The train room has turned into magical world of its own. The Mount Baker scenery with its blues and purples, painted by artist Jennifer Bowman, still covers all four walls intact. To complement the set-up, tiny model trees and rocky landscaping have found their places on the tables. It invites you in, if only you could shrink to the size of an inch.
“When prospective residents get a tour of the facility, the train room is included. Grandchildren love to visit it, too, but we don’t let them play with the main set. There is that other one in the parlor for them,” said John Conlee, one of the original members of the train group.
‘The other one’ is just as much fun with loops and turns and two trains to run. Currently it boasts a special Christmas set.
“We keep getting contributions, mostly from residents at Chandler’s Square,” Conlee continued. “With that money, we were able to buy that blue skirting around the main set and the white one around this parlor one. Jenny Murphy sewed them to the right size for us.”
Dick Schusler, who used to work on furniture, now puts his skills to use at building miniature houses. He was pleased to show off a replica of the Marine Supply store, perfectly constructed to scale without instructions.
“Come see this,” he added, pointing at the water feature under the towering track. “This is epoxy resin, not water; it doesn’t break and gives a beautiful reflection of the trestle.”
“If you want natural-looking soil, you can make some from rotten wood. Just put it in the blender, then through a sieve and there is your dirt,” Schusler elaborates on his knowledge on creating scenery.
John Fuik, an employee at Chandler’s Square and a model train enthusiast, was pleased to display how the different engines can be manipulated with a remote control, making them move backwards and forwards, altering the speed and stopping and going as one wishes.
He engineered the tiny components himself, and is in charge of the overall electronic functions of the layout. Fuik’s one additional project is to create better ventilation to the windowless, former storage room.
“We all have our area of expertise, and rarely argue,” Conlee explained. “Some are constructors, some engineers, we all chip in.”
As far as chips go, Fuik revealed: “We have permission to punch a hole through the wall between the parlor and the train room to extend the set, if we want to. The management has been very supportive.”
“We have some future ideas, but don’t want to talk about them just yet…” Conlee added hesitantly.
The group meets once a week, informally and amiably. Bob Easton keeps a binder of publications and articles about their model track and other related events and stories. Everybody has found their role in the club.
“Surprisingly many women come to see what we are doing. This has been a good thing, bringing people together. And anyone in the community is welcome to stop by anytime,” said Conlee with a big smile.