Annual Picnic model/toy train sale

[Marcel Levesque]

By some extremely generous donations of model and toy train collections to the museum has given the the Archives Department an opportunity for a large sale from four different collections during this year's Annual Picnic which will be held in the Car Barn.  The list of manufactures will include but not limited to Accurail, AHM, Alexander Scale Models, Athearn, Atlas, Bachmann, Banta Models, Bennington Scale Models, Branchline Trains, Bowser, Cooch, Design Preservation Models, E&B Valley, Funaro & Camerlengo, Grandt Line, IHC, Jordan Miniatures, Key Imports, Kibri, LaserArt, Lambert, Lionel, Magnusson Models, Mainline Models, Northeast Scale Models, Proto 2000, PFM, Red Caboose, Roundhouse, SS Ltd, Shinohara, Suydham, Tichy Train, Timberline Models, Train & Trooper, Train Miniature, USA Trains, United, Vollmer, Walthers, Walthers/Cornerstone, Williams Brothers, Woodland Scenics and Vintage Reproductions.  The Board of Directors, the Archives Committee and the museum at large are extremely thankful for this opportunity to help generate funds that help support the efforts of the archives Committee to organize, catalog and preserve our historical memorabilia. 

[Bruce Wilson]

One of the most enjoyable past-times is visiting your local neighborhood hobby shop. Now in all honesty, there aren't very many of those shops in business anymore. You could expect quality products, reasonable pricing and a knowledgeable staff.

I think of past visits I've had to Tucker's Hobbies out in Warren, Massachusetts, Rainy Day Trains in Scarboro, Maine and McDonald's Hobbycraft of East Weymouth, Mass. And I'd be remiss to leave out Matt and Martha Sharp at the old Train & Trooper and Bob Werner of the Hobby Barn.

Those men all brought an enthusiasm to their customers and stories that you could drain a pot of coffee to.

I mention all this only to recognize the effort and attention that Marcel is putting forth. Each week he has worked steadily to organize, clean, check and price a literal mountain of donated model railroad  equipment. He has set up a retail area over in the museum's gift shop and regularly restocks as needed. I'm certain the tables that he will be managing at the Annual Picnic (in the car shed) will go a long way to respecting the old time hobby shop experience. I hope all visitors to the Picnic will look him up and bring an empty shopping bag to fill up for winter projects.

Many of the kits look brand new and might make good Christmas presents to put under the tree. Seems a long way off, but the way time goes by, not really.