Friday, January 13, 2012

Youngstown, OH: Model Railroad Flea Market Held

You've missed it this year, but put it on your calendar for next year:

http://www.youngstownmodelrailroadassn.org/
From WKBN 27: Model Railroad Flea Market Held

Hundreds attend a bargain event for a popular hobby in the valley.

The Youngstown Model Railroad Association held their annual flea market, complete with merchandise and equipment for all model railroad interests.

The event is the main fund raiser for the Railroad club and it will support their club rooms and layouts. After experiencing record attendance at open houses held last year, members were expecting over seven hundred people at the flea market.

"One thing it proves is there's still a lot of people interested in trains and equipment for model railroads and prototype equipment. EVen though the economy's down, there's still looking for bargains. This is where you'll find it.", explained James Pope, Chairman of the YMRA flea market.

This year's market is the biggest one yet in terms of merchandise and vendor tables.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Attention train fans: Railroad Museum of Pa. announces 2012 events

From Montgomery Media: Attention train fans: Railroad Museum of Pa. announces 2012 events
xperience the awe-inspiring power of trains and the fascinating heritage of our nation's railroading on display during 2012 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. There is something for everyone to enjoy in the Museum's family-friendly and innovative education and preservation programs. The world-class collection of more than 100 historic locomotives and vintage railroad cars includes everything from classic woodburners and mammoth steam locomotives to sleek, electric-powered and diesel engines. A number of authentic locomotives and railroad cars are open regularly for visitors to explore.

Take the throttle on a simulated run in a real Norfolk Southern freight locomotive cab, sit in an engineer's seat, climb aboard a caboose, explore Steinman Station early 20th century replica passenger depot, inspect a 62-ton locomotive from underneath, view restoration activities in real time via closed circuit TV, enjoy hands-on activities in Stewart Junction railway education center, view exhibits of art and artifacts in the second floor gallery and browse the Whistle Stop Shop museum store.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's main Rolling Stock Hall now features climate control year-round, for the comfort of visitors and the preservation of the major artifacts. Please call ahead, visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's web site and Facebook page or join the email list for more information and programming updates.

Events and other activities currently slated for the Museum in 2012 are:

* CHARTER DAY: Sunday, March 11. Observe the 331st birthday of the Commonwealth, amid Pennsylvania made and operated historic rolling stock, here at the Keystone State's official railroad museum. Regular Museum hours. Open to the public free of charge.

* ROLE OF RAILROADS IN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE CIVIL WAR: Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, December 30. Railroads were a key to the successes of both the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War, and the contributions of Pennsylvania's railroads were an integral part of the Union's eventual victory. From supplying the Armies with munitions and food, to transporting troops, prisoners and communications, the Civil War was the first war in which railroads were a major factor.The fascinating photographs, documents and artifacts in this exhibit tell the story of Pennsylvania's railroads during the War Between the States. Regular Museum hours. Included in the regular Museum admission.

* CONRAIL DAYS: Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 13. Conrail arose from the wreckage of six failed railroads in the 1970s to become a profitable and successful private enterprise. This program highlights the equipment, history and people of Conrail, and is presented in partnership with the Conrail Historical Society. Regular Museum hours. Included in the regular Museum admission.

* NORFOLK SOUTHERN DAYS: Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3. Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Norfolk Southern! Meet today's railroaders and view exciting contemporary and historic railroad equipment on site from the "Thoroughbred of Transportation." Operation Lifesaver, music by the Norfolk Southern Lawmen and special presentations will also be featured. This program is presented in partnership with the Norfolk Southern Corporation. Regular Museum hours. Included in the regular Museum admission.

* READING RAILROAD DAYS: Tuesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 8. Enjoy the remarkable Reading Railroad trains of eastern Pennsylvania history through tours of Reading Company equipment and a huge, operating model railroad from the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. Regular Museum hours. Included in the regular Museum admission.

* BARONS & BUILDERS DAY CAMP: Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13, for ages 9 & 10 and Monday, July 23 through Friday, July 27, for ages 11 & 12. Kids build, create, learn and play as they explore railroads and railroad history through a program of unique tours, innovative hands-on projects, field trips by train and special demonstrations. Each camp has a limited number of openings on a first come basis. The cost is $175 per camper ($125 per camper for Museum members). Registration begins February 1, 2012. Please call after the June 4, 2012 deadline to determine if spaces are still available.

* HOGWARTS EXPRESS PARTIES: Friday, August 10 and Saturday, August 11. This is where the magic happens! Kids are encouraged to dress like their favorite Harry Potter character for a reading in one of the Museum's historic coaches. They will also create potions and a Hogwarts-inspired take-home craft. Advance registration, with a $10 per child fee ($5 per child for Museum members), is required. Hogwarts Express Parties are offered on a first come basis. Recommended for children ages 8 to 13. Registration begins July 2, 2012. Regular Museum admission rates also apply.

