MGRS Trains in Phillips Sept 30 and Topsham Nov 4

We will have G Scale Trains running at the Model Railroad & Hobby Show in Phillips this coming Saturday, September 30th from 9am to 3pm. Phillips is the home of the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes narrow gauge railroad.

Art Shean will have his portable layout up and running at the show. Jim Jenkins will be helping him.You may have seen the layout at the Summer Outing in Buxton. The Event and SS&RL ride information is at http://www.srrl-rr.org/operating-schedule/
Location is the Phillips Area Community Center at 21 Depot Street, Phillips, Maine.

The layout will also be at the Great Falls Model Railroad Show on Saturday, November 4th at the Mt. Ararat High School Gym, 73 Eagles Way, in Topsham from 10am-3pm. If you can help set it up on Friday, 11/3 at 4pm or at the show on Saturday, please contact Sam.

Here is the plan for Phillips Show.

Christmas at the Mall with Santa

This year Santa, MGRS, and other holiday activities like Wrap for a Reason will share space where the Bon Ton store was located. Details to follow! It will be good to be back together with Santa!!!!

Here is the overall plan for the space. The layout  is about double the size of last year because it is 24' wide instead of 12'.  It may be ten trains and about 900 feet of track.

Layout Visit with Terry and Sue Norton in Eliot

On Saturday September 16th MGRS visited Terry & Sue Norton's garden railway in Eliot, Maine. They have a backyard layout with several tracks and several new features. This visit brought out quite a crowd.

Around the table: Carl & Pat Churchill, Rachel & Paul  Corbett, and Mac McLaughlin

Standing: Doug Johnson,  Tom Norton (brother)

In the Background: David Blue, Grace Miller, Terry Norton

On the Bench: Kerry Norton(Terry's sister-in-law), Sue Norton, Dennis Farrell

Standing: Doug Johnson, Tom Norton (Terry's brother)

One of the this summer's new features is the Village Campground, built in an old rock quarry. It is fully booked through mid-October.

Vacation Campground with freight rolling by

Recently Added Playground

And there are some interesting plants

Miniature Boxwood Trees

Catonia Aster with small red fruit like apples

John Middleton and Doug Johnson planning a new bridge

Courtney Goodwin has been helping Sue and Terry with their plants and with animal scenes. Here are the horses behind the barn

Horses behind the barn

A Small Rodeo

Local  movie producer Ian has been shooting video here  for the

pilot of a new Godzilla video. For now the miniature Godzilla

robot is resting on top of a building while a train rolls by.

His scenery crew has been preparing another area for the next skirmish with Godzilla.

There is also an excavation for drainage to be used in future scenes.

Watch for Maine Layouts in Garden Railway Magazine

On Friday September 9th Nancy Norris from Garden Railway Magazine came to visit Terry & Sue's Norton's garden railway in Eliot. They had it ready, including carefully trimmed trees thanks to local arborist Courtney Goodwin.

Very realistic trimmed leaves

She toured the layout in detail, photographing trains, plants, buildings and scenery. Nancy and Terry also discussed his plans for a new water feature and a granite mountain that will be in the middle of the Vacation Campground.

Where to put the Mountain?

Nancy, Sue and Terry on the Visitors Bench

After visiting Terry and Sue, Nancy was heading north to see Scott Gould's layout in Cape Elizabeth and then to visit Eric Schade in Phippsburg. So watch for Maine layouts appearing the future issues of Garden Railway Magazine!!!

Westbrook Festival of Trees and "Maine Train Lines" Update

MGRS will provide the "Maine Train Lines" layout at the Westbrook Festival of Trees again this year. Paul Corbett has done this for many years, and will again provide the Garden Railway equipment, accessories and decoration.

This year some elves will run the trains. They include Doug Johnson, Art Shean, Dennis & Agnes Farrell, Paul Schnell, David Blue, Grace Miller, and Sam Carr.

The Festival runs from December 2-9. It kicks off on Saturday for "Breakfast with Santa". During the weekday mornings all the kindergarten classes in Westbrook come to see the trees, watch the trains, and have a snack with story time. It is also open for some Festival events and to the Public during specific hours.

The trees are donated by local businesses and decorated by charitable groups. Proceeds from dontations and contributions go to local charities.  If you would like to help  with the trains please contact Sam at 865-4467

Robin and Bill's Train Garden

Here is a very nice "armchair" layout tour of Robin and Bill's Train Garden in Middleborough, Mass. It has trains for grandchildren, good scenery, and a pool beside the layout to jump into on those hot days!!

Robin and Bill's Train Garden