National Train Day 2012

[Bill Piche]

Big doings at the Maine Narrow Gauge this weekend.

“A Day in the Life” – National Train Day Celebration
Celebrate your love of trains by joining us for “A Day in the Life” – A National Train Day Celebration.  The museum will be a hub of activity May 12th & 13th, 2012 for a weekend long celebration of railroads and train personnel.  Weekend activities include demonstrations on hand and whistle signals, coupling the train, and throwing switches.  As a special treat we are offering rides on the Fairmont Car and Pump Car all weekend.  Visitors can stop in the Engine House to glimpse restoration of Monson Steam Locomotive #4 in action!  The museum will offer activities for children and a view of some new exhibits on display.  Fun for the whole family!

In addition, there will be a track crew working on tie replacement out at the Bridge on Saturday.

So come on down to see the progress on #4, catch the Farimont speeder in action, or lend a hand with some spiking ;).

[Mike Fox]

More ties? you guys keep going and you will be in great shape. In more ways than one.

[John Kokas]

What time does the track crew normally shove-off to go up the line?

[Vincent "Lightning" LeRow]

The track crew usually starts gathering materials and etc. arround 9 and shoves off arround 9:30-10.  Work is usually winding down about 4:30 for clean up and we put the engine to bed before 6.  Just in time to head to Beckys for dinner!

[Bill Piche]

More ties? you guys keep going and you will be in great shape. In more ways than one.

And how, Mike. We did 9 ties (most of them in mud and just about all of them disintegrated) in about 4-5 hours of work a few weeks ago with a 3 man crew + a bucket operator, all hand spiked (the compressor didn't come out because we didn't have anyone to spare to tow it).

It's certainly in our best interests to do as much tie replacement before the weather heats up as we can. We have another 50 (give or take a dozen) to put in this year, as well as a bunch more lifting and leveling. Leveling the area around Cutter street will probably take over the work (along with track bolts) once we're past Memorial Day as the scenery out there gets better with weather.

Walk-ups are always welcome, and I'll do my best to get the word out for anyone interested in lending a hand at future work days.

[Dan Shelley]

  I really love MNG, but I was there 2 weeks after this event, and the yard is so overgrown. I asked if they ask for volunteers to help around the place to keep it clean. But I was asking high school kids, whose rooms most likely look the same, messy. I was interested helping them in the past but I was publicly asked? I even got a cab ride, and asked the Engineer how things worked around their railroad? But didn't received the answer I was looking for. I did volunteer at Biddleford Station, but the next time I made it up there, they closed???
 
  I hadn't been to MNG since 2006. I was pleasantly surprised to see all the changes in the museum.

  I hope the new home of MNG in Gray ME gives them more opportunity to grow.