March/April 2024

President's Message

Gordy Robinson MMR®

As we look forward to the tail end of winter, we still have some train shows in spring to look forward to but inevitably you will be starting to plan for summer. We all know the jewel in our calendar is the National NMRA Convention, and the Surfliner 2024 in Long Beach CA will certainly not disappoint.

Whilst we have had to announce recent changes to the National Train Show for Long Beach (see a later article in this eBulletin) they will not detract from the convention itself. Far from it. In fact there will now be the opportunity to not only co-locate the two events but also for layouts and modular displays to be set up in a 10,000 sq.ft. area at the convention hotel for the duration of the event. So if you haven’t done so already now is the time to register for the Surfliner 2024 NMRA national convention by visiting the convention website surfliner2024.org.

Best Wishes

Gordy

Gordy Robinson MMR®

NMRA President

Surfliner 2024 NMRA National Convention

Pat Raymer

President, PSR

Hello everybody! In this issue of the eBulletin, I would like to share some of the General Interest tours we will be conducting at the SurfLiner 2024 NMRA National Convention. There is a vast array of activities and attractions in Southern California, so we had to narrow the field to some of the best and brightest. Not an easy task!

Warner Bros. Studio: Celebrating 100 years of making movie and television magic, this 2-3 hour guided walking tour will take you through one of the world’s oldest working studios. Visit the sets and see the props and costumes from some of your favorite films and TV shows.

San Antonio Winery: Established in 1917, the San Antonio Winery is the oldest producing winery in Los Angeles. Tour the production area, then enjoy a wine tasting in the tasting room and fresh gourmet Italian fare in the Maddalena Restaurant. The winery also features a unique gift shop.

Cruise to Catalina Island on the Catalina Express: Come explore this gem 26 miles (or so) across the sea from Long Beach! Once you arrive, there are many activities you may choose from including: dining, shopping, hiking, tours, zip lining, diving, and more. All activities on the island are at additional cost on your own. This is an all-day excursion.

R.M.S. Queen Mary: Located directly across the harbor from the convention hotel, the R.M.S. Queen Mary is a step into the past, when travel by ship was elegant and grand. Rich with history and romance, from the first voyage in 1936, to the troopship days of WWII, to the golden days of the 1950’s, this is a very special experience.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: This is America’s largest institution dedicated to the art and science of moviemaking. With over 13 million objects in its collection, you will see props, costumes, set pieces (think The Godfather) and learn about the fascinating processes that go into creating a film. See an Oscar® close-up!

Petersen Automotive Museum: With over 100 vehicles on display in 25 galleries, the Petersen Automotive Museum features rare and unique autos from all eras. If cars are your thing, this tour is a must-see.

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum: This museum is the presidential library and burial site of Richard Nixon and Pat Nixon. The 9 acre campus includes memorabilia, artifacts, clothing, and photos from the Nixon administration. The presidential limousine and VH-3A Sea King presidential helicopter are also on display.

We have only scratched the surface of the amazing activities offered in Southern California, so why not make this a family vacation? We look forward to seeing you at the SurfLiner 2024 Convention!

Note: All of these tours will be conducted by motor coach, with the exception of the Catalina cruise which will also include a boat! Food and beverage purchases on these tours are not included in the fares. All tours are subject to change or cancellation in the event we do not garner adequate interest in any particular tour. Register today at www.surfliner2024.org.

Pat Raymer

Chairman, SurfLiner 2024 NMRA National Convention

National Train Show 2024

Gordy Robinson MMR®

NMRA President

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the NMRA announces that the National Train Show, originally scheduled to take place at the Long Beach Convention Center, August 9-11, 2024, has been relocated to the Westin Hotel.

The Westin Hotel is the site of the SurfLiner 2024 NMRA National Convention, and we believe this convenient and intimate venue will result in a more accommodating and enjoyable experience for all participants.

We understand that this may cause inconvenience and disappointment for some, and we sincerely apologize for any disruptions this may cause. This decision was made after careful consideration to ensure the safety and comfort of all attendees, as well as a successful National Convention and National Train Show. There is additional information for visitors, convention attendees, vendors, manufacturers, and layout groups at nmra.org/news/national-train-show-2024.

The National Model Railroad Association remains committed to an annual National Train Show for model railroaders and the return of Trainfest. Additionally, we appreciate your understanding and participation. We look forward to welcoming you at The Westin Hotel Long Beach for a successful and enjoyable National Train Show. Should you no longer wish to attend the National Train Show in 2024, we look forward to welcoming you back in 2025.

