MGRS Trains at Strive Rocks 2018 on Saturday March 24 from 10am to 5pm - setup starts at 7am

MGRS will be at Strive Rocks for the 3rd year on Saturday, March 24th at the Cross Area in Portland. The event runs from 10am to 6pm. Please help us with setup starting at 7am when the trailer rolls up.

The layout will again be in the glass-walled room inside the Bath Savings entrance on Middle Street.

Cross Arena Free Street Entrance

Here is the layout plan thanks to Art Shean. Its has two train loops and trolley reversing line.

The STRIVE program of PSL Services is designed to address the many issues faced by tweens, teens, and young adults (ages 11-24) with developmental disabilities. Areas that we focus on include: improving fundamental academic skills, developing leadership potential, improving economic opportunities through continuing education, enhancing or upgrading work skills, integrating literary and social skills into occupational/vocational opportunities, fostering career opportunities through education and training, and promoting peer support for parents and siblings of this young population.

MGRS Spring Meeting on Sunday March 18 at the Hometown Buffet starting at 1pm

The club's annual Spring Meeting will take place on Sunday, March 18 at the Hometown B uffet in the Mall Mall, South Portland. The meeting will start at 1pm. Please come early to get your meal before the meeting starts.

Members who staffed the layout at the Mall will be mailed a ticket for a free meal at the Hometown Buffet. It can be used at the meeting or another time.

Move Out for Holiday Train Display on Monday February 5 starting at 10am

The Holiday Train Display will be moving out of the Maine Mall on Monday February 5th starting at 10am. Please come to help us take apart track, pack our equipment and load the club trailer.

Thanks to MGRS for the Festival of Trees

January 2018

Maine Garden Railway Society

Dear Sam and Friends 

Thank you all for helping to make our festival a success again.  As always the train area  was the happening place to be.   We are proud that we were able to donate over the past 17 years $77,000 to our local charities.  This year with your help we will be distributing $3000.00 to each of our charities the Westbrook Food Pantry and the Good Samaritan Fund.

We look forward to you joining us again this December for our 18^th Annual Festival of Trees.  The dates are December 1^st to the 8^th.  Set up will be the last week of November with move in day being Monday, November 26^th.   I’ll call you in the fall.  Take care. 

It was a pleasure meeting you and your other train enthusiasts. Everyone loved your friendly manner and certainly your love of the trains.  Happy New Year to you all.

Thank you, sincerely

Cheryl Leighton

Thank you for the train setup at the mall

I just wanted to say thank you for all the work with the train setup at the mall. I've got a 4 year old son and a 2 year old daughter, and they'd stand there watching the trains for hours if we'd let them. Thanks for all the effort you put in, I know the kids in the community really enjoy it. 

Merry Christmas!

This note was an email from Eric Maughan on 12/14

EIMSKIP Containers on Model Trains at the Maine Mall

EIMSKIP Containers on Model Trains at the Maine Mall

EIMSKIP employees, families, friends, customers, and suppliers are invited to see this train at the Maine Mall during the holidays. The train layout is part of the free “Winter Wonderland” in the former Bon Ton. It is open daily through Christmas Eve.

At North Conway Station

You can find Santa at Winter Wonderland along with fun, games, food and movies for children of all ages.

The container train runs on Sunday, and can be seen on the siding by the Harbor on other days. You can also see pictures and video at http://mgrsmembers.blogspot.com  The Maine Garden Railway Society thanks EIMSKIP for allowing us to us to use your logo on our model trains. For more information questions please send email to mgrsadmin@gmail.com or call Sam at 865-4467.

Through the Drawbridge

On the Harbor Siding

Pictures and Video from the Holiday Train Display

Here are some recent pictures and video from the Holiday Train Display in Winter Wonderland in the former Bon Ton at the Maine. It is open daily through Christmas Eve.

Two trains at North Conway Station

Container Freight and Amtrak Downeaster Video

The Candy Train Around the Mountain Video

Thomas and Percy with the Cable Car Video

Circus Train Amtrak Downeaster and Freight Train Video

Clearing Snow at Courtney Landscaping

Switcher around the Harbor

After the circus unloaded from the train, they paraded through town through town to where the tents would go up and the show would be held.

