Train Day attracts record crowds
By BILL DORAN
Brian
Reily sets up his O gauge set at model train exhibit. (H-P photos by Nick
Liberante)
The sixth annual Train Day on the Tracks took place last Saturday. The weather looked a little grim the first part of the morning,but by the time the event kicked off the sun was shining bright. About 2,500 people showed up for this year's event. This was almost double what the attendance was in past years.
"We were hoping for about 1,500 people this year and were very pleasantly surprised," said Jim Donlon of Train Town Toy and Hobby, one of the sponsors of the event. The day kicked off with the dedication of the new train clock. The clock was a gift from the residents of Ashland to the Town.
Sue Watson, who was the co-chair of the Ashland 150 celebration's kicked off the dedication that was appropriately delayed to wait for a passing train. "Two people deserve our particular thanks today because they did not say no, Jim Cox and Gaillard Owen. They both grew up in Ashland, went to school in Ashland, have continued to live in Ashland and contribute significantly to the goings on in this town.
"It is truly, in the words of Dick Gillis, a great day to be in the Center of the Universe. It is appropriate that the gift to the town has to do with the train because we are a railroad town and a college town. What more can we ever ask for than those two designations," said Watson.
"It was quite a shock when Sue told me I had volunteered to be the head of this committee. After some initial apprehension, Jim and I both enthusiastically got behind the idea of the clock. I think I drove my family a little crazy over the last year saying, oh look at that clock, oh there's another clock. It really is amazing how many clocks there are in the world," said Owen.
"I am so glad no one has mentioned Tick and Tock. Back in January there was talk of starting a steering committee to plan for Ashland's 150th birthday. It was then that Sue advised us we were the co-chairs of the railroad advisory committee. She said our job was to raise money for a town clock," said Cox. "At that time neither Gaillard nor I had any idea on how to do this. What kind of clock? Where will it be located? How much will it cost? How would we raise the money?
The first decision we made was not to ask any businesses for contributions. We wanted this to be individuals from the town and friends of the town. With the guidance of Sheila Tompkins we were able to pick out a clock. Once we got going and got underway we had people calling us asking how to contribute," said Cox.
"We originally viewed this as a gift from the people of the town. Initially we thought this would be a gift to the town. I think a better thing is this is a gift from the people of the town to the people of the town," said Owen.
Melvin Hall, Patrick and Casey Waldrop-Warren, Christiane, Max, Josie and Elena Riederer, received the clock on behalf of the people of Ashland and cut the ribbon. Events took place at the Ashland Library, the Hanover Arts and Activities Center (HAAC), the Ashland Hanover Shopping Center, and up and down Center Street.
At the library, there were free train rides, a giant train bouncy, a Lionel train layout, cider, cookies and sale items from the Friends of the Library. In addition there were crafts and tattoos for the kids. Mathew Dodd and Don Chappelle performed their blues, ballads and railroad songs throughout the day, finishing up the day at the newest restaurant, The Cowcatcher Family Tavern.
At the HAAC, there were drag racing O-gauge engines, miniature train dioramas, memorabilia, various train layouts and kids' games on the lawn. There were food tents set up on the lawn including Pepecellis Pizza and My Little Cupcake. At the Hanover Shopping Center the RF&P model railroad club had HO and N gauge train layouts and operating trains.
There was trolley service from downtown out to the Ashland Hanover Shopping Center, the Henry Clay Shopping Center and back throughout the day.