Pictures from Wed 12-5

 I just missed Carl, Mac and Dennis who had a busy day fixing things but I was lucky enough to catch Dave, James and Jim entertaining the crowds and having a good time!


Here is Jim cleaning some 'snow' off the gears of his "Shay" 

Westbrook Festival of Trees Train Layout

  Paul Corbett has been displaying a compact, yet full of action, train display at the Westbrook Festival of Trees in Westbrook, Maine for about 9 years. 

  The Festival located at the Westbrook Warren Congregational Church in Westbrook, Maine is in its 12^th year, running from December 1 through December 8, 2012.  It is a charitable event that has become a Westbrook institution serving as a fundraiser for local charities.  It also serves an opportunity for the community to come together.  In addition to quite a number of decorated trees,

 the Festival features crafts, ornate model buildings,

and, of course, Paul’s layout.

 

 

  The layout is well adorned with hand crafted models including a junk yard, a village commercial center, a cider mill, skating pond, and a train station. 

 

 

 The locos and cars are faithfully painted in the livery of the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad of northern Maine.  The sign may qualify for the "Whacky Signs" feature of The Iron Horse.

 

  The Festival is well attended.  Paul related that there are over 700 visitors each year.  This morning (12/5/2012), the event was visited by over 100 elementary school students from the Westbrook Congin Public School.  

 

 

It is always gratifying to see the look on the youngsters’ faces when they first encounter the trains.  Their young but keen minds ask intelligent and interesting questions that Paul patiently answers.

  Hats off to Paul (and Walt Fossett who assisted him) for entertaining and educating the Festival visitors and providing great visibility and publicity for our Society.  Paul looks forward to a successful week and forward to next year’s display.

Inspection Day ~ We looked Good

   Carl and the crew looked sharp today as they prepared for the GGP Inspection Team.  Everyone seemed very pleased as the group toured Center Court and tried out  every Interactive display we had!  They seemed all smiles, but to tell the truth so does everybody else that stops to enjoy the trains.  The MEC train was freshly loaded with a car stacked full of Christmas trees and the Amtrak was right on schedule.  Everything ran well, plus we had a good audience of interested onlookers. 

Merry Christmas from Seashore Trolly Museum

Click on images to enlarge. photos by Dick Rubin.

Schedule for Paul Corbett Festival of Trees

Click here for more Information on Festival of Trees

Located in Westbrook Congregational Church, Maine St Westbrook
Map to Parking out back.   Entrance off of Westbrook Bypass.

Dec 1, 2012 ~ Maine Mall

Ben and Jake did all the work and Dick and John did all the talking.   Yes, a perfect match, we all did exactly what we enjoy the most.   I guess that's the way it should be.  Dick said he likes Saturdays the best because you get more people,  and we got a lot. The boys tried out many combinations of trains.  One man used to work for the Canadian Pacific and heard we had one running.  He was disappointed when it was not running when he got there, but Jake found it and put it back on.  The man ran and found his wife to borrow her camera and had a ball taking pictures.   Way to go!  Please take a look at pictures and clips from today  ~ Click here: 

On a cold Friday morning, about a dozen veterans from the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough, Maine came to The Maine Mall to visit the Maine Garden Railway Society’s train layout and be honored.  About a dozen Society members were also present to honor the veterans.  Dick Cosgrove, Society Vice President, welcomed the veterans and thanked them for their service to our country.  It was a double celebratory event in that Jeannine Lessard, the Home’s Recreation Director, is leaving her position as of this date.  Jeannine has been escorting the veterans to Carl and Pat Churchill’s house and garden railway for many years.  She will be missed.  Carl presented to her a token of the Society’s appreciation of her association with the Society and the fine work she has done at the Veterans’ Home.

The Society also presented the veterans with several model train gifts to enhance the layout at their facility which the Society helped to set up and maintain.

A highlight of the event was a musical concert by Don Campbell accompanied by his wife Tonya Shevenell.  Don sang a medley of patriotic and holiday songs honoring the veterans’ service to our country.  He also distributed a CD of his music to the veterans.