Leading the Circus Parade

Zebras and Giraffes in the Parade

Circus Bandwagon at the end of the Parade

Horses Practicing Their Routine

Horse Stables in a Tent

Minions go Sailing in the Harbor

Container Unloading while the Cow does a little fishing....

Farm Corral and Vacation Campground

Maine Train Lines at the Westbrook Festival of Trees

This week the Maine Train Lines at the Westbrook Festival of Trees had over 900 visitors. Here is a review of the trains and the trees.

Rolling through the village

                           Click here to view the Steam Train Video

Skating Pond

Custom Harley Pickup and Motorcycle

Christmas Carolers - and they really do sing

Splitting wood for the Fireplace

Waiting at the Train Station

Newsstand beside the Train Station

A Christmas Tree Finds a Home

               And here are a just a few of the many trees at the Festival

Great Outdoors

Westbrook Food Pantry

Alternative Gift Giving

Winter in Hawaii

And wooden soldiers in every size

More on Winter Wonderland at the Maine Mall

Winter Wonderland at the Maine Mall is located in the former Bon Ton. As always, Santa Claus is the main event.

The Holiday Train display is right beside Santa, and there are other attractions. Kids can write letters to Santa, watch movies, color, draw on chalkboards, play giant checkers or chess, and see stage performances.  There is an with props area for families to take their own photos. Mom & Dad can get their gifts wrapped and make a donation to charity. And there are comfortable seats for everyone.

And now back to our regular reporting on garden railways.

Winter Wonderland Boxcar
thanks to Art S and Dennis F

Skating Rink near North Conway Station

North Conway Station and Village

Freight and Passengers roll under the
John Jackson Drawbridge

Thomas the Tank Engine stopping
to pick up coal

On Sunday, December 3rd a train with containers

from EIMSKIP came through. They are a North

Atlantic transportation company with a cargo

handling facility on Commercial Street in Portland.

EIMSKIP Container passing the Trolley Stop

Here are two videos of the container train

Containers Cross the Harbor

Containers Roll Away Through the Circus

Waiting by the Harbor to Load Onto a Ship

The circus is set up in an open lot beside the Harbor.

           Circus Parade with train at left

Clowns entertaining the arriving Guests

Shooting Video at the Petting Zoo

The Great Chimp Escape

Here are some buildings and scenery that

the children of all ages really like.

The Ski Lift and Campground

Before going to the movies you might want to pick up a little popcorn.....

Popcorn Factory Video

And check the time so you don't miss the show

Clock with Santa Sleigh and Train Video

Thanks for looking at this blog post.

Winter Wonderland is open daily

through Christmas Eve!!!!

Holiday Train Display Staff Notes on December 4, 2017

Thanks for helping us provide fun for children of all ages who visit the Mall. Our visitors say they like the new, larger layout!

Starbucks no longer offers free coffee to MGRS Members working on our train display. They stopped doing this after the 2015 holiday season. Please do not ask for free coffee for yourself and others.

If you are wearing your vest, vendors in the Food Court may give you the Mall Employee Discount.

The Club now has a book of layout and show photos. It is on the shelf under the “Hussey Seating” building at the back of the Control Area. There are also books there with

·      Membership Information and Garden Railway Brochures

·      Train Show Flyers

·      List of Train Shows, Model Railroad Clubs, and Hobby Stores/Dealers

Model Railroad Celebration at Maine State Museum

The Celebration started today and continues on December 2nd from 10am to 3pm.

Operating train layouts are provided by the Maine 3Railers O Scale Model Railroad Club, the Waterville, Wiscasset & Farmington Railway Museum and the Great Falls Model Railroad Club.

Here are pictures and video taken today

Boots on a Train

Wreaths Across America

Coffee Shack

        Downtown with Cows by the Station

Mickey's Village

Christmas Train Video

Ferris Wheel and Shooting Star

Carousel and Bumper Cars

Train of Maine Businesses

                  Ron Czaja of the Great Fall Club brought his layouts

                of N Scale, Z Scale and TY Scale trains

N Scale Video 1:160

Z Scale Video 1:220

TY Scale Picture

And here is Santa getting ready for Christmas.......

Reindeer Test Flight