AtoZ Lewis posted:I caught this thread from something else that Carl posted. What a great project. I have some questions. On the website for the museum it lists the Garden State Central Model Railroad Club (HO) as an exhibit. But the link takes you off the museum site to another site for the club and it seems to imply they are not located in the museum. Is there another train display in the museum with this one (when it is done and open)?
The HO club rents space in an out building. There are museum exhibits in the outbuildings near the main building, but there's space is not one of them. it is a private club.
Only temporary displays come in during the holiday season. (see the activity calendar of the museum) The CWRR will be the only permanent display.
I am also interested in the backstory of the little boy (I think I saw the name Christopher). Did the mom donate his layout to the museum for the purpose of a display? Then did Luke (Scout) find out from the museum that they were looking for someone to take on this project? I saw that you referenced that the mom was still involved with this memorial.
A successful Dad and his family lived on a large estate in Princeton, NJ proper. This was custom built for Christopher and occupied an entire large room. Not too long after, in the summer, the father was working and the family and some friends were enjoying the swimming pool. The mother went to pick up some pizza. No one kept an eye on Christopher, 6 years old and he was found in the pool, drowned. It broke up the family. Mom had the layout removed from the house. It was cut-up and labeled and stored in the attic of a large garage for 12 years. Rich heard about it through a mutual friend of the mom and he and Luke came up with the idea for the project. It was moved to an outbuilding at the Museum site.
Mom and one or two of the grown siblings saw it last fall. She found some other items when moving out of the family home in Princeton. Rich updates her from time to time.
I myself am a cub scout leader (Cub Scout Pack 82 - Den 7 - Rainbow Council) and have a group of Webelos who I like showing examples of Eagle projects like this one. I have gotten help on the forum for a "Timesaver" module that the boys have run and we also researched and modeled New Mexico and I strongly encouraged that we have the ATSF RR running around our display for our last Blue & Gold ceremony.
This project has taught Luke many valuable lessons for life as the Eagle project should. We are excited that it will finally be completed and dedicated this fall.
Great work everyone, and I thank all of you.
Thank you for your dedication to developing the youth of today.
