by Ray Jakabcin
Every year, usually around the second weekend in September, the congregation of the parish of St.
Dominic’s Church has a good old fashioned parish picnic. Hot dogs, hamburgers, fried dough, chips,
music, entertainment and face painting.
It’s just a great time to get together as a community to enjoy the day, the close of summer and the start of
the new school year.
For many years Tom DiPietro a long time parishioner
of the church, has invited the Central Connecticut G
Gaugers (CCTGG) to provide the “entertrainment”
for the young and old alike.
Members Tom DiPietro, Bill Colwell, Mark Leach,
Ed Bratina and Ray Jakabcin were in attendance.
Tom, Bill and Ray share joint membership in the
Mohegan & Pequot Railroad Club.
The layout size is 24΄ x 12΄. The module landscaping
was shared by Ray and Tom. Tom always brings
an assortment of materials featuring “Spookytown”
(a Halloween town of scary proportions) along
with some vintage cars for a car rally, the ever
famous ”Tums” Diner, a station and preview of his
new Christmas freight car(s) and scenery for the
Christmas holiday.
Ray decorates the modules with the usual buildings
and such, vehicles with led lighting while the featured
trains were the incomparable Lionel (the original)
“Thomas” (the tank engine) along with Annie and
Clarabelle and an Aristocraft 2-8-0 Rio Grande and
western passenger train. A European LGB locomotive
(commonly referred to as a crocodile) with passenger
coaches was also present. A Piko NYC freight
train and a Bachmann railcar provide varied interest
at other times on the layout.
The G gaugers always enjoy this venue as it provides
great food and great fun while the parishioners are
all very appreciative of the layout, sometimes parents
more so than kids.
At the conclusion of the picnic plans are being made
to design next year’s picnic layout. More photos can be
seen in
Big Train Operator issue
# 151, Spring 2014 |
|
