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:

Fun in the Mud

My grandson brought over his 1/12 scale mud racer and my driveway was the perfect place to try it out!

Quick video watch it here:


So how can we get the slot cars or the radio control cars integrated with the Mall ?

My Apologizes

I just discovered these and I am not sure what they are.  They look like comments made by readers of the Blog that somehow got held in "awaiting moderation" ?  I did not intend to ever do that.  I just stumbled across them as I was looking at some maintenance menus.  Sorry, I will post them now.  John

Comments from Dick Cosgrove on his also getting a Bachmann

US Mail Rail Car.  Thanks Dick, 

Comments from Tiny on Garden Railway Magazine.

Comments from Jake Brewer on his Mall Video which I did see.  Thank you Jake

Here it is again  Click here:

And comments from Jim Alberty who made a new video which I had not seen before; Thank you Jim!

Please click here to see it:

Spent a lot of time filming this year's setup and had a lot fun. Link to the final video - with an original score - is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz4xi1aph80&feature=youtu.be Hope you enjoy it. Can't wait to see what you come up with next year regards, Jim Alberty on Train Videos from 2013 Jim Alberty on 1/9/14 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjyCTJFrVIY That is the link to the YouTube video of the mall today. feel free to post this on the blog. Sorry the quality isn't the best I used software on an ipad to post it from my phone. I will post higher quality videos that are full screen when I get my computer. Jake on Maine Mall Day-6 Jake on 11/16/13 yes, I will get those videos up asap Jake on Maine Mall Day-6 Jake on 11/16/13 missed those two tiny on Garden Railway Magazine tiny on 11/3/13 Mine came today & it's great. Got the US Mail one. It's a really good deal. on Greed - a good motivator Richard Cosgrove on 10/28/13

How Kids play with trains

I remember doing this exact thing with my kids when they were very young.  I loved it too!  Aurora and Tyco slot cars and an HO crossing track.  I laughed as I listened to these boys enjoy the close calls as they really had fun playing "Will it make it or not?"    Click here to watch video

PIKO America

Here is a link to PIKO America Web Site.   You can find information on everything PIKO produces.  Costs, Descriptions, Pictures.  Take a look Click here:

   

6 Reasons to choose G scale

I don't need that many reasons but just in case you ever feel that you need to justify your love of G scale you can refer to this article I recently found.  Click here to read: 
 

Take a trip around the "Big Green"

It might also be called the 'Big G" but either way it is available to see this weekend at the NHGRS Milford Train Show.  Good food, lots of displays, excellent conversation but no vendors.   If you have never seen the NH layout it is very impressive.  It takes over 4 minutes to make a loop and fills a gymnasium size area.   Here is a video of "Big Green" taken from the the Milford Show a few years ago. 

See it live this weekend at the 13th Annual Milford Train Show.  Hrs: 9-4 Saturday and Sunday at the Milford High School,  100 west Street, Milford NH.  Hosted by the Lions Club and NHGRS.  Adults $5, Children $2,  ($12 max per family)

 Click here to watch:  

Oh Boy, oh boy, oh boy!

Just as happy as the dog waiting for his beggin strip, I was anxious to hear about what Carl was able to bring back from the ECLSTS for the Club!    Here are some pictures of similar items:  They include a LGB
 2-6-0 Mogul Steam engine, A brand new Trolley car which Bachmann just released this month and a train set by Aristocraft named after the Rogers engine which includes a freight car, tank car and caboose.  Plus we have another new engine not show which also came from Bachmann.   Thank you Carl you did very well. That was a good trip, and we all look forward to seeing them in action at the Mall this year!.

Click to enlarge view:

Going up!

  Chicago commuter train crashes and tries going UP an Escalator!
"The train actually climbed over the last stop, jumped up on the sidewalk and then went up the stairs and escalator," Santiago said.   Read the story here:
 

if you recognize the man on the left, ECLSTS says HI.

York? Yowser!

Terry Norton lightened Pennsylvania by several hundred pounds this weekend, as he brought back home to Maine several boxloads of Aristo-Craft trains from the York Large-Scale Train Show.  Carl Churchill, Mac McLaughlin, and Scott Gould went along just to see Sue Norton's reaction when Terry got home.  They also bought a few toys for themselves, as well as a nifty engine for next season's MGRS Mall display.   Word has it that Dennis Farrell also unburdened Pennsylvania, bringing home a new LGB Amtrak train.

If you've never made the trip to York, it's definitely worth a spot on your bucket list.  One very large exhibition hall is filled with only large-scale trains.  None of that pesky HO stuff you have to wade through at other shows.  No boxes full of rusting three-rail track.  Just trains big enough for those of us whose hands are full of thumbs. 

Just take a look.

Pictures from Boston Flower Show

 A friend of mine who knows I like trains recently visited the Boston Flower Show and took these pictures.
 Thank you Tom!  It must have been a great show.  And now - Spring IS Here!

From Eric ~ Trains at Owl Head this Weekend

John--

I will be at the Owls head Transportation museum this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) with the "Brigadoon Light Railway" track and trains for some live steam action.  Several other live steamers will also be there to share the track.  You and the Garden Railway Society group are all welcome.  If you have a battery, clockwork or live steam train you would like to run on my loop you would be most welcome.  There will also be an HO scale modular layout by the Great Falls folks.  there is a lot of other interesting stuff to see as well.

Here is a link to the museum's Model Expo event  http://owlshead.org/events/detail/model-festival

I enclose a photo of the last appearance of the railway at The WW&F back in December.

Thanks Eric,  Will pass this along for all to see.  Hope you have a great event!  John

Model Rectifier Corp ~ Your the Best!

I have two of these MRC POWER G Transformers and I love them.  Strong, sturdy and reliable!  I often run 4 motors (2 USA diesel engines) on the same track plus lots of track powered signals at the same time.   No problems for years.

But, I can mess up anything and one day last week I turned it on and nothing happened.  It was sitting on my workbench and I had been using it for testing.

I contacted MRC and the repair department was very helpful.  I wanted to send it back for them to repair.   I figured I had finally burnt it out and I was willing to pay to have it fixed if it wasn't to much.
They said they would guarantee to repair it and send it back to me for $55 dollars.  I thought that was pretty darn good because they cost over two hundred dollars.   BUT, before I do that: Try this first.   They told me how to take it apart and find a fuse inside.  It was very easy to do, but I would not have opened it up on my own.  I went to ACE Hardware and got the fuse, it worked like a charm.   THANK YOU MRC.  You guys were terrific!   Highly Recommended.  Add Honest and Responsive to your list of attributes!

Oh Boy!

http://www.eclsts.com/

The big show is about to start. Very early Thursday morning Carl, Terry, Mac and Scott headed out to the ECLSTS.  Good luck guys, have a safe and good trip.  Bring us back some presents!