MYSTIC VALLEY RAILWAY SOCIETY

By Ray Winter

Committee Members  The Outreach committee does Advertising for our train shows and other major events. It handles our Boutique which involves the various small train related items that we sell at most of our events. It plans and runs our Rail-ARama train shows, It oversees our annual New England Railroad Calendar contest and the printing of the calendars. Plus we get involved in anything else that promotes this great hobby. The committee meets monthly usually on the 1st Tuesday evening of the month. If this sounds interesting to you, the first step is to become an MVRS Volunteer. We could especially use some help with our Rail-A-Rama train shows. You can request a volunteer form by contacting: M.V.R.S. c/o Dorothy Dear, Corresponding Secretary, P.O. Box 365486, Hyde Park, MA 02136-0009 or via email at 

or ask any Board Member. There are usually at least 3 Board members on every one of our events. So come on, join the fun!

2009 New England Railroading Calendar Contest Winners Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 New England Railroading Calendar Contest.  Click here to view winners:  2009 Calendar Contest Winners  

The Calendar is in the final stages of proofing and will be available by mid- Summer.  Current members will receive one with the Winter Waybill mailing.

Rail-A-Rama XL Train Show Sunday, February 24, 2008  It was another very successful railroad show for MVRS. The event took place at the spacious Christina’s Function Facility on route 1 in Foxboro. The attendance exceeded 2,500. There were 39 dealers presenting model train items of various gauges plus souvenirs, books, videos, and other railroadania articles. We had 11 operating train layouts. The Boston Tinplate Trackers provided an 8’ x 12’ O gauge Lionel layout; George LaPerche had a 2 1/2' x 6' & 26" x 40" N scale layouts; Providence Northern Model Railroad Club provided a 2' x 10' HO gauge layout; Dirk Hertel had a 12’ x 8’ European O gauge layout; The Brass Caboose Shop had a display and a ride-on “hand-pump” Car; Old Colony Model Railroad Club had a 30" x 8' HO layout and a test track; South Shore Hi-Rail had a 16' x 32' O gauge layout with the “Hell Gate Bridge” and a train mounted video camera; John Muise had a 2’ x 4’ O gauge trolley layout; Andrew Zalewski provided a 4’ x 6’ pre-war O gauge Lionel layout; MVRS provided the Kids’ Layout, 2 - O gauge loops for hands on operation by the children; The HUB Division Modular Railroad Group Layout provided a 36' by 10' point to point HO layout. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Annual Meeting, Appreciation Banquet Guest Speaker Craig Della Penna of Northeast Greenway Solutions, Northampton, gave a PowerPoint presentation entitled “The Rails to Trails Movement in the Northeast and the East Coast Greenway.” His talk covered the amazing recycling of old railroad track beds into “railtrails” for pedestrians, bicyclists, and wheelchairs. He spoke on the history of the rails-to-trails movement, the story behind some of the larger regional projects, including East Coast Greenery, and the history of some of the most storied branch-lines in Massachusetts. There was a very lively question and answer period after his talk.

Outreach Committee Members Needed  The Outreach committee does advertising for our train shows and other major events.  It handles our Boutique which involves the various small train related items that we sell at most of our events.  It plans and runs our Rail-A-Rama train shows,  It oversees our annual New England Railroad Calendar contest and the printing of the calendars.  Plus we get involved in anything else that promotes this great hobby.   The committee meets monthly usually on the 2^nd Tuesday evening of the month.  If this sounds interesting to you, the first step is to become an MVRS Volunteer.  You must be a member in good standing of the Mystic Valley Railway Society to participate in a committee.  MVRS Volunteers are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.  There is an MVRS Volunteers application on our web site:  MVRS Volunteers,  or ask any Board Member.  There usually at least 3 Board members on every one of our events.  So come on, join the fun!

Design a commemorative model railroad car:  Wanted - A member in good standing who is interested in heading up a project to design a commemorative model railroad car for the Mystic Valley Railway Society. The car can be a caboose or a box car, perhaps HO scale while other scales can be considered. The Mystic Valley Railway Society logo and slogans such as "The Bee Line to Adventure "should be part of the design. The project will include recommendation of a vendor and estimated costs to produce the car. Athearn and Lifelike are two model train manufacturers who produce such custom products. The member selected for this project will present his final proposal to the Outreach Committee. If you are interested, please contact Ray Winter, c/o Mystic Valley Railway Society, PO Box 365486,Hyde Park, MA 02136- 0009 or Email:

All Aboard Members!

Join the MVRS Volunteers and meet new friends!

Lend a hand with various activities!

MVRS Volunteers Information