Fathers ride rails free

Boothbay Railway Village celebrates Father’s Day
Mon, 06/17/2019 - 11:30am

    Boothbay Railway Village helped families celebrate Father’s Day by offering dads of all ages a free pass to enjoy the campus and ride the rails. Four generations of train buffs visited the museum on Sunday, June 16 with great-grandfathers taking train rides with infants in baby carriages.

    Nancy and Bill Childs from Leeds brought grandchildren Tucker and Hudson.

    “We have been living with trains for years,” said Nancy Childs. Trains go right by her house.

    Jim Barger from Winchester, Massachusetts toured Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and felt the museum visit was necessary. “I am a buff,” said Barger.

    He said his great-grandchildren are already interested in his 8-foot by 8-foot HO gauge layout in his basement. He hoped to tour the model railway exhibit by getting off the train at Thordike Station.

    Dan and Heather Pugatch from South Portland came with children John, 9, and Wyatt, 4. Dan has a model train layout the boys are becoming interested in.

    Conductor Chuck Waldron has been volunteering for two summers. He stays across the road at Shore Hills Campground and walks to work.

    Newly hired museum Director of Operations Steve Markowitz said visitor traffic has picked up recently as summer tourism begins to unfold. He has nine tour buses coming next week.

    “The grounds are in great shape,” he said.