mainegardenrailwaysociety2023

John Jackson's family has invited members of the Maine Garden Railway Society to a celebration of John's life, to be held at the Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth on Friday, August 8, from 2-4 p.m.  Please join in sharing our fond remembrances of John.

I am sad to tell the members of the Maine Garden Railway Society that John Jackson died this morning.  This news is sad indeed, because John was a true friend to all of us who knew him.  He was a man of honor and integrity, the very definition of a mensch.   His loss for the Society is sad because it was John whose inspiration and steadfast commitment lay behind our successful Christmas displays at the Mall; it was John who designed and maintained our blog, which links many of us together; and it was John who was always ready to lend a hand as a volunteer, and to give encouragement, and to share the warmth of his bright smile.  This news is sad, but it is not tragic.  Gigi Jackson says that John spent the past two weeks at home with his family, with his trains, and with the serenity that comes with having made his peace with his Maker.  He died exactly as he had hoped he might, happy in a life well spent. We will miss him.

Gorham House called today to say they need to reschedule the visit to the Overlook Railroad that had been planned for tomorrow, July 24.  We will let you know when the visit is rescheduled.

This is a difficult post because we all loved Ivan and Gerry.  Gerry called Carl and said she has decided to sell Ivan's train collection.  He has an outstanding layout with over 800 feet of track and switches, bridges, excellent buildings, people, engines, rolling stock and transformers.  I hope anyone that deals with her will be very fair and reasonable as she is a very kind and trusting lady.  If you wish to contact her please call Carl and he will give you her phone number. Click here to go to an old post from one of their Open Houses.  There is a very short video of his layout but you can see a powerful FA-FB consist with nice sound and another train.  Click here:    http://mgrsmembers.blogspot.com/2010/07/great-open-house.html His layout was featured in the Iron Horse.  To see the issue please:   Click here : Thank you, John

Carl was delighted today when he opened a letter from Dave Chnupa and saw a check for annual dues.  Not because of the money but because of the love, respect, and friendship renewing represented.  The letter came all the way from Illinois and that is not exactly drop by for a quick visit distance.  Except that is. . . for one special night of the year.  Thank you Santa, we absolutely love you and appreciate the fact that you want to remain a member.  Blessings to you also from us.  

Yesterday Norm called and said he wanted to reserve Thursdays for the "Circus Guys".   Just like old times!  In prior years I had brought a sign up sheet to the Annual Meeting.  He was usually the very first to sign up. This year I missed the meeting but I had the electronic version ready to go and thanked Norm for being first again!  I said I would put it back up on the top of the Blog, right under our Logo. You can click on the "Blue Button" anytime to see the calendar and what slots are open or see who is planning to come in.   Then if you wish to reserve a spot for yourself,  just fill in the simple form and click on submit.  It's never to early to sign up.

 Elected at the Annual Meeting yesterday is the new Board of Directors for the Maine Garden Railway Society.    Pictured below from left to right is Carl Churchill (President),  Arthur Handman (Vice President), Terry Norton (Secretary), Dennis Farrell (Treasure).  On the following line are the Directors at large from left to right:  Mac Mclaughlin,  Denneth Lee,  Ernie Packard,  Hunk Erskine and Phil Sypek. Congratulations gentlemen, we wish you all great success as you lead the organization in the year ahead.

  Let me join the membership and Carl at the annual meeting yesterday when he thanked retiring Board of Directors Dick Cosgrove (Vice President) and directors Paul Corbett and Walter Fossett Jr. for their outstanding service and dedication.   We hope they will continue to serve as the opportunity arises in the future.  They are all real gentleman and have always brought credit to our organization.  Thank you all very much.

At the Annual Meeting yesterday Carl Churchill announced the details of a planned fundraiser to benefit MGRS during this years train display at the Maine Mall.   This year we will be setting up our holiday layout right in front of the entrance to the BON*TON store.  In recognition of our display they have offered to sell railroad engineer caps and to donate all of the profit from the sale to Maine Garden Railway Society.    We could receive as much as a  $2,500 dollar donation  from BON*TON if all the caps are sold.  Wow, that is fantastic news!  Our thanks to BON*TON and the Maine Mall for this  idea !

Today marked the annual meeting of the Maine Garden Railway Society, hosted as it has been for several years by Carl and Pat Churchill at their home in Buxton.  The Overlook Railroad looked especially beautiful this year, thanks to tireless work by Pat and Carl.  The trails behind the Overlook were also a treat to travel through, dotted here and there with flower gardens.  Mac McLaughlin and the Churchills also installed a lighting system for the trails this year. More than 80 members and their friends attended today's festivities.  The potluck lunch was, as usual, the highlight of the day.  Pat's seafood chowder is always memorable, but was especially good this year.  No one makes a better chowder.  As is customary at the annual meeting, officers and directors were elected for the coming year.  Carl Churchill was re-elected President, Art Handman won a narrow victory as Vice President, and Terry Norton and Dennis Farrell were re-elected as Secret...

