Working on the railroad, giving back to Mars

MARS — For these volunteers, ‘working on the railroad’ is more than a familiar song—it’s their livelihood.  On Wednesday, a group of employees from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, known as Wabtec, spent their volunteer day working on a little piece of Mars railroad history.

Trading their usual locomotive work for paintbrushes and repairs, employees from Wabtec’s Grove City operation helped spruce up the Mars Area History & Landmarks Society campus. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 7, the volunteers tackled buildings, signs and decorative displays surrounding the society’s miniature railroad. Along the tracks, volunteers crouched beside metal equipment with paintbrushes and worked on weathered wooden structures.

For society President John Watson, the effort reflected the volunteers’ enthusiasm as much as their accomplishments.

“It’s amazing to see when volunteers put their heart and soul into a project. The group from Wabtec were a whirlwind of creative activity. We are so grateful to them,” said Watson.

The effort came together through Middlesex Township residents Scott and Kim Snyder, whose family has become involved in preserving and sharing Mars history.

Kim, who joined the society’s volunteer board about a year ago, was inspired to get involved by the couple’s young daughter, who has been serving as conductor for the campus train. Scott, a Wabtec employee, proposed bringing a group of 20 to 25 employees to help with the work.

“My husband works for Wabtec and because the family is involved with this, he got involved,” Kim Snyder said. “I think the kids will love the back (display.) And I think the grandparents and everything will love the touchup paint job.”

Society board member Robert Lang said the Grove City employees undertake a community volunteer project each year, and this year the Mars campus benefited from their help.

The extra hands made a difference for an organization that depends on volunteers to care for its campus.

“Oh it’s wonderful,” society board member Robert Lang said, “because we would never be able to do this on our own.”

Lang hopes the improvements will encourage more people to visit.

Along with the fresh paint, visitors riding the miniature train will find new sights along the tracks, including a wooden cutout model of downtown Mars.

Positioned near the ride’s first turn, the village brings together past and present landmarks, including the Mars Library, the Agway store and a Sweeney Automotive building.

For Kim Snyder, the idea began during her own first ride.

“The first time I was on it, I was like: it would be neat to go in and see a village. And to bring a little bit of the old and new Mars into the village.”

Farther down the tracks, volunteers built a decorative wishing well with leftover bricks from housing construction, a wooden frame and a hanging rope. Wooden farm animals near the windmill received fresh paint, and two green Martian cutouts joined the display.

The crew also touched up the railings at the miniature train’s platform and gazebo and repainted the decorative oil derricks.

The campus welcomes visitors year-round, and the museum is open to the public on Fridays. The miniature train continues operating through the end of October, giving visitors time to take a ride through the newly refreshed displays.