* MEMBERS DAY: Saturday, September 22. Museum members enjoy special members-only presentations and other great railroad and Museum-related activities. Also held during the day is the annual business meeting of the membership. A not-to-be-missed evening banquet-honoring volunteers, members and other special friends-caps off a full day. Advance registration is required.

* GARDEN RAILWAYS TOUR: Sunday, October 7, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Enjoy a self-guided tour of various private homes, featuring unique garden railways with operating model train layouts. Garden Railways Tour tickets are $10 per person for ages 6 and over, and go on sale at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania beginning July 23, 2012, and at all Stauffers of Kissel Hill locations in central Pennsylvania on September 1, 2012.

* TRAINS & TROOPS: Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4. Honor our veterans, and the men and women currently in uniform, while you experience many splendid railroad and military archival displays, enjoy patriotic music and learn the significant role railroads played time and again in the defense of our nation. Regular Museum hours. Included in the regular Museum admission.

* 1940s SWING DANCE: Saturday, November 3, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Jump, jive and swing to the popular Sound of Roses live band among the trains in the Railroad Museum's huge Rolling Stock Hall. Come dressed in military uniform or 1940s clothing, if you like, to revive the past! A special savings combination ticket, per person, for the dance and both days of Trains & Troops is $35. The dance ticket only, cost per person, is $25. Veterans, active duty service personnel and Museum members are admitted for $20 per person.Advance tickets are highly recommended. Call, stop by the Museum store or visit the Museum's web site. Dance tickets go on sale beginning February 14, 2012.

* HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Saturday, December 1 and Saturday, December 8. Take a nostalgic glimpse at holiday rail travel and meet costumed engineers, conductors, ticket agents and passengers representing the past century. Enjoy seasonal music and festive decorations among our world-class collection of trains. Visit Santa and send your personal telegram to the North Pole. Regular Museum hours. Included in the regular Museum admission.

* POLAR EXPRESS PARTIES: Saturday, December 1 and Saturday, December 8. The conductor calls all aboard for a reading of the new classic holiday story in one of the Museum's historic passenger coach. Kids who believe are welcome to dress in their pajamas, and will delight creating their own seasonal take-home craft and receiving a small bag of goodies. Advance registration, with a $10 per child fee ($5 per child for Museum members), is required and is offered on a first come basis. Recommended for children ages 3 and over. Registration begins October 22, 2012. Regular Museum admission rates also apply.

RAILROAD MUSEUM RAMBLES: The Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania annually sponsors trips to great destinations of railroading, historical, scenic and general travel interest. Join us for one or more of these memorable excursions to take in the sights and sounds of railroading. Registrations are currently being accepted for "Riding The Rails of America's Great Southwest," June 16 through 23, 2012. Additional 2012 Rambles will be announced.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania scheduled hours of operation for the year 2012 are:

• January through March, November and December: Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• April through October: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will be open to visitors on Martin Luther King Jr Day, Presidents' Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day and Black Friday in 2012.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will be closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day in 2012. The Museum also will be closed Mondays from January through March and Mondays in November and December.

Regular admission prices for the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania are: Adults 12 to 64, $10.00; seniors 65 and over, $9.00; youth 3 to 11, $8.00; and children 2 and under, free of charge. Most special events and exhibits are free of charge to members of the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Proceeds from events benefit the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's important education and preservation programs. Hours, admissions, events and other activities may be subject to change without notice.

Information on Museum reserved group tours-including the Restoration Shop Tour, Children's Tour, White Glove Tour and Curator's Tour-facility rentals, education programs, school groups, merit badge programs, outreach programs, membership, volunteering, business partnerships and charitable giving is available on the web site or by calling the Museum.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is located on PA Route 741, Strasburg, ten miles east of historic downtown Lancaster in the heart of the beautiful, Pennsylvania Dutch Country of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. For information on area lodging, dining, shopping, entertainment, historic sites and other attractions, go online at www.strasburgpa.com,

www.padutchcountry.com or www.visitpa.com or call (800)PADUTCH or (800)VISITPA.

Additional train-related attractions, all within a mile of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, include the legendary Strasburg Rail Road-just across the road from the Museum-the captivating National Toy Train Museum and the engaging Choo Choo Barn. The official railroad museum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, with the active support of the non-profit Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

For more information on Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania programs, collections and operations, call (717)687-8628, log onto www.rrmuseumpa.org or visit the Museum's Facebook page. Smartphone users may visit m.rrmuseumpa.org.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Atlantic City, NJ: Electric train show and a chance to take a nature hike highlight events At The Shore Today

At The Shore Today: Electric train show and a chance to take a nature hike highlight events At The Shore Today
Electric-Train Heaven in Richland

What It Is: Sure, Christmas is over, but that doesn't mean all electric trains have to roll back into hiding for another year. The Patcong Valley Model Railroad people are just opening up their amazing display for the next three weekends to post-holiday visitors.