The Mall staff, Stefanie Millette – Events Coordinator, and Craig Gorris, Mall Manager, was on hand to provide gifts and refreshments for the veterans.  Many thanks go to them for their fine efforts in making this event so successful.
After enjoying some hot chocolate and donut holes, the group posed for a picture before departing the Mall.



More on the Veterans visit

What a great Day!   The celebration for the Maine Veterans went very well.  Lots of MGRS members were on hand.  Stefanie did a terrific job organizing chairs, hot chocolate, donut holes, cup cakes etc.  Carl had all the presents wrapped and gifts ready.  Don Campbell, Maine's famous singer/songwriter was ready to do a special show for the Veterans.   Everything came off as planned as VP Dick Cosgrove made a very nice welcome speech and Carl presented Jeannine with a special gift as well as lots of nice presents for the Veterans!  A whole train with a beautiful PICO engine! 

  The Veterans had a great time and they were tapping their feet and hands to the beat of the music  as we enjoyed snacks and a good start to a very Merry Christmas!

Please click here to see more pictures and video clips of the fun. 

Thanks to all for a great visit!

Pictures from Art 11-29

Thank you Art, I am trying something a little different to see if viewers on the Blog can see this Album without being asked to "sign in".  Hopefully that will work. If you have a problem please let me know,
thank you John
To view,please click here:

Remember the Veterans visit Tomorrow morning

 Thursday, I stopped by late today and Art, Norm, Jim, Carl, Mac and James were there and even Santa brought someone over to see Thomas.  Everything was running well.  I caught up with Mac and did get a MGRS cap.  ($20)  they are embroidered and available in black and khaki.
 
I think Art has pictures from earlier today.  The only ones I took where of John and Hunk who team up for the afternoon shift.

 Here is John with his favorite Moxie car as well as two others that he brought in which are also favorites.  Hunk was making a bridge repair when I left and said he was scheduled to come back tomorrow afternoon as well. Which does remind me:  The Maine Veterans will be in tomorrow morning to visit the display.   MGRS plans to honor them as well as Jeannine who will be completing her last day tomorrow.  Please try to come by if you can.  We have gifts to present and also there will be special music as singer/songwriter Don Campbell will be performing.

Nice Hat !

Art stopped by the Mall today and Dick and Walter were there.  Everything was running fine plus Dick was sporting a new style cap with a fine looking MGRS Logo on it!

Hey we all want one of those!  I heard there is also one that is done in black.  

If you want one I guess you have to let Mac or Carl know.  I am not sure.  Will post info when I know for sure.   

Thank you Art.

Happy Tuesday

 Tuesday means "Trains" at least that's the way I remember it.   That's the nice thing about picking the same day each week to come into the Mall.

 Tiny always gets there before I do and today he had his impressive Canadian National passenger train all ready to roll when I arrived with my MEC freight hauling GP9.


                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                         
Today I met a man who has been a member for many years but we met for the first time today.

His name is Dana Jipson.   A great guy who loves
to talk trains and ended up buying a vest from Carl
as well staying most of the first shift.  He even ran everything by himself for a while!

Later, Jim Hinkley stopped by and in the afternoon John and Mike were in early to take over.  John loves Moxie and brought in his favorite car plus many others to make up a nice freight consist.

Mike and James were trading war stories down in the cafeteria on a short break.  You know one of the best things about this event is getting to know some of the guys in the Club.  It works that way every year!

Today we had some professional talent singing and they will be returning especially for the Vets visit on this Friday.  Carl invited Don Campbell and his wife back to a special performance.  Christmas music was playing, Carl and Pat stopped by to conduct a little business down at the Mall office.  Friday with the Veterans is shaping up to be a nice event.  Please try to be there if you can a little before 10:30am.

Here are a bunch of short video clips from today
Please click to view:

Nice Photos from Jeff Jacobs

John

 

Spent a few hours at the display today with Mac, Mike, Dennis and Hunk. All ran well. Following pictures are of the usual suspects and a few selected scenes. Use them if you wish. Hope to catch up with you there one day. My trips to the Mall are never preplanned, but on my next visit, I will bring the O gauge Polar Express to run.

