By Francis Scarcella
The Daily Item
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MILTON — The 2-year-old Milton Model Train Museum, comprised of “thousands of pieces,” is chugging toward the opening of the Harvest Festival and whistling the addition of even more pieces.
Visitors can view the new and improved layout on Saturday, when The Improved Milton Experience and the Milton Moose Family Center join to unveil the display during the Milton Harvest Festival.
A donation from the late Rev. A. Robert Walker’s personal collection and layout helped to create the museum and display in December 2008.
The centerpiece is a permanent 20-foot by 60-foot platform with many operating O-gauge model trains, set within a 1950s era that replicates Milton’s landmark buildings and settings.
There are many interactive sceneries.
Although TIME oversees the museum, the Milton Moose Family Center, 139 S. Front St., donates its third floor to the exhibit.
Local model train hobbyists, some highly regarded as specialists, have formed a governing committee to oversee continuing operations.
George Venios, project manager for TIME, is proud of the historic display.
“This is greater then we anticipated,” he said Tuesday. “We are all so proud of it.”
Without the help of the Moose, Venios said, the project would not have happened.
“They are the biggest contributors of all,” he said. “We can’t say enough about what they have done.”
To view the display, attend the Harvest Festival, which begins Saturday. Trains will run from 9 a.m. to 5.p.m. and also during those hours on Sept. 18 — the last day of the festival.
“We anticipate a lot of people,” Venios said. “Last year, we had people coming from all over the place and especially out-of-town folks.”
The third floor of the Moose not only houses the train display, but it is filled with Milton memorabilia.
“We don’t charge a penny for anyone to come and see this,” Venios said. “But we do accept donations, and everyone is very generous with what they give because I think they love the display.”
Primarily, the train museum is open to the public during the Christmas holiday season, in the spring during the Moose Fishing Derby and during the Harvest Festival, Venios said.
“This promotes tourism from many local communities, particularly involving model railroad enthusiasts and thousands who attended open house events from throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states,” Venios said.
-- E-mail comments to fscarcella@dailyitem.com.
