NY Model railroad display opens Tuesday

Model railroad display opens Tuesday

Members of the Funtrak model railroad group bring their display to the Oneida County Historical Society, 1608 Genesee St., Utica, Tuesday, December 22nd. The display opens at 10 a.m., and can be seen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Thursday. Admission to this event is free, although donations "are encouraged."

The exhibit features working scale models of steam- and diesel-powered trains, running along the tracks of a model village that approximates the landscape of central New York. Videos relating to trains and railroading history will be shown on the society’s large-screen television during this three-day event, as well.

All exhibit galleries will remain open.

On the net: http://www.oneidacountyhistory.org/

Holiday Express at University of Tennessee Gardens

Holiday Express at the UT Gardens November 25 through January 3

Garden Railroad Exhibit Features Miniature World of Wonder

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ten garden-scale model trains, thousands of lights and a miniature landscape featuring rivers, waterfalls and more than 100 buildings decorated for the season will delight visitors during the holidays at the UT Gardens. The event kicks off November 25 and new this year will be appearances by Santa every weekend in December before Christmas and a performance by the Akima Singers December 5 at 1:30 p.m.

Visitor to Holiday Express

A young visitor experiences the wonder of the Holiday
Express.

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train at Holiday Express

The Holiday Express roles into the UT Gardens
November 25 through January 3.

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Holiday Express at the UT Gardens, an event for the entire family, features the trains running simultaneously on a quarter-mile track that winds through the fictional town of Ravensford. Visitors will marvel at the elaborate landscape, which includes replicas of existing East Tennessee architecture. The hand-crafted display will be located on the Friendship Plaza at the entrance to the UT Gardens off Neyland Drive.

The event opens Thanksgiving weekend from 12-8 p.m. November 25-28, and 12-6 p.m. November 29. Thereafter, Holiday Express will be open 12-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 12-6 p.m. on Sundays December 4 through January 3, 2010. Holiday Express will also open Christmas Day from 2-6 p.m. and December 28-29 from 12-8 p.m.

“There is no other holiday event in our region of the country like the Holiday Express at the UT Gardens. It’s a wonderful, festive activity for the whole family to enjoy and a great way to support one of our regions’ best treasures, the UT Gardens,” said Sue Hamilton director of the Gardens. “It also exposes visitors to the unique and enjoyable hobby of garden railroading. Children and adults alike are assured an educational and fun time as they explore many of the railroad antiquities on display, many of which are interactive, along with the incredible holiday scene that garden railroading expert, Mark Fuhrman creates.”

Mark Fuhrman has again partnered with the UT Institute of Agriculture and the Gardens to bring his wonderland to a larger audience during this special time of the year. Fuhrman customizes each train car and building by hand with a passion and care that has resulted in one of the largest train collections in East Tennessee.

Cost is $5 per person, but children under age 4 are admitted free. Large group viewings can be scheduled by calling 865-584-7666. The event benefits the research and educational programs of the UT Gardens.

The UT Gardens feature more than 1,000 woody plants under long-term observation and 2,000 varieties of herbaceous plants evaluated annually. The Gardens function as an outdoor laboratory, teaching and research facility, and public gardens, sharing their beauty with over 50,000 visitors yearly. Established in 1983 by the UT Institute of Agriculture Department of Plant Sciences, the gardens are recognized as one of only 34 official All American Selections (AAS) test sites in the United States. Both the UT Gardens in Knoxville and Jackson are Tennessee certified Arboreta and American Conifer Society Reference Gardens.

The UT Gardens is located in Knoxville just off Neyland Drive behind the UT Veterinary Hospital on the Institute of Agriculture campus. From I-40 take Exit 386B onto Hwy 129 (Alcoa Highway toward the airport). From Highway 129 take the exit for Highway 158 (Neyland Drive). Turn left at end of exit ramp. Turn left onto Joe Johnson Drive, and right at the next light onto Chapman Drive. Visitor parking is directly across from the entrance to the UT Gardens.

The Holiday Express is sponsored by the Knoxville News Sentinel, WBIR and the UT Federal Credit Union. For more information, visit http://utgardens.tennessee.edu or call 865-974-7141.

December 17, 2009 | TackyTed

Crossville Model Railroad Club 'good people'

Council hears about 'good people' in Crossville

A happy story about kids and model trains doesn't usually come out of a city council meeting, but Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III shared the story at the December council meeting as an example of what kind of people live in the local community and how an act of kindness can show Crossville in a good light.

Graham read from a letter he'd received from a member of the Crossville Model Railroad Club that has a large display of trains located in the Crossville Outlet Mall. The letter included a copy of an Internet blog post by a mother of two special need children, ages 3 and 4 and a half, about their visit earlier this year to see the train exhibit and how thankful the mother was for some special people in Crossville. The story, posted as part of the mother's blog at http://lifeasaplatypus.wordpress.com

Ref:  Crossville Chronicle, Crossville, TN

By Jim Young / jimyoungreporter@gmail.com

Carter Railroad Museum offers holiday model railroad clinics, workshops

Carter Railroad Museum offers holiday model railroad clinics, workshops

Start Date:  12/1/2009 End Date:  12/19/2009 Event Description JOHNSON CITY (Dec. 1, 2009) – The George L. Carter Railroad Museum at East Tennessee State University is “on track” for the holidays by offering its second annual series of holiday clinics and workshops focused on the art, skills and techniques of model railroading. Members of the Mountain Empire Model Railroaders club – the model railroad experts who staff the museum, create the exhibits and operate the scale model railroad layouts on a volunteer basis – will present these “how-to” demonstrations at the museum during its regular operating hours on the first three Saturdays in December. Workshops begin each Saturday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., and each will last for 15-25 minutes. All are free and open to the public, but will be of particular interest to individuals wishing to learn how to improve their model railroad skills. Each demonstration will focus on a particular aspect of model railroading, from track laying and scenery construction to tuning up rolling stock and painting railroad models. All workshops are interactive, with plenty of opportunity for participants to ask questions, and some will feature hands-on learning experiences. Topics include: December 5 – “Weathering with Oils,” “Making Trees,” “Making Sagebrush Trees,” “Making Fir Trees,” “Laying Track,” “Building a Pond,” “Rock Molds,” “Model Railroad Photography” and “Pastels”; December 12 – “DCC Controls,” “Little People,” “Weathering with Acrylics,” “Wood Kit Tips,” “Dyeing Sawdust,” “Tune-up Rolling Stock,” “Build a Pond,” “Weathering with Oils,” “Making Trees,” “Making Sagebrush Trees” and “Making Fir Trees”; and December 19 – “Soldering Tips,” “Pastels” and “Archiving.” Employees from Book Lover’s Warehouse on W. Market Street will be in the Carter Railroad Museum’s new “Little Engineer’s Playroom” from 1-2 p.m. each of the three Saturdays to read stories to children and to give them free books provided by bookstore owners Bob and Mary Lou Coletti. The Carter Railroad Museum is open every Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Ref:East Tennessee State University

THOMAS IN LARGE SCALE

THOMAS IS COMING IN LARGE SCALE SIZE THIS FALL. LOOKS TO BE THE BACHMANN BRAND, NOT THE LIONEL ONE.

   

May 26, 2009 | Percy Thomas