Elizabethtown Train Guys

COVID VIRUS DERAILS MODEL TRAINS! Elizabethtown, PA, has been a miniature train lovers' mecca for years. Traditionally, two excellent displays have been offered during the Christmas holidays, attracting in excess of 4,000 visitors annually. The free shuttle service on Saturdays in December has been a particularly popular way to see both displays. Unfortunately, both have been sidetracked for 2020 because of COVID-19 and will not be available for the public. The Elizabethtown... Public Library normally features the Elizabethtown Train Guys' 65- by 18-foot display built every December. Visitors love operating trains and accessories with 50 interactive push buttons. Up to 20 trains are running at a time, including a large G-Scale floor display. Additionally, the Masonic Village Model RR Club usually opens its outstanding permanent displays at their dedicated building on the Masonic Village campus. They showcase displays of Z, N, HO, S, O, Standard, and G scale trains. While neither will be able to welcome you in person, the Elizabethtown Train Guys have planned four special train-related presentations, which will be available from the library via Zoom. The programs will also be recorded, archived, and made available to view at your convenience. The 6:00 P.M. programs include History of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the Elizabethtown area, 11/19; History of Trolleys in the Elizabethtown area, 12/3; History of Toy Trains, 12/10, and The Train Guys Story, 12/17. Consult the library website for Zoom meeting information. The Elizabethtown Train Guys are also planning to participate in GEAR's Reverse Holiday Parade. Both groups are planning to have the displays back on track for December of 2021. Please stay safe!

The past several decades have seen the Elizabethtown Train Guys become a staple of the holiday season and important part of our community's rail history. Thus, for our fourth and final presentation, the Train Guys would like to talk about the purpose of our founding and purpose. Our discussion will include everything from how the display is set up to our long-running series of custom model trains decorated for local businesses. Come join us at 6:00 P.M. this Tuesday, December 22th with https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83069216110. Edit: We had to modify the time of the event at the last minute because the library ceased all activities at 5:00 P.M. Thank you for your understanding!

We know that some people haven't been able to come to the Zoom presentations, so we thought decided to share them with you on YouTube! Be sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss any future presentations! "Rails and the Trains that Rode Them" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9enptNTJpjU&t=4s "Elizabethtown Trolleys"... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpKd6uuVz0g See more

Do you ever find yourself wondering about the trains we run at the display? Or even the history of some vintage trains passed down from generation to generation to run under the Christmas tree? The Elizabethtown Train Guys are pleased to announce an informational Zoom meeting to continue our successful holiday series. We will begin our history in the late 19th century and continue to the advanced digital models of today. As part of this, we will discover how changes on the real railroads drove changes in toy train manufacturing techniques. Be sure to join us! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83407651166

Unfortunately, we could not show off or trains at the "reverse parade" because the wind kept blowing our display over! It looked like a lot of people came out and enjoyed it, though. Thank you for supporting GEARS and our community!