John and Paul at the Mall

John & Grandson Jameson

 Note: Photo on left from Front Page Press Herald (That's Paul in upper left).

Here is a link to an album with some short clips of trains that Paul and I ran today.  We both had a very good time and once again everyone we met said how good the layout looked and how much they liked  it.  One little girl was so delighted to be handed Thomas the Tank Engine to look at that she sweetly kissed him and quietly handed him back saying "good bye".   Lots of men asked questions and we have handed out a lot of applications but who knows what will develop from that.  But, we are definitely getting our name out to people and we are making a good impression.  So, lets hope that continues and we all have a great time together at the Mall!
Click here for video clips:

Maine Mall Trains

I was a little hesitant about doing the trains at the mall. Was I wrong!! Rich and I had fun and the people in the mall got to enjoy the trains. All the transformers and controllers are labeled and the hardest part was choosing what train to run next.
Don't be afraid. The people looking on do not know that the caboose should match the motive power (if you even decide to use a caboose).
Just have fun.

A Great Sunday at the Mall

 

I  am sorry the picture is not better

but that is our own RICHARD and TERRY

running the trains.

Like the big layouts of the 1950's

Today I was a happy spectator as I met my daughter and grandsons at the Train Display. Terry and Rich were in charge of operating trains and they were having a terrific time and doing a great job. I messed up my camera card and lost all my pictures, I apologize. But, I can report many members have stopped by and it is turning into the best thing that we have ever done to show what MGRS is all about. The proof is in the smiles and comments that the people are returning back to us! Mac said that it looks great in the evening when the skylight darkens and all the lights of the layout reflect back. I think Walter took some pictures and as they come in we will post them.

The Sentimental Journey Begins Today

Saturday, November 13, marks the official first day of the Maine Garden Railway Society Holiday train display at the Maine Mall. Even Santa has been on hand to see the trains. Hats off to Carl Churchill, John Jackson, and Mac McLaughlin, who, along with many other MGRS volunteers, have worked tirelessly to bring this sentimental journey to the folks in southern Maine. Come join us in celebrating the days when a highlight of the holidays was seeing Christmas train displays!

Pictures of Opening Day at the Maine Mall Train Display

Thanks to Carl, Mac, Barry, Buckie, Tiny, Jim, Scott, John (plus many members that stopped by) and of course Santa Claus! 
Click here:  to see album of pictures and video clips
The display is very good, one lady went by and tapped me on the shoulder and said "This is the best layout I have ever seen". That is exactly the reaction we were hoping for! That is the way many of us felt when we first saw a big store layout years ago.

Everyone is welcome to drop in any time for the Train display at the Mall

Definitely YES!  A member asked if more then two people could be at the display at a  time.  Saying he would love to drop in.   Yes, we want all the members to stop in any time that they would like to.  Hope we see you on Saturday! Thank you for the question.   

LGB and Polo Items for Sale

 Jim Curry has contacted us to sell some items.  Jim said "I’m a former member.  I run exclusively live steam and I’m getting rid of some of my 20+ year old surplus."  Many thanks for the consideration.
Kind Regards,
Jim Curry

 I also have some POLA Euro buildings the club may want for layouts, $50/each.  2 stall brick engine house ($320 retail), Schonweiler Switch Tower($200), Schonweiler Station($380).
While I don’t have a complete inventory, here’s a sampling.  $15/each. LGB Euro equipment:
4003 small container, 4003k small container, 4003r small container
4011 covered gondola
4041 x 2 hoppers, 4141 hopper
4031 box, 4032 box, 4034 box, 4036 box, 4036 box 
4042 crane
4040c tank

Please contact me at the following email address:    jjc@structureguard.com

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans from MGRS

A Special 'Hello" to our Maine Veteran friends that visited us in 2010.

Military Songs: Click here for Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine.
Hint:  Right click and Open in a new Tab.   Then you can see the blog as the Military Anthems are playing.

We do appreciate you. Thank You very much.

Video by Eric

Eric is famous for his love of live steam and for his excellent video's.  Here is a recent clip he shared.  I will pass it along for all to enjoy.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWlA6CiseQ

Tree of Damocles

The storm last Sunday night left a 60-foot pine tree dangling over the bridge and buildings on the Vaguely Wiscasset & Quebec. The VW&Q crews have no clue how to get it down without taking the railroad with it. Any suggestions will be much appreciated.

Looking Good at the Mall

 Trains are running and people are drawn to them like crazy!!  The people at the Mall who walk by our display area are really appreciating what they see!  Many many people seem to really enjoy  looking at trains.  I swear the first train move 2 inches and people started taking pictures.  Denneth Lee ran his Disney Handcar on the elevated line and people loved it!  We only have one operational problem and that is being worked on.  The "snow" is very fluffy, it looks great but it has to be "flattened down" a little around the track so that it will not catch on the train.    This afternoon the senior executive in charge of everything at the Mall walked by and was so impressed at the buildings that he saw, he asked if we could bring in more.  Paul Corbett came to the rescue with a truckload delivered today  and Carl went back to Buxton and picked up his model of North Conway Station.    I guess the Mall decided they would move some of their decorations off of the stage so that we would have some more room.   They even held off decorating for a day in case we could bring in some more buildings on short notice.  If you have a favorite building you would like to show off at the Mall, call Carl right away and maybe you can arrange for it to be displayed. It's Looking Good! 

