2007 History of the Bethany Village Garden Train in the Martha B. Young Memorial Garden
Beginning
At the September 7, 2006 meeting of the Bethany Village Model Railroad Club, it was reported that Leroy Erickson had approached the club with the possibility that a friend of his might give a Gatden Ttain to Bethany. The club had showed interest in developing a Garden Train in a suitable place where it could be seen by The Oaks Skilled Care and Maplewood Assisted Living residents. Later in the fall, Virginia Eaton, a member of the Bethany Village Ladies Auxiliary, gave the club a Bachman “G” Gauge Frdght Train and Hershey Trolley in memory of her husband, Robert H. Eaton. Her initial gift also included 160 feet of track, a model station constructed by her late husband and a small bridge. In Aligust, following the dedication ceremony for the first phase, Mrs. Eaton made a very generous donation to cover maintenance and purchase of accessories for the first phase.
Planning:
The club convener Charlie McNutt asked Derr Carpenter to ‘be the project manager in developing the Garden Train. Carpenter is a retired landscape architect, who has built several garden train layouts including one of his own,…-}Iis goal was to have the garden train effort developed with teamwork and all members involved in the project. He asked for; club volunteers then named eight Study Groups to begin research and Planning the various facets of construction ~ Site Plan; Site Survey and Drainage; Tools Needed and What’s Available;,, Rocks, Stones and Gravel; Track Work; Power; Plant Goals; and Building Construction. Carpenter noted that the project would not be completed overnight since planning and building an outdoor model railroad · is more difficult than an indoor model.
The Site:
McNutt on behalf of the club discussed with the Reverend Dr. Carl Young and Grounds Crew Leader Kerry Weaver the idea of incorporating the Garden Train in the Martha B. Young Memorial Garden. The Martha Young Garden, at the time, was under construction between skilled care and assisted living. It was agreed that the Garden Train could be an addition to the garden. The garden would have an extensive drainage system, electric power, meandering sidewalks, a large wheelchair accessible gazebo and fountain. The site of the train is along the porch off the dining room of The Oaks and extending out to the activities room. Actual work on the lrain site would not begin until spring but the Study Groups began their research and planning immediately and in earnest. Some cleaned the track, laid it out in the West Multipurpose Room to determine if enough track was on hand and later numbered each section of track. The power sources and drainage were clarified. Information and prices for the transformers, remote control systems, .. power relays, rheostats and switches were secured. The train engine was tested, tools gathered. The plant goals were developed to use miniature plants that would grow in scale compatible with the Garden Train. The location of plants would be in areas not involved in the track roadbeds planned for Phases Two and Three.
Roadbed Layout, Train Barn and Control Tower Designs:
The Three Phase layout design and the designs for both the waterproof train storage barn for two trains and the control tower for the transformer and remote receivers were approved by the club. The barn and tower matched the color and design of the station model put together by Mr. Eaton. The Woodworking Club agreed to build the barn and control tower in the East Woodworking Room and began their work. The barn and tower designs called for rubber roofing, which was donated by Carlisle Roofing Company. The barn and tower were made from water-resistant plywood. The barn’s roof is hinged on the side so that it can be opened to allow work inside the barn, should that become necessary. Club members helped the Woodworkers stretch the rubber roof as it was placed on the bam and glued to remove bubbles. The two doors on each end of the barn swing open and can be locked when closed. The control tower also has .an opening that can be locked. The base for the barn includes four inch PVC pipes and perforated liner to prevent mildew. The Grounds Crew agreed to dig a trench six inches wide and six inches deep for the track roadbed .. The site was surveyed and drainage checked. A grid was produced for the exact route of the first phase roadbed.
Working Groups:
Robert Suckling, Derr Carpenter, Harry Bink and David Richards drafted the train layout. Richard Knause and Raymond Smeltz worked on the site survey and drainage. The late David (Duke) Meyer, Alice McNutt and Marian Smeltz gathered tools. William Healey, Harry Bikle, Bernie Ryle and Marjorie Walsh were assigned rocks, stones and gravel. Gary Neitzel, Evert Fuller, Frank Gamber, Charlie McNutt and Ed Stetler worked on the track. Ken Woodring, Walter Simpson, Robert Rettgers and Earl Conley handled the power and remote control. Janet Woodring, Derr Carpenter, Eleanor Clark, Jim Miller, Ralph Himmelberger, Alice McNutt, Stacey Sramek, Ruth Trimmer and the late Wilson Trimmer were on the plant group. Charles Thurner, Richard Knaub, John Creighton, Lloyd (Pete) Wade and Jack McClair handled building construction. Grounds Crew was Kerry Weaver and Tim Barton. Clinical Pastoral Interns Rick Adams and· Katie Russell aided in the planting of plants and hauling tanbark. Melissa Hadley, Bethany’s Executive Director, and Director· of Facilities Larry Strawser lent their support.
Major Roadbed Error Corrected:
After the train barn and control tower were moved to the site, club members spent hours working on the roadbed, hauling, spreading and tamping lime dust. It was discovered that what should have been used was quarry dust. So, a group of club members spent hours in the hot weather· moving the lime dust to the gardens to enrich the soil. The lime dust was replaced with quarry waste which is small bit of stone. Then the track was wired arid the remote control system calibrated. ‘the track was leveled out to avoid low spots where water could collect. The new track cleaning engine was put to use and ran well. The lovely plants were planted. Leveling and stabilizing the track bed was done. Tanbark was spread to an inch of the roadbed to give it a finished look.
Operation Schedule and Engineer Training:
After consulting with the staff in assisted living and skilled care, times of operating the Garden Train were developed. Engineers and conductors to operate the train were trained and. a schedule for the train operation was created.
Dedication Ceremony:
The Dedication Ceremony was planned by Charlie McNutt, Derr Carpenter, Eleanor Clark, Kathleen Simpson, Chaplain James Browning, Lois Heagy and Marion Russell. The Garden Train and Trolley, the site, train barn, control tower and roadbed were dedicated on Friday, August 10, 2007 to the Glory of God and for the enjoyment of all who reside, visit and work in Bethany Village. Recognition was given to the many, many people who contributed and helped build and design the garden train site and buildings. Chaplain James Browning officiated at the ceremony. Virginia Eaton cut the ribbon and then the train and trolley ran to the delight of all gathered.