw an article on line that reviewed the use of barley straw in livestock water tanks on farms and ranches. I think that Tractor Supply is the first place that I saw barley straw for sale.

Keep those great articles coming!

Thanks.
Paul Smith

What a Beautiful Day!

Cleaned out the Garden Railroad water pond.  The remaining ice finished melting off of it just yesterday!  There are always a couple of frogs that manage to hide and don't survive the winter freeze.  But now it is all cleaned out with new water and is ready to go!  I may hook up the fountain and waterfall tomorrow.  I had help, we are baby sitting Oliver, he is our grand-dog.  He gets excited about everything that happens.  He just noticed a deer out back and is shouting out the alarm as I type.  Ahhh, life the way it ought to be!  (close anyway).

An Operating Rail Diesel Car

    View a Baltimore & Ohio RDC in operation.  Tiny should like this one.  I found it on the new Video Bar at the top of the Blog.   See her run, CLICK HERE:

A Look Back

The year was 2012, Nancy Norris asked me to make a video of our display.  This was the only video which I tried to narrate.  It did not come out that good but in a strange way it is kind of nostalgic.
Take a look back, Click here:
   

Photos from WW&F Railway Museum web site
Take a look, Click Here:

RailRoad Trivia

Here are some railroad questions and answers.  Take a look and see how many you know:
Click here then Click on Railroad Trivia:

RAILROADIANA /TRAIN AUCTION April 12th ~ over 500 Lots

From Tiny:  Here is information on a Railroad Memorabilia  Auction on April 12, 2014.

Please click here for list of Items:


OnLine bidding list with pictures of items - Click here:
 

Eric wins the prize!

 For his Video "The First Train of Spring"

Thank you Eric for putting all the work in to make such a nice video. 

 Your live steam, completely handmade train is a pleasure to watch!

Please Click here:  

Recently discovered video by Jim Alberty

    Trains in the Mall Video Click here to watch

Thank you very much Jim.  The link to your video had gotten lost.  I am very happy to have found it and enjoyed looking back to see last years display!  It looks and sounds great!

Decora Eagles

Update photos from 4/9/14.    Here is live link:    

World's tallest Ferris wheel opens in Las Vegas

No it's NOT an April Fool joke.  It never stops turning (you have to board it as its moving) 520 foot diameter. Take 30 minutes to make a revolution, and you are encouraged to bring a drink with you.   What more can I say?  Click here for video:

Posted because of uniqueness.  A G-scale model would be almost twenty two feet in diameter!  Imagine that on our layout.

Items for Sale

This was passed along by Tiny.  I believe it is from  a member of NHGRS who is selling his G scale collection.   Detail list of items and contact information is available by CLICKING HERE: