Asbury Park, New Jersey HO Club Last Run Open House 2/21/09

[robertjohndavis]

The Garden State Central Model Railroad Club, Inc. will be closing down its 35 year-old Asbury Park display  this month. This shore institution which first opened doors in Long Branch in 1963 has entertained thousands of shore residents each year but a change in landlords is forcing the club to abandon its nationally-known HO scale model railroad and seek new quarters.


In order to give friends, family and supporters one final chance to enjoy the display, the club will host a "Last Run in Asbury Park" open house on Saturday February 21st from 12-3PM at 607 8th Avenue in Asbury Park.  All ages are welcome. There is no admission fee, although donations to help the club pack up and eventually relocate will be gratefully accepted.


Trustee Rob Davis explained that, "the membership is determined to find new quarters in the shore area, but the magnificent HO scale train layout cannot be moved and will be dismantled immediately following the open house. "


Davis said the club has nothing but respect and gratitude for their landlords of 35 years. "We have had a good long run here on 8th Avenue. Without the guiding hands of our landlords Dr. "Goose" Gosling and Dr. Lepis I don't know where we would be." As for a new home, Davis is optimistic. "We are in a great position to turn this sad news into a fresh start. As an established 501 c(3) non-profit we are well-suited for a long-term lease or ownership of our own space. 30 years ago there were two other large clubs along the Monmouth County shore, but when they lost their homes the organizations disbanded." Davis says this time the results will be different. "We are looking up and down the shore for an area that wants a strong, family oriented attraction. The club will go on, but our beloved railroad display in Asbury Park has reached the end of the line."


The current layout depicts scenes of the Lehigh Valley, Jersey Central, Laurel Line and Lackawanna Railroads on a route from Jersey City, NJ to Scranton, PA. The display features a one-of-kind working model of a McMyler Car Dumping Machine (which is to be featured in the next issue of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine) along with historic locations and buildings that include the massive Bethlehem, PA steel mill. The layout tells the story of how anthracite coal was transported from northeastern Pennsylvania to the New York harbor.


"Each year we have return visitors come back to see the layout. Some fathers who brought their sons down in the 1970's are returning with their grandsons." Davis said the idea for the Last Run in Asbury Park open house is to let folks enjoy the landmark layout one more time. "There are people who love this club as much as the membership itself.  We want to celebrate that one more time. This is the last chance to see one of NJ's finest operating model railroad layouts."


The "Last Run in Asbury Park" open house runs from Noon to 3 on Saturday, February 21,  2009.  The club is located at 607 8th Avenue on the corner of Deal Lake Drive (Route 71) in the north end of Asbury Park.


For more information visit http://www.gardenstatecentral.com


For a map to the club visit: http://tinyurl.com/GSCRR