January/February 2024

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President's Message

Gordy Robinson MMR®



Happy New Year! As we embark on our 90th year, let's reflect on the incredible journey of our organization and the bright future ahead. 2025 marks a significant milestone, and we're thrilled to celebrate our achievements and embrace new opportunities.


We're excited to bring back the beloved Trainfest event in Milwaukee in November 2025, a city deeply intertwined with our history. Trainfest, along with the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show and the National Train Show, stand as pillars of our community, showcasing innovation and fostering connections. As we navigate the evolving landscape of model railroading, we're committed to adapting and embracing new technologies, ensuring our relevance for future generations.


Our founders' vision of a thriving and supportive community continues to guide me. I encourage you to embrace learning, mentorship, and the sharing of knowledge, ensuring the enduring legacy of our hobby. Let's approach the year with optimism and a shared passion for model railroading, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and camaraderie.

 

Gordy Robinson MMR®

NMRA President

STATION No. VI NMRA National Convention

Barry Hensel

Station No. VI Publicity Chairman

Hello NMRA members! Welcome to another STATION No. VI NMRA eBulletin update. In this issue, we’ll talk about contests and displays. During the STATION No. VI week, we have two great opportunities for you to display your prized models and win awards. The first way is the regular judging of NMRA contest models. This will be in a room near the HQ hotel lobby and will be fully staffed by the NMRA National contest judging team. Judging for NMRA awards or AP points will all take place in that room. All of the NMRA judging rules will be followed and you must be an NMRA member to enter a model in this contest.

The second way to enjoy great models is in our public display room in one of the hotel ballrooms. This display is open to all convention participants, NMRA member or not, to bring models to display. In the same room will be several display layouts, which makes this room the social hub of STATION No. VI. Besides simply displaying your models for others to see, enjoy, and learn from, we’ll be hosting a People’s Choice Contest! It’s free to enter if you want to. We’ll have 7 categories for the models:

  • Steam Engines
  • Diesels, electric and trolley
  • Freight Cars
  • Passenger Cars
  • MOW and logging
  • Structures
  • Dioramas 

We’ll be awarding 2 prizes per category. In addition, we’ll have gift certificates from our sponsors! First place wins a $100 gift certificate and second place wins a $50 gift certificate. All of these will be awarded based on ballots that all attendees may fill out. We’ll start voting on Monday afternoon and continue through Thursday night. The awards will be given out during the Friday night Pizza Party, being held in the same room.

There is one caveat – you cannot enter the same model in both contests. You must choose between the NMRA judging or the People’s Choice Contest. But there is a way to do both – simply enter different models, one in each contest! So if you want some accolades for your modeling skills you have a choice at STATION No. VI ! We encourage everyone to bring a model for display. At other ongoing model railroad events there are often hundreds of models, even thousands, on display. It is a great opportunity for you to share your work and for others to learn from it. Let’s show everyone that we can do this too.

 Oh, by the way, did you note the mention of a Pizza Party? On Friday night from 9pm to 1am, we’re hosting a Pizza Party. Select this option when you register. Two slices of pizza, plus beer, wine, or soft drinks depending on which option you select. This will be a huge social event that will help celebrate the convention. Who will be there that you might rub elbows with?

Well, that’s our update for this issue of the NMRA eBulletin. We’ll look at some of the prototype tours in March, as we get even closer to our convention dates – JULY 14-19, 2025. STATION No. VI is only 6 months away. Register now and get in on the fun in 2025! Do you have questions? Please visit our website (nmra2025.com) and use the contacts page to let us know what we can answer for you!
 

2025 Board of Directors Elections

Mike Cummings

NMRA Secretary

In February, we will be holding our 2025 Board of Directors elections. Here are the positions to be filled, and the candidates:


Atlantic District Director

Alan Kap

Jonathan Small


At-Large World Wide Director

Martyn Jenkins


Western District Director

Lee Calkins

Lowell Didas

Bob Ginger

Mike Mackey


All voting-eligible members worldwide will vote for the At-Large World Wide Director. Some voting-eligible members will also vote for the Director for their district. Ballot packages are designed specifically for your district. Your ballot package will include candidate statements, the No Campaigning Policy, and the ballot. As in the last few years, the ballot will not be published in the magazine. Candidate statements will also be posted in the members-only section of the NMRA website.


All voting-eligible members worldwide with an email address on file will be invited to vote electronically through Election Buddy, a secure online voting system. Your election invitation should arrive around February 1 and the election will close on March 1. All voting-eligible members worldwide who do not have an email address on file will receive a paper ballot via postal mail. Your ballot should arrive in late January. Completed paper ballots must be postmarked no later than March 1.