Here is a picture Scott found of what I believe is our first Lionel display at the Maine Mall.  If plans work out this years tree will look similar and once again represent an "old fashion" Christmas that we hope many will remember.  This year Scott plans to add  a brick fireplace with the warmth of glowing fireplace logs to help complete the scene.  It will be at a more natural room height and be much easier for children to see.  Plus Thomas and Percy will join in on the fun.

I don't know how this happens but sometimes a comment is made and I don't think it is published right away.  It goes into some status call "awaiting moderation" which means I have to approve it.  I have never chosen to do that and I never think to check for that.  Occasionally, I discover that happened and release it right away.  This happened to Rich Young who made the following comment about a month ago.   "Open Invitation for individuals interested in Garden Railroads" 1 Comment -  Show Original Post 1 – 1 of 1   Rich  said... If anyone wants to check out my layout in Portland, just give me a heads up. Right now there are two loops running and 1 point to point. The Point to Point will eventually hook up to the loops. Rich June 17, 2014 at 3:23 PM

  Via Valerie & Dave Chnupa . . . . .  "Blessings and Blue Skies to all in Buxton"  I can smell the grill from here! Thank you Santa, we love you! (Here is a picture by Scott from the archives. I took this out of the 2010 December Iron Horse) John

Saturday July 19th Excellent Weather Forecast  ~At Carl & Pat Churchill's ~  Fun, Friends, Great Food, Auction, Items for sale, Drawings, Displays,  Annual Meeting & Updates.  Please be reminded.  Carl said:  If you want to come, You are Invited! All aboard !

Thank you Art for another great issue of the Iron Horse.  You can see the current issue by clicking here:      May-June 2014 Ironhorse  

Click on image to view   I was on the Conway Scenic site enjoying all their nice pictures when I saw a picture that I recognized.  It was Carl's station at the Mall a couple of years ago.  If you read the comments you will see that member Chris Libby answered the question of who built the model.  It makes me wish someone who knows about Facebook would set up a place on Facebook where people who come to the Mall and see our layout would have a place to post their pictures.  If you are interesting in doing this please let me know.  I can help link the Blog to the Facebook  Account, but I do not want to be responsible to maintain the Facebook  Account.  John

   Tiny sent me some info on  Conway Scenic Railroad  and I was trying to look at pictures of his son and grandson who were visiting Thomas the Tank Engine last weekend.  I did not see them but found some fabulous pictures on Facebook regarding Conway Scenic RR.  Try this link:  Lots of excellent photos: https://www.facebook.com/ConwayScenicRailroad/photos_stream

I received some photos from Paul Smith.  He had some nice colorful shots of his railroad and the Coreopsis blooming a brilliant yellow.  Paul said he and his wife had a yard sale and at the same time introduced several people to Garden Railroading.   Way to go,  Thanks for the pictures Paul,  the layout looks terrific!

OK, Doug sent me this and said it had to go on the Blog.  He said his daughter sent it to him.  So here it is:  Read this very cool!:     Vytopna Railway Restaurant  Czech & International Cuisine Vytopna Restaurant at Wenceslas Square offers good food and drinks at good prices. But its unique attraction is a 400m miniature railway. This runs around the whole restaurant, and even onto the tables you sit at. This is no gimmick, the technology employed is complex. The restaurant's owners are passionate about traditional railways and have developed miniature train networks for years.    The railway tracks pass through tunnels, over drawbridges, through sculptured rock formations and woods, alongside ponds, and the trains pull into stations. The trains reach speeds of 20km per hour. Oh, and they deliver all your drinks to your table, sitting in their wagons! Vytopna is set on the first floor of a large building, with huge windows overlooking Wences...

Hi everybody,    I am taking it easy sitting out in the back yard actually resting.   For me it is a very nice place to be.  I just snapped a few pictures of what I see.  No sound or video, just a few slides.    John I do have the outside loop running, but I prefer to go inside and at the press of a button start it all up with all the lights and sounds that are ready to go.  Outside, I like the flowers and the water garden the best.  When the mood strikes, I can open the window and hook up the outdoor transformer.  ready to go!

Ok, I am back and I received an email from John Middleton.  You know his as the Conductor at the Trolley Museum and perhaps the host on Amtrak as well as an excellent MGRS member.  Well he has a friend who has a friend who has some G scale equipment to sell. Please look over the pictures below. They show some description and prices for item for sale. If you click on the pictures you can see them larger.  I do not have contact information.  If your interested email mgrsadmin@gmail.com and I will forward them to John.  Or I will post the contact info if I get it.