Model Railroad Train Fest is Aug. 17 in Auburn

AUBURN — The Great Falls Model Railroad Club will hold its ninth annual Train Fest during the Great Falls Balloon Festival Saturday, Aug. 17.
The handicapped accessible, two-story railroad club at 144 Mill St. will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All layouts will be in operation, with pictures and models of hot-air balloons temporarily floating in the blue skies above them. A scavenger hunt will encourage everyone to find specific hot-air balloons near the model railroad layouts and in the club’s library.
As they enter, everyone will see and hear the G-gauge trains running on multiple tracks in an interactive winter scene. Children may write their names on small paper hot air balloons and add them to a painted backdrop scene. Younger children will be able to play with toy trains on the play rug and with the wooden Brio train set on the special layout built at a child’s height; parents can watch them while relaxing at the nearby tables.
In one section of the G-Gauge room, children can view Thomas the Tank Engine and the engine named Percy running on the colorful trestle above Thomas. On the main layout, logging trains will run on the large trestle while freight and passenger trains run on the double track below. The extensive HO layout downstairs will be fully operational while work continues on renovations and track improvements.
There is no charge for older children to become Guest Engineers on the layout. Tickets can be purchased at $1 each or 7 for $5 to decorate and eat hot-air balloon cookies and to play the “Balloon Bag Toss” and “Round House Roulette” games. Admission is $5; children 12 and under are admitted free.

PHOTO: Dick Clark of Greene checks the Thomas the Tank Engine layout at the Great Falls Model Railroad Club, 144 Mill St., Auburn, in preparation for the Train Fest to be held at the railroad club on Saturday, August 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Great Falls Balloon Festival. (Submitted photo)