 

regards

 

Jeff Jaocbs

 

  This is exactly what I hoped for.  Thank you Jeff, Excellent pictures!  Glad you had a good time. You were in with a great group of guys!  Yes, please bring in your Polar Express, I bet the kids will love it!

Thanks again!

To see Jim's album please click here:

 

Poor excuse but Good Ideas

  I did go in on the day after  Black Friday but I "lost" my camera,  (I later found it).  Sorry no pics.  OK, that is a poor excuse.
 But I did have a chance to wish Barry & Buckie a safe trip south.   I also picked up some interesting info!   Craig (respectfully speaking) our version of  "Sir Topham Hat" or the head man at the Mall said   "I heard your thinking of a waterfall next year"  he said approvingly.   WoW!!! I thought to myself, Waterfall and Next Year!    Two pretty big implications.    I guess Carl has been hard at work behind the scenes.  They both Sound good to me!

  Before Barry left he walked me around the layout and had two more pretty interesting suggestions.

 1.  A long point to point Trolley line that weaves it way using single tunnel portals around 3/4th of the layout.  Connecting the village and station scenes together.   We all ready have the capability it is just a matter of running the track.

2.  The second idea involved the saw mill.  It would have a small work engine moving some cars back and forth a short point to point work line.  They would pause at the sawmill and then continue on to the end of the line.  When the train returned it would automatically switch itself over to a passing siding and stop on the other side of the sawmill.   This would continue back and forth switching sides and pausing at the Mill.   Yes, an electrical challenge but it probably is something that we could do.

Black Friday

 

Here are just a couple of pictures from Black Friday.  It was crowed but not real bad.  Parking lot was full.  Art was taking pictures so I figured it only fair that I should get one of him.  Jim M and family stopped by, it was great to see them!  They are talking to Barry.  It was also great to see Barry & Buckie before they head south.  They are great members and so are their friends Ivan & Gerry who we really love and wish them both continued excellent recovery on recent health issues.  Keep up the good work and have a great winter! 
Click here for a couple more pictures and short clips from today:
Thank you:  Carl, Mac, Mike, Ben, Art, Barry & Buckie, James, John

Here is something to be thankful for!

 

 

Pictures from Wed 11/21

John and Walter made a great team as they took care of everything during the morning shift.  I saw a train Walter had the other day on the upper loop.  It was really nice looking and you can tell it was very well maintained.   

 

Carl and Dennis (and Mike) who eluded Arts photography took over the controls for the evening shift. Today things are quiet on the train set.  One day of rest before we shift into hi gear!

Thank you Art for the pictures. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Please enjoy the holiday and remember we still have a lot to be thankful for.

Maine Vetrans Update

  If you have ever been to a Maine Veteran's outing at Carl's you know who Jeannine is.  A wonderful person who has been a great help to the Veterans and we were very sorry to hear that Nov 30th will be her last day as a member of the staff of the Veterans Home in Scarborough.  

   But we will have a chance to thank her personally as well as honor all the Veterans that she will be bringing over to visit us at the train layout!   On Friday, Nov 30, 2012 at about 10:30 am they will arrive to visit us and to see Santa Claus as they have done the past two years we have been at the Mall. 

  If you can be there please stop by.  We want to show our appreciation to Jeannine and the Veterans and wish them all the very best and help them have a Happy Christmas Season from all of us!

11/20/12 at the Mall

Tuesday at the Mall was good.   Tiny arrived unbelievably early and had everything under control when I came in with more trains to run. We each ran two of our trains.  Carl stopped by and later Norm brought Ernie Tarbox by the layout and I enjoyed hearing his stories. Art stopped by with his camera and showed me the green status light he has wired to the Lionel transformer.  Jim arrived and answered questions from several inquisitive viewers.  Later John and Mike took over the afternoon shift.  They both are naturals talking to people.  We ended up putting the Amtrak and Walters nice little MEC back on.  Both are very popular!  

Click here for Pictures and Video Clips: