Model Trains Exhibit, December 17 - 21, 2019

Guest post by David Simpson, one of the Beloved BDC Docents: 

Romance of the rails is back at Beaufort Branch! For the 27^th year The Beaufort Railroaders are bringing trains big and small  (gauges: N, HO, G, S and O) to the Beaufort Public Library on Scott Street from Tuesday, December 15^th to  Saturday the 21^st  the  hours are from 10 AM to 5 PM.

There is a dream come true room, of just LIONEL 0 GAGE engines and rolling stock with accessories to complete the lay-out1. It is a 1950’s childhood memory come true!

In a second room you will be fascinated by trains of all types and sizes running the rails through scenic wonder lands. Motive power (engines) of steam, diesel, and electric all pulling their loads.

There is a photo display of the Beaufort Railroaders' recent project of constructing a scale model of the “old swing bridge” over Harbor River connecting St. Helena to Hunting Island which is being replaced at this time. The model will be displayed in the Visitors Center on Hunting Island.  

If the Polar Express and Thomas the Tank Engine are the only named trains you know find out about such famous named trains as: The Twentieth Century Limited, El Capitan, The Owl, The Crescent City Limited, The Sunset Limited and famous rail lines such as the great Pennsylvania, New York Central, Seaboard, C,B&Q Chicago Burlington and Quincy,  BAR Bangor/Aroostook  Railroad, Long Island Railroad (LIRR) “route of the dashing commuter”, Central of Georgia,  Burlington Northern, the Chessy System,  The mighty Santa Fe with its engines painted in the “War Bonnet” pattern, Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Katy Line, Eriee and Lackawanna, Norfolk Southern.

BCL's "Donner Collection" https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/catalog/lcdl:2084

Finish off your rail visit by going upstairs to the Beaufort District Collection Research Room to see selections from their materials about the history of local railroads.

Hundreds and hundreds of children and adults make this show part of their  holiday activities. After all what is a Christmas tree with out a model train running circles around it!

Contact the Beaufort Branch Library for more details about the model train display: 843-255-6456 or bcl@bcgov.net.

Please note: The Research Room has slightly different hours on Friday, December 13, 2019. Staff will be on hand to assist customers from 9 AM to Noon and again from 1 PM to 5 PM that day.