PGRS March Meeting Minutes

Greenberg's Train Show

On February 14th and 15th, the train club did our first Greenberg's show in quite a few years, and “Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory” was the theme. It just seemed right, being that the 14th was National Chocolate Day and the 15th was National Gum Drop Day. Many of the club’s members volunteered to help and the show ended up being a really fun event. Numerous people stopped to asked questions, got down on the floor with their children, and settled in to watch the three trains. Percy was the outside track engine for the Candy Cane Train, pulling two flat cars filled to the top with the red and white delights. This train needed to be run at a fast speed to keep little hands from plucking the candy canes. We did lose a few, none the less. The second in from Percy was the Gum Drop Train, with its special paint job on the engine reflecting the many colors it hauled inside the four cars hitched to the 0-4-0. The third engine was one of Thomas’ friends, James.  Thomas wasn’t feeling well, something about a bad bearing. He just sat on the grass watching the Gumdrop people, the Chocolate Factory (Jan Vogt donated), the Mushroom and Topiary forest teeming with assorted candies, and of course the cars filled with many chocolate candies that James was transporting. Little houses with chocolate sidewalks were scattered through out the 10” X 20” layout for the gum drop people. Somehow a gumdrop polar bear, two gumdrop penguins and their igloo, and a giant gumdrop spider showed up. There were so many things to delight the eye that many people just sat there for a long time in wonderment.  All our applications for membership were handed out to interested people, and hopefully we will be able to welcome new members as a result of all the hard work.
 

The feedback was entirely positive. We are thinking of using it again for the Castle Shannon Show on November 1st. That date just happens to be National Candy Corn and National Candy Day. November is National Model Railroad Month as you might know, so it will all fit with our “Wonka” decorations.
 

The officers of the PGRS would like to thank the people who showed up to help during the show and its teardown. Without you there would be no reason for the club. We would especially like to thank the people who did the set up on Friday; showing up at noon, helping other railroad venders unpack so we could get to our spot. Then setting up and not leaving until long after dark, dog tired with only the satisfaction of a job well done to warm them on their frigid drive home. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. 

Submitted by: Alycefaye