Do not be alarmed if you learn that one of your friends has received their ballot when you have not. Since the ballots are being distributed from different locations and in different manners, the ballots will most certainly arrive at their destinations at different times. Please take the time to vote, and thank you for being a member of the NMRA.


Thank you to all the members that have submitted their names for consideration!

Amherst Railroad Hobby Show

Gordy Robinson MMR®

NMRA President

Are you ready for the biggest train show in North America? If you have never attended the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield MA you really should consider making the trip. Spread across 4 buildings with a total under-cover display space of over 350,000 sq. ft. this show is huge! 


The NMRA booth will be in the Better Living Center section 29b. We will be joined at the show by over 380 vendors, manufacturers, and displays. If you are at the show be sure to stop by and meet the national team and local volunteers from the North East Region. Be quick enough and you will be able to collect a 90th anniversary sticker from the team. You can find out more at railroadhobbyshow.com. It's still not too late to book that plane ticket and hotel room.

2025 Board of Directors Annual Winter Meeting 

Mike Cummings

NMRA Secretary

The winter NMRA Board of Directors Meeting will be held on Friday January 24th in conjunction with the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show. All members are welcome to attend the morning and afternoon open sessions.

 

Please email the Secretary at secy@nmra.org if interested in attending so that final details on the times and room location can be sent approximately one week before the meeting.  

90th Anniversary Logo 

Gordy Robinson MMR®

NMRA President

We've developed a special NMRA 90th anniversary logo to use throughout the year and we encourage you to use it on your marketing material, newsletters, social media, etc. Here is the main colour version, and a black alternative. A high-quality vector file is available on the NMRA website at nmra.org/members/promotional-materials (member login required).

Trainfest 2025

This renowned model railroading event, originally established by the W.I.S.E. Division of the NMRA, will make its grand return to the Wisconsin State Fair Park on November 8-9, 2025.


This milestone event coincides with the NMRA's 90th anniversary celebration, making it particularly significant that Trainfest returns to its roots in Wisconsin, where the NMRA's journey began nine decades ago. The 2025 edition promises to be a true festival of model railroading, featuring an innovative addition to its programming - the first-ever integrated Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet.


"Bringing Trainfest back under the NMRA banner in our 90th anniversary year creates a perfect synergy," said Gordy Robinson MMR, NMRA President. "This event represents both our heritage and our future in the model railroading community."


Trainfest 2025 will offer attendees:

  • A comprehensive showcase of model railroading layouts & exhibits
  • a Railroad Prototype Modelers (RPM) Mini Meet
  • Special 90th anniversary NMRA celebrations and exhibits
  • Interactive demonstrations and workshops
  • Industry-leading vendors and manufacturers


The NMRA invites model railroaders, families, and hobbyists from across the country to join in this historic celebration of model railroading excellence.

New NMRA Calendar Website

Gerry Leone MMR® HLM

NMRA Calendar Editor

Want to know how to submit a photo or two to the annual NMRA Calendar? Don’t know when the deadline is? Wondering what size your photo should be?


These and all of your questions are answered on our new NMRA Calendar webpage, nmra.org/members/printed-calendar. (We named it that to differentiate it from the online NMRA events calendar.) When you log in to the NMRA website and go to the new Calendar page, you’ll find a complete description of the submission process using WeTransfer, the photo size requirements, what your photo caption should include, and much, much more.


Plus we have a new email address in case your question isn’t answered on the page. Just send your email to calendarphotos26@nmra.org and both Tom Morrison, our designer, and I will receive it and we’ll answer as soon as possible.


As an extra added bonus, we’ve included links to some how-to videos. You’ll find two video links to YouTube videos about using a cell phone to take photos, and five links to a comprehensive photography course (graciously donated by Kalmbach Media) that explains everything you need to know to take good photos of anything.


Take a look at nmra.org/members/printed-calendar then get shooting for the 2026 Calendar! The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2025.

Local 90th Anniversary Events

The NMRA will be celebrating our anniversary at the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show (January 25-26), our national convention in NOVI, MI (July 14-20) and Trainfest (November 8-9). We'll also have special coverage of our history in the NMRA Magazine, and throughout this year's NMRAx program which you can catch live or watch on Youtube anytime.


However, we'd also like to encourage you to organise your own local event for your club, Division or Region. The actual anniversary is Labor Day weekend in September, but your event could be held anytime throughout the year. You could even apply for your Division Retention funding to help cover some of the costs of the event. Be sure to promote your event and share pictures with the wider NMRA community on social media and the NMRA Interchange.

Marketing Tools - Canva roll out

The NMRA has been lucky enough to obtain a non-profit team account for the popular graphic design tool Canva. This allows us to share nationally produced material that you see us using across social media platforms. You can use the tools within Canva to customize the items for local use. 


