Thanks to MGRS for Trains at Strive Rocks 2018!

Hundreds Enjoy Strive Rocks 2018 at the Cross Arena in Portland

Here are pictures of our layout at Strive Rocks courtesy of Art Shean.

Junior Engineer helping Ben run the trains

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MGRS Train Layout at STRIVE ROCKS! 2018

The following  picture and article are courtesy of WGME TV.

Fun and Games in the Arena

PORTLAND (WGME) - A family-friendly festival attracted hundreds of families on Saturday all in the name of raising money for a good cause.

Organizers say the STRIVE Rocks 2018 Festival provides families a safe space to enjoy music, play games, and spend time with their kids. The festival raises money for STRIVE, a program that helps people with intellectual disabilities.

The festival was split into a daytime and nighttime event. The daytime event geared toward families features inflatables like a Velcro wall, a petting zoo and arcade games. The overnight event geared towards teens and young adults will include live bands, photo booths and all-you-can-eat food.
Organizers say they hope the money raised will help people with learning disabilities become more independent.

"Learning to be able to stay home independently for a few hours while their parents go to a movie or to a wedding, or for some it might be to get a job or to get their own apartment. Our goal is really to have everyone be a part of the community and really to be giving back to their own communities than be dependent on it," said Peter Brown, Associate Director of STRIVE.

Good Day Maine's Katie Sampson served as one of the festival's emcee's. Follow her at @KatieWGME on twitter for updates from the festival.

Toy Trains at the Augusta Elks

Here are some trains that don't run in the garden....

You can see the video (after you wait through the ad) at

Model Train Show at Augusta Elks

It was all for the annual train show sponsored by the Maine 3-Railers.All aboard....destination? Augusta, Maine for the annual train show sponsored by the Maine 3-Railers.A group with not just a hobby but a love for model trains.

"It's really neat to show off to people because a lot of people like it, and the kids come up to and say, "wow look at the train!,” said Maine 3-Railers member, Jackson Small. The model railroad club is noted for its operating displays, demonstrations, and of course, interacting with others mesmerized by the fast track

"Here to greet the people and talk with the people, and talk about trains, model trains,” explained President, Dana Sullivan."We have a layout for kids to run some stuff and then we have a whole bunch of our cars that we've designed over the years that are on display, and we're showing off some of our equipment,” said Small.13-year old Jackson Small became a member just four years ago after his grandfather showed him the ropes. Now, he's doing the same for others pulling into this station.
"When you see the smiles, it's really touching." And with all the technology out there these days, Jackson says he always encourages folks to stop by and learn more about these mini-locomotives.

"There is a lot more technology these days with Lionel trains and MTH, where the younger kids obviously have the phones and all the X-box's and stuff and know how to run it,” said Small. “But, it's also nice to see how trains work because it kind of gets them into

the hobbies and then they can pass on the experience to their kids.”

MGRS Spring Meeting Update

MGRS held its Spring Meeting on Sunday, March 18th starting with lunch at the Hometown Buffet in South Portland.

38 members, spouses and friends attended.  And club membership has increased by ten since the July Annual meeting.

STRIVE ROCKS!

Our next event is a train display for Strive Rocks at the Cross Insurance Center in Portland. It runs from 10am-5pm on Saturday, 3/24 with setup starting at 7am.

MILL FIELD FESTIVAL

Our next public event is our 3rd visit to the Mill Field Festival in North Berwick on August 25th in North Berwick. For the kids there will be "drive a train" tickets so they can run the throttle.

ANNUAL SUMMER OUTING - JULY 14th

The Annual Summer Outing will take place on the second Saturday after July 4th, which is July 14th. Pat and Carl Churchill have again offered the Overlook Garden Railway for the club to hold this event. A volunteer committee solicits help from other members for the event. Frank Howard and Joanne Tarbox will repeat last year's phone calls to each and every members. Norman Waycott will take care of the drinks. Grace Miller and Andriana Colucci also offered to help with this event

Sue Hoffman is making two quilts for the raffle at the outing. One will be a children's quilt with a "Thomas" theme, and the other an adult quilt with a major railroad theme.

Andrianna Colucci offered to make railroad themed pillows for the raffle.

REMINDER: Please bring items for the Club's Annual Auction. Our private auction firm of Braithwaite,  Howard and Norton is ready to go!

JUNIOR PROGRAM

Ben Braithwaite talked about the Junior Program he is developing. It came our of interests expressed by kids and parents at the Holiday Train Display. He is looking for sponsors and a location. Casco Bay Ford is interested in being a sponsor.

