Train making tracks for 'home'

CROGHAN — The Railway Historical Society of Northern New York is preparing to receive a model train layout with north country roots that's been featured at the National Toy Train Museum for several years.

To make room for it, the society is auctioning off a layout that's been at its headquarters at the Croghan Railroad Depot Museum on Main Street for several years.

"Anybody involved in railroading knows about the Lowville and Beaver River Railroad," said Donald A. Mooney, president of the Railway Historical Society. "It was one of the most successful class one railroads in the country."

The 11-mile Lowville and Beaver River Railroad was in operation from 1906 to the late 1980s. Mr. Mooney said the tracks are still intact and the railway society hopes to offer scenic excursions on the northern part of the line between Beaver Falls and Croghan someday.

Mr. Mooney said the 10-foot-by-12-foot Lowville and Beaver River HO-scale display was professionally built by Jeffrey Paston of Syracuse as part of an eight-issue series in the magazine Railroad Model Craftsman. Many landmarks as seen decades ago between Lowville and Beaver River were re-created in HO scale.

"It got started as a request by an editor at the magazine," Mr. Mooney said.

It was then featured at the National Toy Train Museum in Paradise Township, Pa.

John V. Luppino, operations manager of the museum, said he isn't sure how long the layout has been at the museum, but it predates his 1998 arrival there. It was replaced in 2007 with another exhibit.

"It was significant because people could see a project that was professionally done," said Mr. Luppino.

He said the museum, which features four sample layouts, gets about 50,000 visitors a year.

The railroad display will be featured at the Great New York State Model Train Fair Saturday and Sunday at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. It will be disassembled by Railway Historical Society members after that show and be housed at the society's headquarters.

Mr. Mooney said society members hope to have the display running for the annual Christmas in Croghan celebration held in early December. The society doesn't keep regular hours at the depot, but Mr. Mooney said that anyone interested in seeing the Lowville and Beaver River display may call him at 376-7944.

"We're quite excited about it," Mr. Mooney said. "Not all of our members are into model railroading. There's a distinct difference between a collector of railroad memorabilia and model railroad stuff. But even the real railroaders among us are excited to get this layout."

To make room for the new layout at the depot, the Railway Historical Society is auctioning off a 4-foot-by-16-foot HO-scale layout. Bids will be opened Nov. 27. It can be inspected by contacting Mr. Mooney at the above phone number.

Bids should be sent to the Railway Historical Society of Northern New York, P.O. Box 317, Croghan, N.Y. 13327. Bids can be sent by e-mail: (trainlayout@newyorktrains.com)

SEE THE MODEL RAILROAD

The Lowville and Beaver River HO-scale railroad display will be featured at this weekend's Great New York State Model Train Fair

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Americraft Center of Progress and Toyota Exhibit Center, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse