Locomotives, a Coal Train and Circus Models

Members and visitors have add to the fun this week at the Mall.

Rio Grande 205 Steam Locomotive and Tender

Rio Grande 2015 Runby

Santa Fe A-B hanging out with Thomas

Coal Train from the Caboose

Coal Train m the Engine

Santa Fe Coal Drag Runby

DRG&W Mixed Train Runby

Two visitors looking at the Circus Train told us about places with circus models. They also showed us pictures and video from their cameras.

One is the Brook Green Gardens in the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina. The web site is  http://www.brookgreen.org/

Here is one of the pictures you can see by searching for "brook green gardens model circus"

Another is the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont on Route 7 south of Burlington. The web site is

https://shelburnemuseum.org/  

Here is one of the pictures you can see by searching for "Shelburne Museum Circus"

Moving Out on Monday, January 2nd at 9:00 am

Please help us take down the Holiday Train Display on Monday, January 2nd starting at 9am.

Ben has arranged for Casco Bay Ford to loan us a van for the move as he did when we move in.

As in the past, our job is to go from "All Aboard"

Back to empty tables....

Our last day of running trains will be Sunday, January 1st

Rolling Through Christmas

We have now run through Christmas and are heading toward the New Year. Here are some recent photos and video.


Jim Jenkins ran his Candy Cane Express Train just before Christmas

Candy Cane Christmas Express Engine

Candy Cane Christmas Express Passenger Car

Candy Cane Christmas Express Runby

James the Red Engine pulling candy in his Dump Car

LGB Tourist Train loading at North Conway

Thomas taking a well-earned break

On December 26 John Middleton brought in his "Maine Train" including Moxie and Poland Spring freight cars.

Maine Train Runby

And Jim Jenkins ran a pair of New York Central A-B diesels with five Pullman passenger cars

New York Central A-B Diesels

Pullman Passenger Car

Pullman Train Runby

Running trains at the mall

Everyone had fun running the trains. Dominic (with Ben) and Jace Morse (with me)  took the time to show Ben and me how to operate the railroad.

More Trains at the Mall and Steam Up for the Holidays!

Here are some recent items from the Mall and other places. Over the weekend a young man noticed that we had the tender and coal car from James (the red engine) near the transformers. He asked to have James put on in place of Percy, and we did that. Another pair of young men noticed that one of the safety gates on the trolley was loose. Fixing that led to talking about the back-and-forth unit for the Trolley and the station stop unit for the Amtrak.

European Freight with Crocodile Engine and Amtrak

Rio Grande Freight

European Passenger Train with Railway Post Office

Because of scheduled maintenance, no Amtrak  Genesis locomotives were available to run at the Mall late Sunday afternoon. A short term contract was arranged to bring in Baltimore & Ohio #5321, a 4-6-2 steam locomotive.

B&O 5321 at North Conway Station

Amtrak under Steam

And here are trains in other places.....

Maine Central Steam and Diesel at LL Bean

And you can find a locomotive at the Hannaford in Yarmouth.....

Steam up for the Holidays!

MALL Trains

It sure is nice running trains inside when it is so cold outside.
I just rebuilt this Bachmann 4-6-0.

11th Annual Candy Cane Train

This year the Candy Cane Train ran on the Amtrak Downeaster  with a round trip from Brunswick to Portland and back. This train is fun for children of all ages, and is the primary fund raiser for Tri-County Literacy in Bath, Tri-County Literacy Web Site

The fun starts when children and parents arrive at the Brunswick Visitor Center, which is also the Amtrak Station. Here they can pick up their tickets, drink hot cocoa, listen to stories read by Mrs. Santa Claus, see model trains, and enter raffles for books and a model train set.

Model train layout

Polar Express and Freight Trains roll through Town

The layout and the rest of the station is crowded until its time to board the train

Then everyone heads for platform...

Amtrak Conductors greet the passengers

On the train small groups of children have stories read to them.

There are cookies, songs from the Noreasters Chorus, fun with the Elves, and a visit from Santa!!!

Here is a video of the Candy Cane Train rolling out of Brunswick toward Portland at 8:30am on Saturday, 12/10

Candy Cane Train rolls west out of Brunswick for Portland

For you Railfans,  the consist includes two Genesis diesel locomotives, four passenger cars, and a dining car. They came in from a Boston to  Brunswick run, made a  Candy Cane trip, and then were off from Brunswick to Boston again.

All four trains were sold out. You can plan for next year! Tickets usually go on sale around November 1st. More information can be found at Candy Cane Train Information

Train Video Runbys on December 7

Here are some short videos of trains running by at close range.


Boston & Maine Coal Train and Circus Train Runby

Steam Work Train and Downeaster Runby

Downeaster and Circus Train Runby

Mall Photos from December 2, 5, and 7

Here are some photos from the Mall, including trains brought in by members

Terry's Greenhouse at the Farm

Norm's House under construction - topped out with a traditional tree

North Pole Express stops at North  Conway Station

North Pole Express Passenger and Baggage Cars

John Middleton's Mixed Freight with Moxie Car

Band Practice at the Circus

Signs about MGRS - thanks to Carl

Young Thomas and Percy have a ride....

Fox on a loading dock????

A small newspaper stand

Crossing Gates down for the Trolley

More Holiday Spirit from the Westbrook Festival of Trees

Here is some more of the Holiday Spirit that Paul Corbett creates through detailed decoration at the Westbrook Festival of Trees.  Take a look - see what surprises you can find...

Welcome to the North Pole

Ice fishing with poles?? From a bridge?? Is the duck cold??

Farm Equipment Dealer. Rusted car body at upper right

A village scene. Can you see the wolf?

Waiting at the station. Do you see the dogs?

Who needs a tow? Maybe that fancy, red car?

Christmas Tree Sale Lot. See the board of Wreaths?

Motorcycle Shop Front View

Harley-Davidson Sign

Alaska Billboard on the Roof

Motorcycle Shop through the glass roof - left side

Motorcycle Shop through the glass roof - right side