Pottersville-based ‘Railroads on Parade’ seeks rescue, urgently

Chronicle editor Mark Frost writes: Clarke and Barbara Dunham have issued an urgent call for help to save their elaborate model train attraction, Railroads On Parade, off Northway Exit 26, Pottersville.

They said the unidentified financial backer who enabled them to open Railroads On Parade is now exiting the project.

Their Website announces: “At the conclusion of the 2014 season Railroads On Parade will be seeking a new year-round location elsewhere or the possibility of a lease or outright sale of this World Class Attraction. Once in a Lifetime opportunity for a corporation, museum or private party.”

Railroads On Parade is a building full of elaborate, working model train layouts that the Dunhams created over several decades as an offshoot of their Broadway set design business. One layout was featured for years at Christmas time at Citicorp headquarters in Manhattan.

“Five magical miniature worlds of model trains, a first class journey for dreamers of all ages,” the Website — http://railroadsonparade.com/ — touts.

“Over fifty trains and trolleys, animations, neon signs, computerized day-night lighting, amazing scenery, backdrops and huge train and steamboat graphics round out your experience. This world-class, million-dollar exhibit of model trains is an absolute ‘must-see’.”

The Dunhams say they’ve pursued possibilities in Lake George and Glens Falls with Mayor Bob Blais and Warren County Economic Development President Ed Bartholomew, respectively, but so far nothing has come to fruition.

Time is short; something must happen by shortly after the attraction’s season ends in October, they said.

The amount of money needed isn’t entirely clear, but Mr. Dunham suggests it’s in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, to pay off a note held by the financial backer, plus other obligations and the cost of moving the train layouts if necessary.

Railroads on Parade is open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday. Admission is $12.50 adults, $10.50 seniors, $8.50 youths 13 to 18, $6.50 children 5 to 12. Info: 623-0100.

For inquiries about purchase or investing, contact Mr. Dunham at clarke@dunhamstudios.com.