InfoAge Holiday Train Display

InfoAge Holiday Train Display - 2008

InfoAge Science-History Center	A Science/History Learning Center and Museum
2008 Holiday Trian Display


2008 InfoAge Holiday Train Display Sponsored by the Garden State Central

All photos on this page courtesy of Bob Ortley - GSC
INFOAGE 2008 HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW This year Infoage invites everyone to the Third Annual Holiday Train Show. This year’s show is bigger and better than ever! The current show has expanded to involve more model railroad hobbyists than ever before. Once again the show is sponsored by the Garden State Central Model Railroad Club, a partner group of Infoage. In addition to it’s modular layout regularly on display year round at the Marconi Hotel, the GSCMRR has built and operated an extensive permanent layout in the club’s headquarters in Asbury Park. The layout is based on real coal hauling operations between Scranton PA and Jersey City as they once existed in the 1950’s. For more information go to www.gardenstatecentral.com The first thing you will see as you enter the Marconi Hotel is the beautiful holiday decorative display in the main lobby complete with Lionel Trains around the tree. Special thanks goes to Doug Natale of the GSCMRR for this wonderful display. Turn left and follow the hallway to the main dinning room for the first stage of the train display. To begin with, the fine craftsmanship of the John Pugh Circus Ring Circus Model Builders will be on display with circus themed layouts. These feature O , HO, N and Z gauge trains. Lots and lots of Christmas trees are also on display featuring many different types of trees with handcrafted ornaments. Next to the trees is also a nice N gauge layout being built by Doug Natale and his sons Jonathan and Nick. You won’t miss the gigantic display of Mike Golub’s O gauge Coca Cola trains, memorabilia, collectable houses and airplanes. Proceed through the rear hallway out of the dining room, turn left and follow the many train signs… Down the ramp… to… TRAINLAND! Here you will see the expanded new exhibit hall featuring the main display of many different portable train layouts that have been built just for this event. Special thanks to Nels Warren and the organizers of the recent Haunted Hotel display that was open to the public during October. What was once the haunted house has now been converted to the Train Station gateway to the main train display area by the members of the GSCMRR. The inside of the train station is filled with the decorating work of Sarah Lang and Colleen Ortley. Returning once again is the Shark River Railroad Modeling Group, operating under the umbrella of the GSCMRR. Rob Bird, Steve Lang and Bob Ortley built this multi-seasonal and multi-scale layout featuring N gauge and HO gauge trains featuring the Shark River Railroad, other Eastern railroads and Christmas Trains. Steve also brought back his Paddle Creek Junction Holiday N scale layout from 2007. But the group also added three more layouts for 2008. Steve built an N scale version of the Pine Creek Railroad that operates in Allaire State Park. (Kids, ask about the push buttons!) Bob also built an N scale layout called the Darby Creek Central named after a creek in an area just west of Philadelphia. Also, a Lionel display featuring the Polar Express and ceramic Christmas houses are just the thing for the Holiday Season. The GSCMRR went all out with its giant G gauge display featuring many different types of these large gauge trains. Let us get you in the Holiday mood with Christmas trees , decorations and live music too on the final weekend of the show featuring “Extra Innings”. The Train Show continues Fridays 7:00 to 10:00 PM and Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 to 5:00 PM through Sunday December 21st. Steve’s Paddle Creek Junction. Lots of G Gauge! Come on in and see the trains! The Darby Creek Central in Pennsylvania. Santa in the Train Station. Thomas Viaduct of the GSCMRC. Z Gauge in a Briefcase! John Pugh Ring Circus Modelers. Mike G and his Santa and Coke memorabilia.
But that's not All.......

Afterwards visitors can tour portions of the Marconi Hotel and grounds to see the work in progress to preserve the site. On display will be dozens of World War II Anniversary posters and artifacts provided by the Old Wall Historical Society. Also on display will be dozens of photos showing the key role U.S. Army Signal Corps personnel and equipment from Fort Monmouth and Camp Evans played in winning World War II.

In the history of World War II, Camp Evans holds an important place. Historians call World War II the "Radar War." They even call radar "the invention that saved democracy." Now is the time to dedicate this unique historic site as a World War II memorial to those who helped win the war with advanced electronics.

By preserving the site, children can learn how science can benefit society in the very same buildings where World War II engineers and home-front veterans helped save democracy. Could there be a more fitting memorial?

To honor the service of World War II veterans, the Borough of Belmar, the Township of Wall and the County of Monmouth passed resolutions designating the Camp Evans Historic District as the World War II Living Memorial. Council member John Szeliga of Belmar, Wall Mayor Edward Thompson III and Freeholder Ted Narozanik sponsored the resolutions.

Fort Monmouth was the center of World War II communications development and Camp Evans was its secret radar laboratory. Army officers, civilian engineers, scientists, draftsmen, carpenters, metal workers, quality testers, documentation writers, patent specialists and thousands of home front veterans worked 10 to 12-hour days; six days a week to make sure Allied forces had the best radar and communications equipment possible.