Adam Olexy Sr.

Shickshinny May Get Warrants To Do Flood-plain Checks 
Under Orders From Fema, The Borough Has To Get Seven Homes, Two Businesses And 
A Shopping 
Center Into Compliance With 
Regulations Or Risk Losing 
Federal Flood Insurance

By CHRIS RITCHIE; Times Leader Features Editor
 Friday, December 11, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B/3B QUICK WORDS: TRAINS 





here 35,000 chickens once roosted, 17 scale-model trains now circle more
than 2,000 feet of railroad track at the &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pocono Museum Unlimited in Lehighton. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The display, more than 7-1/2 years in the making, is housed in a completely
refurbished barn. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The train layout is huge, measuring 245- by 50-feet. It includes everything
from live fish swimming in a pond to vintage cars gathered around a miniature
drive-in movie theater. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Still not impressed? How about 100-plus buildings, rolling storm clouds
that really rain, a reptile zoo with live snakes and lizards, three
waterfalls, tiny bathers thrashing about a swimming pool, a wedding in
progress and 16 moving rides in a tiny amusement park? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The museum opened last weekend and has already attracted more than 3,000
paying customers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I like to stand back, unnoticed, and watch people's reactions," says the
Rev. Joseph Kean, the creative genius behind Pocono Museum Unlimited. "These
trains provide an occasion to bring families together." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Ashland priest knows all about using toy trains to bring families
together. When he was growing up, Kean and his dad built large displays at
Christmas that attracted plenty of attention from his neighbors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "When my mom saw the tracks coming into the kitchen, she got a little
scared," laughs Kean. "That's when she banished our trains to the basement or
the attic." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kean no longer has to work around the constraints of family living. The
spacious Pocono Museum is a train-lover's dream come true: 32-foot diameter
curves lend a feel of realism that can't possibly be duplicated by traditional
under-the-tree layouts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The building, owned by Herman Steigerwalt, houses the museum and several
small shops. Kean says the group hopes to shortly add another museum devoted
to Americana. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All the O-scale trains running on the layout belong to Kean. Display cases
lining two walls house a portion of Dr. Joseph Weber's sizable collection of
toy trains. (Weber, of Ashland, is regarded as one of the country's leading
collectors). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kean enlisted the help of several others -- including area school children
-- to build the intricate scenery and complete the extensive wiring and
carpentry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When asked about his favorite part of the display, Kean points to the
lively, animated miniature amusement park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It has 16 rides with lots of lights and movement," says Kean. "It keeps my
memories of Knoebel's Grove alive all winter long." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Location: From Wilkes-Barre, take the Northeast Extension of the
Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 34 (Jim Thorpe). Follow Route 443 for about 5
miles. The museum is located across the highway from the McDonald's. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesdays-Sundays, year-round. Closed Mondays.
Admission: $3.75; senior citizens, $2.75; children 5-12, $2; kids under 5,
free. Group rates for 25 or more: $2.50 each/reservations required. 325-3673. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Jim Thorpe &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A few miles down the round in Carbon County, railfans can climb the stairs
of the Hooven Mercantile Co. in downtown Jim Thorpe and enter the world of the
Old Mauch Chunk HO Model Train Display. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More than a dozen model trains, some pulling up to 60 cars, travel the
layout. Display cases line the walls, giving visitors a chance to take a
closer look at the highly-detailed scale models. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The display is accented by more than 200 scale structures, including
depictions of several regional landmarks. Other features include scores of
scale bridges, mininature cars and trucks that travel through the city's
simulated night and day scenes. Many of the buildings were hand-built by the
Pocono Museum's Father Kean for an earlier display. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Location: Second floor of Hooven Mercantile building, 41 Susquehanna St.,
Jim Thorpe. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hours: Noon to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $2; senior
citizens, $1.75; children 5-12, $1; kids under 5, free. 325-2248. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Train fans can also get a taste of the real thing thanks to this weekend's
Jim Thorpe Holiday Rail Tours , which are part of the borough's Old Time
Christmas Weekend. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Last weekend was a sell-out," says Agnes McCartney of the Carbon County
