A model railroad exhibit depicting Maine railroading in the 1950s through the 1960s will once again be open at the Boothbay Railway Village this year.

Constructed in a replica of a Maine Central freight house, the layout features a cement plant and quarry operation, a Maine fishing village, a narrow-gauge branch line, a locomotive service area and extensive railroad yard operations.

The layout consists of a main line with a double track loop that is over 200 feet long. When finished, the layout will have more than 600 feet of track and over 80 turnouts, or track switches.

Trains are controlled by a digital command control system that allows operators to run many trains independently. This is an impressive layout whose on-going construction has already been years in the making.

Visitors can see the layout in operation once the Railway Village opens for the season Memorial Day Weekend. The Railway Village is located on Route 27 in Boothbay and the model railroad exhibit is at the rear of the property near the Antique Auto Museum.

Experienced model railroaders are welcome to volunteer their time and talents to help construct, maintain and operate the layout. The model railroad layout is an around the wall design with a central peninsula 20 feet wide by 46 feet long. Opportunities exist for all aspects of model railroad construction and maintenance.

The volunteers raise all funds for the exhibit through volunteer dues, donations and the annual raffle. Model railroad equipment donations are also sought. These are sold at train shows to benefit the exhibit.

More information can be found at www.railwayvillage.org/model_railroad, by calling Ron Spinney at 207-633-3108 or via email rspinney@northeast-security.com/.