"I've been workin' on the railroad" is the start of an old song, but it's also what some of folks at Fairhaven can say. Several of that retirement community's residents have established a model railroad club.
According to Robin Somers, executive director of Fairhaven, "We had a group of residents at Fairhaven in independent living who share this passion for model railroading. They wanted to set up a model railroad club here."
The first step was talking to the owner of The Moose Caboose, in Sykesville, to figure out what the club wanted to set up. Next, the group asked Somers for some space. A seldom-used lounge area is now the home to the railroad layout.
More help came in the person of Joe Molts, an active member of Sykesville & Patapsco Railway Inc., the model railroad club that runs the layouts in the Pullman car and caboose in downtown Sykesville. Molts has guided the club with creating the track layouts, and shared techniques for installing track and ways to electrify the layout.
For any model railroad, you need rolling stock to put on the layout, and that's where the B&O Railroad Museum and Paul Bridge, president of the Fairhaven Residents Association, model railroad club member and 18-year volunteer with the museum, come in.
Bridge has shepherded the collection of surplus equipment donated by the museum to the Fairhaven group.
Other volunteers at the museum have helped, as well. Bridge said, "Five or six volunteers have given us equipment or rolling stock - three-quarters of our rolling stock came from the B&O and its volunteers. It's an exciting thing for them."
The first phase of construction on the HO-scale layout has been completed. The club hopes to have the trains operating on parts of the layout in time for holiday train garden season this winter.
The train layout project has involved more than the model railroaders, with support from other Fairhaven residents. A group of artistic residents has been painting the wall mural behind the train display.
"It's formed into a great community collaboration," said Somers.
'Bugs' at museum
Sunday will be your last chance to enjoy the 2012 Summer Family Program at the Sykesville Gate House Museum of History. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., kids of all ages can learn about "Bugs."
Brian Kristal from Nature to Go You will talk about about insect habitats, camouflage and predator-prey relationships. You'll also get to touch some live insects, if you choose.
Reservations are not required, and there is no admission charge.
To get more information, call the museum at 410-549-5150 when it is open - from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays - or leave a message at other times.
The Sykesville Gate House Museum of History is at 7283 Cooper Drive, Sykesville.