This would be an after school program, and the parents would bring the kids. It would combine model railroading and after schools studies. The club would provide the initial layout. Bill Goodrich spoke about his experience as a Boy Scout Troop leader. Roger Tobin and John Middleton talked about the overnight Scouting Camp at Seashore Trolley Museum as an example of what we could do..

MGRS Chosen for Hannaford Reusable Bag Program in April- MGRS gets $1 for every bag purchased at the Buxton Hannaford in April

We have some very exciting news!

The Hannaford Supermarket located at 21 Hannaford Drive in Buxton has chosen MGRS as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program!

This means for the entire month of April every time either of the Community Bags are purchased at the Buxton Hannaford
we receive $1!

This is truly a great opportunity for us, and an easy way for you to show your support for MGRS

Please go to the store, find the reusable bag rack and buy a few bags!

And remember to spread the word – the more bags purchased, the bigger donation to MGRS

For more information about the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program, visit hannaford.bags4mycause.com.

Videos of all eight Holiday Train Displays Available on DVD

The videos of all eight Holiday Train Displays are now available on a single DVD. Members can pick up their copy at the Spring Meeting on March 24th or at the Annual Outing this summer

The videos are courtesy of Jim Alberty and John Jackson. They will be shown at our events and used to help recruit new members.

MGRS Member Layouts in the April 2018 Garden Railway Magazine

The article "Rails in New England" by  MGRS member Nancy Norris is in the April 2018 issue of Garden Railways. It includes layouts by MGRS Members and friends, including

Winnegance and Quebec Railroad by Eric Shade

Dave and Jenny Miller's rural New Hampshire railway

Scott Gould's Aberdaron, Pwhheli and Cricceith Railway

Terry and Sue Norton's Groton and Charleston  Railroad

Paul and Brenda Smith's Bagley Mountain Railroad, showing how to keep evergreens alive through the winter

Ralph Luby's elevated garden railway using PVC pipe

John Middleton at Seashore Trolley Museum

Nancy met John by chance when she visited the Trolley Museum. John also helps Stan and Deb Ames with their operating sessions. That railway will be featured in the next issue of Garden Railways.

Mall Move out and Winter Wonderland

On Monday February 5th a crew of MGRS members packed and loaded our equipment into the trailer for upcoming events. It includes engines, rolling stock, track and electronics.

Shopping for trains at the Mall.....

The tables and mountain built by the Mall are still in place. One of the options for the 2018 Holiday Train display is to move the tables out where the giant chess and checkers were in 2017. This is a larger space and may allow our display to be wider.

Some equipment and props used only at the Mall is being stored in one of the storage areas we used during the 2017 event

Parking on the Sidewalk

Members who helped included John Middleton, David Blue, Terry Norton, Andy Hendrickson, Ben Braithwaite, Scott Gould, Doug Johnson, Peter Richards, Art Shean, and Sam Carr.

There is a nice video of a family visit to the Winter Wonderland. It starts is writing an letter to Santa and goes on to the trains (of course)... Here is the link to the video

Winter Wonderland at the Maine Mall 2017

MGRS Photo Book and Membership Drive

The club has a new photo book. You can see the photos at

MGRS Photo Book

These photos are also on a digital picture frame we will have at our events. It displays a new photo about every five seconds.

The photo book is part of drive to recruit new members. Here is what will be available

• Invitation to join MGRS -picture below, application on back

• DVD of the Holiday Train Display videos from 2010 thru 2017 - copies will be available at the Spring Meeting

• Getting Started with Garden Railways brochure from Kalmbach along with copies of Garden Railway Magazine

Trains in a Mall 2017 Annual Video Thanks to Jim Alberty

Here is Jim Alberty's annual video of the 2017 Holiday Train Display at the Maine Mall.  He has made a video with music for us each year since we started in 2010. Thanks again, Jim, for another great video!

Trains in a Mall 2017

As Jim says, "Happy Holidays, merry Christmas and all the rest .... the Maine Garden Railway Society kindly let me film and score their annual display at our local mall here in Maine ...creating this is my gift to me and sharing it is my gift to you .... I hope you enjoy it with my best wishes for good health, joy and deep thoughts .... regards - Jim

2017 Mall Video from Bill Goodrich

For the last several years Bill has taken a video of the Holiday Train Display at the Mall. Here is the 2017 edition. It  is about 9 minutes long and covets the entire layout.

Mall Video from Bill Goodrich

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