What To Expect: This is model-railroad heaven, in HO scale. The Patcong Valley model train train buffs are always expanding and improving their display, which is based in a building remodeled to resemble an old-school train station. So rail buffs of all sizes should find something to fascinate them.

Event Info: Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday, also Jan. 14 and 15 and Jan. 21 and 22. The station is on Route 40 at Fir Avenue in Richland Village. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. For more details, visit www.patcongvalley.com.

Wildlife Walk at Cape May Point

What It Is: With more warm weather forecast for today, it could be a great time to get outside. Cape May Point State Park is offering a free family wildlife walk at 1 p.m., followed by craft activities and refreshments.

What To Expect: This is one of the world's great bird-watching spots, so it's always wise to look up when you walk around this 235-acre park - which is also the home of the Cape May Lighthouse. But these walks are guided by a naturalist who also knows how to point out what's been tracking around on the ground, animals that could include everything from foxes to coyotes to deer to otters to raccoons and more.

Event Info: The walk is Free. The group leaves at 1 p.m. from the museum at Cape May Point State Park, 299 Lighthouse Ave., Cape May Point. For more details, call 609-884-2159.

Model trains replicate journey from Tehachapi to Barstow

From Bakersfield (CA).com) Model trains replicate journey from Tehachapi to Barstow
Here at Bakosphere, we like all things Kern County, especially if they're in miniature. A model train group from San Diego recently built a model train layout for a journey from Tehachapi to Barstow in San Bernardino County.

The rub here is this is an Amtrak journey. The video is beautifully shot and the layout -- at least it feels this way -- is huge and diverse. Of course, trains are a huge fascination on You Tube and you can find train-related videos of all sorts there.

Just take a visit to YouTube to begin your journey but for now: ALL ABOARD.
(Kindle readers - you need to go to Youtube to see the video below)

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Monday, January 2, 2012

Easton, MD: Festival of Trains sets attendance record

You've missed it this year - put it on your calendar today for next year.

From the Star Democrat: Festival of Trains sets attendance record
CHESTER The annual model train show sponsored by the Queen Anne's Museum of Eastern Shore Life had a record turnout this year. The head count for the show's two weekends this year was 4,220, compared to last year's 3,330. The largest single day's attendance, on the second Saturday of the show, was just less than 1,200.

The show is sponsored by the Queen Anne's Railroad Society and the National Capital Trackers, two organizations of model railroad buffs who exhibit their collections in elaborate running displays. The show, now dubbed the Festival of Trains, was held at the former outlets at Kent Narrows. Organizers believe good weather helped contribute to the turnout.

In addition to the train layouts, Santa Claus was on hand for the youngsters.

Raffle tickets were sold for chances to win five model train sets. At the end of the show on Sunday, Dec. 11, five children in attendance were selected to draw the winning tickets. They were Grady Felton of Centreville; Daniel Williams of Queenstown; and Faith Hartlove, Bradley Hartlove and Grace Hartlove of Stevensville.

The winners of the train sets were Joyce Wesolowski of Stevensville, who won a G-Gauge Polar Express; 2-year-old Kevin Flanagan, son of Stephanie Flanagan of Stevensville, who won Funny Train No. 1; Harry Frisch of Philadelphia, who won Funny Train No. 2; Carl Hedges of Annapolis, who won the Santa Fe Express; and Ava Price of Church Hill, who won an O-Gauge Polar Express.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

PA: Model train display at the Palmerton Area Heritage Center

From TimesNews.com (Pennsylvania): Model train display at the Palmerton Area Heritage Center
Who doesn't enjoy the sight and sounds of model trains at the holidays?

Boys and girls, men and women – from five to 95 – can delight in the model trains showcased a collection at the Palmerton Area Heritage Center. They range in size from HO gauge to "Thomas the Tank Engine."

With the help of a number of Historical Society volunteers, and with loans from local collectors and railroad buffs, a unique display of locomotives, cars, photographs, and memorabilia will be on display at the Heritage Center through the end of February.

There are custom-made replicas of the New Jersey Zinc rail cars and engines, including the famous Mack railbus; dashing reproductions of the passenger trains of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, highlighted by the famous orange-trimmed "pumpkin" version; and models from the Pennsylvania and Reading lines.

Many will be able to reminisce over the Lionels they ran in their youth. Vintage Chestnut Ridge Railway scenes also complement the displays.

The exhibit is surrounded by a magnificent collection of old photographs that have been professionally mounted and donated to the society by the Lehigh Valley Heritage Center in Allentown. These capture a unique record of area railroad history, and include a stunning photograph of a long line of coal cars being pulled across the L&NE bridge at Lehigh Gap.

A similar display has been mounted by LVHC in Allentown. Information on their dates and times are available at the Palmerton Heritage Center.

There is no charge for admission to the Palmerton Area Heritage Center, located at 410 Delaware Avenue next to Bert's Steakhouse. It is open to the public on Wednesdays from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Special hours for groups and for those traveling from a distance can be arranged by calling (610) 824-6954.