Maine Mall Holiday Display Takes Shape

Thanks to the help of many members of the MGRS, the Maine Mall Holiday Train Display was off to a good start today. Carl Churchill and John Jackson, who have shouldered most of the responsibility for this first-ever event, were joined in constructing the display by Andy Hendrickson, Jim Magner, Earl Richards, Mac MacLaughlin, Barry Sandford, Scott Gould, and Dick Cosgrove. Although most of the heavy lifting has been accomplished, MGRS members are welcome to help out tomorrow (November 9) as we complete preparation.

Setup Day ~ Thank you all

I am almost to pooped to post,  and I did not work as hard as a lot of others.  The Mall came through once again and built a first class platform out of nice 3/4 inch plywood.  Very nice, and it was ready for us to go at 8 o'clock despite power outages and raging storms,  Our guys made it in also despite all the bad weather. In short we all did a great job and it will look very nice.   All the track is in place and we will be finishing up some details tomorrow.  I want to take time to thank the setup guys for doing such a great job,  Andy Hendrickson,  Jim Magner, Barry Sandford, Dick Cosgrove, Mac MaLaughlin, Scot Gould,  Earl Richards, John Jackson and Carl Churchill.  And I know at least two more that if it were at all possible they would have come.   Thanks again, I can't wait to Wednesday morning when the decorations are done.      

Tomorrow is setup day at the Maine Mall

Yahoo!   Let's hope everything goes well.  We haven't even seen the stage yet.  I think the Mall likes to have things "suddenly appear" and they do not usually want construction going on during operating hours.  But tomorrow they get to watch a good construction show.  I would say all are welcome but if your not scheduled to come in please wait until afternoon if you just want to stop by and wish us well.   Tuesday is a backup day in case Carl needs to call for any adjustments.  Tues night the Mall does their decorating.  So, Wednesday is just a play day to do a little testing or clean up any of the decorations (like our track) covered with artificial snow or something.  That reminds me Carl found some great ballast the other day at Home Depot, It looks like coal, but it is to scale.
Thursday is Veterans Day.  I am sure the Vets will be busy, but I wonder if they would like to stop over for a private preview. I guess there is not time to plan that, besides they are planning to come see us some time when Santa Clause will be there.  You'r never to old for Santa Claus.

Thank you Bill

I do not have your email address on hand to send you a thank you, but I got your "Form reply" to help out on Dec 11th.   Carl told me you are a new member and driving all the way up from Mass.  Thank you, we appreciate your enthusiasm.   You chose your own hours, which is great.  I want other members to know that they can do the same thing if they need to.  Thanks again!  John

Mall Progress Update

Carl and I took two of his model buildings over to the Mall this morning.  Gorham Station and what I call the "Castle".  It reminds me of the 'Castle in the Clouds' in New Hampshire, a brick mansion with a round turret on either end. That worked out great because we met all  the Security and lined up a special entrance and dolly for the Monday morning setup.  I was hoping we could see the staging, but we only saw the raw material.  The assembly will not be until Sunday night after the Mall closes!  So when we walk in Monday morning we will be the first to see it.  (That's a little scary, but exciting).  Carl plans to back up his truck filled with track the majority of it donated by Carl, Rich Young, Dick Cosgrove, Barry and Scott (Super thank you!) at 8:00am Monday Nov, 8th.   We will load up the dolly and go in to the Center Court area when the big relief moment will hopefully occur "Ooooh that looks good".    We will have 2 days to finish up.  On Tuesday night, the Mall design consultant will come in and do all the Mall decorations,   So, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we should have a finished layout sitting there ready to go.  The big guy in the red suit will be there ready to go Saturday at 10am when the Maine Mall opens and the trains start to run!

Kids in "Train"ing

 I got a kick out of watching this little boy and listing to his Dad play with their battery operated Thomas trains.
 Take a look click here:

Steamup in Phippsburg

I will host a steam up on Saturday November 6th from 10am to 3ish you are all welcome to come by. You may bring a live steam or battery powered engine to run on my line or just come to see the fun.

give me a call if you need directions 386-0129

--eric

Sand Pit Video

Very Cool!   This was sent in by Tiny.  I love it, it is a great video.  I have to watch it again to figure out how everything works. Thank you.
To see the video click here:

I looked up the track plan, here it is:

  I was fascinated with this and for some reason reminded me of a toy I bought years ago.  It was called "Thomas Big Loader" and it was an engineering wonder to watch as it perpetually moved 'rocks' around the display and back to refill itself.   
 

One week from today is setup at the Mall

Imagine in one week we will have a train running at the Mall.  By next Monday if all goes well the stage will be built and covered, the double main line track will be laid down and trains will be able to run !  The two Christmas tree circles will be  ready and hopefully the elevated line will be completed or at least very close to it.  That will probably take the most time as bridges and trestles need to connect the risers which have to be pre decorated.
We will be cutting up some tablecloths that are earth color to cover the risers to represent "mountains or hills".  The risers are box shape so that we need to add some broken up pieces of styrofoam under the cloth to make them look like rough terrain.   We can use as much as we can collect, so if you have some that you want to get rid of, here is a good way.  Drop it of to us on Monday, Nov 8th at the Main Mall.   The layout will not be decorated until later in the week.  That will give us a few days to make adjustments and check everything out.