Model Train set debuts at South Station

Mark Carroll (seated) and Lauren Abele
put the finishing touches on
this years train display.

Mark Carroll is not your ordinary Graphic Designer. The fifty year old freelancer who has graphic design degrees from both Bunker Hill Community College and MassART is the head designer for this year's holiday model train show at South Station.

"I sent a letter to the company that manages South Station last year saying that I could do a whole lot better than what they had been displaying" says Carroll, "Now here I am!"

During his youth Carroll spent six years working in a hobby emporium and train shop, now out of business, on Tremont Street in Downtown Boston. He says that working in that shop fostered his love for model trains. Today, in his free time, Carroll fixes and paints model trains to depict area rail roads.

The model train show at South Station has been around for many years, but this is one of the first times it is being fully redesigned. Carroll said that none of this could have happened without the help of South Stations' property manager Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV). He says that both Ted Furst and Matt Coogan, both of BRV, "took a risk" on letting him design the new train display. "He (Ted) has been the best art director I have ever worked with" says Carroll, "I had a vision that was locked in my head and he helped me get it into this display."

Carroll also had a number of current and former Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) students helping him out on this project. Most of the scenery work was designed and built by Lauren Abele and Joseph Taylor who are both in the Visual and Media Arts program at BHCC. A few international students were also kind enough to lend a hand; Kidanun Nye who is from Thailand, Jainci Liang from China, and Ilana Tal from Israel.

"I've spent the past six nights sleeping here (South Station) in the basement" says Carroll, "this project has taken a lot of time but it is truly worth it"

Funding for the display has come from sponsorships by a number of area companies. Some of this years sponsors include the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail (MBCR), Boston's Children's Museum, Go Charge, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, and Durgin-Park Restaurant. Carroll says that sponsors will either get a rail car or part of the scenery painted with their logo, depending on how much money their sponsorship was for.

The display will officially be completed tomorrow and will run until January 13th. The display features   "O"gauge model trains that are painted to represent the MBTA, MBCR, and Boston and Maine Railroad. The tracks are surrounded by a 1950's village, luscious mountains, and a large harbor.



Carroll's love for design and his attention to detail really shine in his display at South Station. "I just turned 50 and I could just be sitting at home watching television, but instead I'm out here doing the best job in the world" says Carroll, "I couldn't be happier."

MBTA Fill-A-Bus Toy Drive

Courtesy: MBTA

Next week the MBTA, along with MassDOT, Radio 92.9, and Equity Office will be sponsoring a toy drive in front of South Station.

The goal of the drive is to fill a 40 foot MBTA bus with toys that will benefit Boston-area charities during the holiday season. These charities include the Action for Boston Community Development, Freedom House, The Yawkey Boys and Girls Club, and The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

They will be accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys from 8am-6pm December 10th through the 14th. 

Be sure to go out and support this great cause! 

Government Center Station to get full rebuild during 2 year closure

Courtesy: MBTA

The MBTA's Government Center station will soon get a much needed modernization. The MBTA has announced that starting in September of 2013 they will be closing the station to the riding public for a total of two years. The $90 million project is set to completely modernize the station and also rebuild parts of City Hall Plaza.

The renovation will replace the relic station entrance that looks more like a bunker than a station head house. In addition to the new head house, the Green Line and Blue Line platforms will be reconstructed, new escalators and elevators will be installed, and the stations fare collection area will be expanded. An overhaul of the stations electrical and lighting system will also take place.

Government Center station (then Scollay Square station) was opened in to Green Line customers in 1898 and Blue Line customers in 1916, it has the distinction of being the second oldest station in the MBTA's system. The station has not seen a reconstruction since it was re-named "Government Center" about 50 years ago.

Current Station entrance
Uploaded by Flickr user: Kingdafy

The project will also bring the station up to ADA compliancy. Currently Government Center station is one of six stations in the subway system that are not handicap accessible.

The 24 month closure is said to be saving the T over $16 million and shaving over a year off the construction process.

One large problem for the 21,000 commuters that use this station per day is going to be finding another station to use during the construction. Fortunately, the T will be running a special bus shuttle that will run between Government center, Haymarket, and State street stations. MBTA spokesperson, Joe Pesaturo, also said that Bowdoin station, normally closed on nights and weekends, will be open for passengers later on weeknights and on weekends. This will only be on a trial basis however. 

Courtesy: MBTA 

MBTA officials are are set to hold a public hearing about the construction project and station closure on December 12th from 5:30 - 7:00pm. The hearing will be held at 100 Cambridge street in conference rooms B, C, and D which are located on the second floor. 


Federal funding is said to offset about 80% of the costs associated with this $90 million project.