tourism office. "It's a wonderful time to visit. The shops are all decked out
for the holidays, `The Nutcracker' is playing at the Opera House and the
streets are filled with carolers and decorations." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Folks hoping to ride the rails with Santa would be advised to book
reservations or be prepared to wait for a seat. Several of this weekend's
excursions are already sold out, according to McCartney. The trip lasts about
45-50 minutes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McCartney reminds visitors the holiday celebration and rail tours end
Sunday, while the train layout is open year-round. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Location: Departs from the train station on Route 209, across from the
Carbon County Court House. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hours: departs hourly, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; noon to 4 p.m., Sunday.
Admission: $6; children 9-12, $3; children under 9, free. 325-3673 for
reservations/details. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Scranton &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When it comes to toy trains, Don Clark knows how to listen to suggestions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Standing amid the Miniature Memories HO Train Display at the Scranton
Marketplace, Clark points to a small index card. On it, a child had scrawled:
"Next year, can you make trains run over the Nicholson bridge?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Relocating the display to the second floor of the marketplace enabled Clark
to do just that -- plus a whole lot more. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The display features several more bridges than last year, including the
larger (16-foot) rendition of the viaduct. Trains now operate on two levels.
Visitors have better access to the model of the Steamtown yards. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We've redesigned the layout with the viewer in mind," says Clark. "People
can see more of the trains." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The L-shaped layout includes a 32-foot straightaway that allows trains to
build up a head of steam as they approach the 16-foot model of Wyoming
County's famous Nicholson Viaduct. The room also houses George Savage's Circus
Display and Clark's Old-Timers Model Auto Museum. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The trains provide movement, but the stars of the show are the several
hundred buildings on the layout. Clark built many by hand, including models of
such Scranton landmarks as the Times Building, the Everhart Museum, the
Crawford House and the old Lackawanna Railroad station. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I love architecture even more than trains," says Clark. "We must have a
couple hundred structures and about 500 cars. I've lost count." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Location: Second floor of the Scranton Marketplace, 710 Capouse Ave., off
Mulberry Street. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, through the holidays. Also
open to group tours by appointment only. Free admission; donations accepted to
benefit local charities. 346-8777 or 344-4620. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In-store displays &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several local hobby shops also offer train displays during the holidays.
Visitors should remember, however, these displays are a sidelight. Sometimes,
business demands can derail toy train schedules. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some area layouts include: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Choo Choo Train &amp; Hobby Shop , 69 E. Main St., Miners Mills section of
Wilkes-Barre. Offers several loops of track ranging from tiny N-scale (about
the width of a man's thumb) to the giant G-scale (about the width of a man's
hand). Operates during regular store hours. 824-3830. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joe's Train Shop , 46 Burke St. (off Slope Street), Plains Township. Large
L-shaped layout featuring classic Lionel trains, operating accessories and
Plasticville structures. During store hours. 824-1004 . &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Scranton Hobby Center, 430 Lackawanna Ave. 6- by 20-foot O-scale layout
featuring four operating trains, mixed new and classic Lionel trains,
operating accessories and scenery. Also, a 4- by 8-foot HO-scale display with
two operating trains. During store hours. 342-1963. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Train Shoppe , 334 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre. Provides the
closest thing to yesteryear's massive department store layouts that you'll
find today. Separate "Lionel train room" houses 12 operating trains, detailed
scenery, animated and sound-equipped accessories, etc. Trains run hourly
beginning at 5:30 p.m. weekdays, 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, and 12:30 p.m. Sundays
as staffing allows. 824-7688.

A Roundup Of Area Model Train Layouts Can Get You Chugging 
******************************* 
Photo 
Times Leader/pete G. Wilcox 
The Pocono Museum Unlimited In Lehighton Features 17 Scale Model Trains 
Circling Through A Miniature Wonderland

A Roundup Of Area Model Train Layouts Can Get You Chugging ******************************* Photo Times Leader/pete G. Wilcox The Pocono Museum Unlimited In Lehighton Features 17 Scale Model Trains Circling Through A Miniature Wonderland