In 2024 we asked Regions for names of volunteers to complete training with the national team and be given access to Canva. The hope was that these volunteers would then be local champions of the tool and roll it down throughout their Region. Unfortunately we haven't been supplied with any names by our Regions yet, so if you would like to help roll out this important marketing aid, please contact your Region President and ask that your name be forwarded to us.

Upcoming Conventions
Newest Master Model Railroader® recipients

The Board of Directors and Executive of the NMRA would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the following members who have completed their MMR®. Well done!


776. Benjamin Maggi (NER)

777. Dave Croshere (PCR)

778. William Botkin (RMR)

779. Ray Meyer (MWR)

780. Dave Adams (PCR)

781. Jack Dziadul (MER)

782. Dr. Robert Perry (MWR)


"Master Model Railroader" and "MMR" are registered trademarks of the NMRA. A list of all MMRs can be found at nmra.org/master-model-railroaders
Partnership Program

The companies listed below give discounts to NMRA members when orders are placed using a special discount code. Check them out! You can find descriptions of these companies and their products, links to their websites, and the discount codes on our Partnership Page at  nmra.org/partnerships . Remember you need to be logged into our site as a member to see the codes! Go to nmra.org/user/register to register your name on the website.

Bespoke Rail

CatzPaw Innovations

CB Train Junction

Clever Models

Custom Model Railroads CMR

Coastmans Scenic Products

Composite Designs

Conowingo Models

Cowcatcher Magazine

Daylight Sales

Deepwoods Software

Deluxe Materials

Diorama Hobbies

Dwarvin Enterprises

East Coast Circuits

Enterprise&National Car Rentals

Evan Designs

Feight Studios

Fusion Scale Graphics

Gatorfoam

Great Decals!

Green Frog Productions

Highways and Byways Model Railroad Graphics

Hot Wire Foam Factory

Ipswich Hobbies

ITLA Scale Models

K.I.S.S. Method

LaBelle Woodworking

LARC Products

Logic Rail Technologies

MAC Rail

Micro-Mark

Mine Mount Models

Miniprints

Model Train Catalogue

Modelers Decals & Paint

Motrak Models

MRC (Model Rectifier Corp)

MrTrain.com

Mudd Creek Models

New Creations Victorian Railroad Buildings

Nick and Nora Designs

Northlandz

NScaleWorks

Old Depot Gallery

Old West Scenery

R & J Details

Ram Track

RR-CirKits

Scale Model Plans

Scale Railroad Models

Scenery Solutions

Showcase Miniatures

T-TRAK by Denniston

Team Track Models

The Model Railroad Benchwork Store

The N Scale Architect

Tichy Train Group

Touch of the Brush Weathering

Train Installations

Train Show, Inc.

Trainmasters TV/MRH Store

Trainz

TSG Multimedia

UGEARS

USA Airbrush Supplies/Badger

White Rose Hobbies

WiFi Model Railroad (LocoFi)

Yelton Models

Now available to all members
  • The Origins of the NMRA
  • Up on the Roof
  • Adrian & Blissfield
  • Making Plastic Look Like Real Wood
  • Why Standards Matter – Advanced Extended Packet Formats

Visit nmra.org/nmra-digital-magazine

Coming soon to all members
  • Jerry Sahagian's Great Northern Kalispell Division
  • A Layout's Journey
  • Finding, Retaining, and Reactivating Members
  • Modified Slanser Ground Throw Switch Stand
  • Why Standards Matter – Service Mode Programming
Did you miss?

Thanks to volunteer Tom Bensberg, all NMRA eBulletins and NMRA Dispatches are archived on the NMRA website. Here are a few links to items you may have missed.


Announcements

eBulletin articles

  • Proposed Change to the Achievement Program Author Requirements, Nov/Dec issue
  • Digital Projects Update, Sept/Oct issue
  • Funds for Your Division, Sept/Oct issue
  • New Member Benefits Marketing Materials, Sept/Oct issue
  • Leadership Expectations and Responsibilities, May/June issue
  • Instructions for joining the Interchange (a.k.a. Discord) March/April, 2023 issue
  • NMRA Digital Magazine FAQs Jan/Feb 2022 issue

Editor: John Bate, Canadian District Director

The NMRA eBulletin is an official bi-monthly production of the National Model Railroad Association, Inc. Publishing Department (Riley Triggs, Manager). Its purpose is to keep every NMRA member informed about organization news and events. If you know of an NMRA member who is not receiving this mailing, please direct them to nmra.org/members to update their email address. If you no longer wish to receive these mailings, please don't mark them as spam. Instead, click the safe Unsubscribe link at the bottom of this page. ©2021 National Model Railroad Association, Inc., P.O. Box 1328, Soddy Daisy TN 37384.
 
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