On the wall on the lower level of the library an inscription reads: “May we never lose our sense of childlike wonder and fascination with trains.”

A favorite and unique feature at the Bedford Public Library is the model train display at the entrance to the Children’s Room. When the trains are not working, the children immediately report it to the children’s room and a call goes out to our local train repair experts, John Robinson and Bill Trueheart.

Recently, when Bill was here I asked him to write down what he knows of the history of how the trains came to be a part of the Bedford Public Library. His story follows:

In 1996, Marilyn Frederick of Bedford donated an “N” gauge train layout made by her father, Frank D. Conn, for kids of all ages to enjoy. The Bedford Boomers Model Railroad Club was contacted by Frances Wiggin, the Bedford Town librarian, to offer suggestions as to how to display the donated train system.

The final resolution was to provide a display that achieved two objectives. The first was to allow the donated “N” gauge display to be viewed and enjoyed by library patrons. The second was to include the history of Bedford in the display. The Bedford Library Board of Trustees agreed to have a permanent display constructed utilizing the space on the ground floor of the library under the staircase.

Elements of the agreement to construct the model railroad display were: to insure that town building codes were met, it could not detract from the primary purpose of the library, the display could be activated by kids from 1 to 93, it was appealing to library patrons and was easy to maintain.

After researching the history of railroading in Bedford, it was decided that two displays would be constructed. The donated “N” system would be placed under the lower section of the stairs with buttons for the kids to activate the trains. Adding buttons required modifying the layout’s wiring and building a base. The second display, the “HO” train, would consist of a single track loop, generally resembling a 1925 view of Bedford that depicted where the train station was located on what is now NH Route 101 between Meetinghouse and Nashua Roads, in the vicinity of the Bedford Mobil Station. This train was to be activated by pushing a button.

Construction, to include materials and train items, exclusive of the Frederick’s donated “N” display, were donated by the Bedford Boomers. Since 1997, the Bedford Boomers have maintained the displays and John Robinson, a Bedford native, has been the on-call trouble shooter that has kept the trains running.

The Bedford Boomer Model Railroad Club was formed in 1982 to enjoy the hobby and present their hobby as a family activity to others. Their motto has been, “No Officers, No Dues and No Politics.” They decided to call their club “Boomers” based on an 1880-90’s railroad term. An 1880 Boomer was a telegrapher, when he pressed the key of his telegraph device to send a message it made a “booming” sound. The sound was a result of the device set on a wooden table which acted as a sounding board. Further, these “1800 Boomers” migrated from adventure to adventure. Thus, because of their expertise and desire to follow adventures they did not have a home railroad. Most of the original members of the Bedford Boomers did not have a home railroad and enjoyed working on different “model” railroads. This 1880’s term remains today as part of their identification.

– Mary Ann Senatro is director of the Bedford Public Library