R.I.P. Bill Neale MMR®

Long time and active NMRA member, Bill Neale MMR®, passed away on December 27, 2023. Bill was a model railroader at an early age. He became a life member of the NMRA while still a teenager. Bill was very active in the North Central Region and on the National level as the Central Division Director for six years. Bill was a founding member of the Midwest Railroad Modelers in Batavia, Il. Bill was a long-time member of the Midnight Pocatello Yardmasters, a Friday night round robin group in the Detroit area. Bill was one of eight in the group to receive his MMR, being #480.

Bill was well known for his 1939 Pennsylvania “Panhandle” layout. With the recent addition of towers and a signaling system his layout was essentially complete. Bill’s layout was featured in national magazines numerous times and Bill shared his layout with many others through visits and operating sessions. Bill was an influential member of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society, writing articles and giving clinics.

Bill was known to many and was always helping others to make the hobby better. He will be greatly missed.

Volunteers Needed

The NMRA is run by volunteers. Get involved by contributing your expertise and time.

All NMRA Departments are actively recruiting new volunteers year-round, so if you want to share your experience and skills and help the NMRA deliver something you are really passionate about, then please reach out to me.

Gordy Robinson

NMRA President

president@nmra.org

We’re Looking for a Few Good Layouts…

Gerry Leone MMR®

NMRA Calendar Editor

Photography and HO scale modeling by Larry Blaylock, Kansas City, Missouri

...12 to be exact! You’re proud of your model railroad. Why not share it by submitting a photo or two for the 2025 edition of the NMRA Model Railroad Calendar? The calendar is distributed to every U.S. member as a fundraising project. To have your layout photo considered for inclusion, just follow these easy steps:

Take a horizontal (landscape) photo of your layout.
Submit your photo as a digital file. Files must be at least 300 pixels per inch and 8” x 12” (at least 8.6 megapixels – larger is better). Accepted file types are tiff (preferred) or jpg (highest quality only).
Write a caption describing the action in your shot, the scale, the builder, and the photographer. Include that information as a text or .doc file.
Include your name, address, phone number and email address.
Please limit your entries to no more than your four best scenes.
Submit your photo and text files for free at wetransfer.com.

If you don’t see the “Upload files” box (shown below) click on the “I just want to send files” link at the bottom of the page. Follow these steps:

Click (+) Upload files. Locate and add your files.
Email to: scwd.email@gmail.com
Add your email address.
Add the title: 2025 Calendar.
Add your name, address & phone number.
Click the transfer button. You will receive a confirmation email.

Note: By submitting images for the NMRA Calendar, you are giving permission to the editors to alter them as needed (cropping, smoke and lighting effects, etc.). Please indicate specifically if you do NOT give permission to alter your images.

Photos must be submitted by July 15, 2024 for consideration.

NEWS from the IT Department!

Speed Muller

IT Department Manager

The NMRA forums, previously hosted on the nmra.org website, are now officially moved to the NMRA Interchange in Discord. To join the Interchange, you need to log into the nmra.org website and venture to nmra.org/nmra-interchange. It will contain the complete recipe to join the Interchange Discord server (first time Discord users will create a free Discord account) and once in the server, you will execute the two commands "/onboard" and "/clearance" to gain access to all the channels. We recommend using a browser at first to access Discord, which you can simply close when overwhelmed, and when more comfortable, install the Discord application on your phone, tablet, or computer to be notified when something exciting happens. (Use the same Discord login, don't create another account.)

The forums live in a channel called #original-nmra-forums under the category heading: NMRA WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY. You are welcome to create a new post in that channel, if you can not find the help you need in either #i-need-help-with-the-interchange, #i-need-nmra-help or #i-need-help-modelling.

\--------/

Speed@TheBottomOfTheHelix

10 Year Anniversary of EduTRAIN®

Bruce DeYoung MMR®

EduTRAIN® Coordinator

The EduTRAIN® program dates back to 2012-13, a decade ago. It has two main purposes. First, it serves as a repository of general interest clinics that can be downloaded and presented at the local level. Each clinic contains the presenter notes needed to accompany each slide in the PowerPoint presentation. So if your Division has a member experienced in operations, he/she could download the clinic Getting Started in Operations by Bob Weinheimer or Basic Model Railroad Operations by Dick Robert, review the notes, and present the clinic at your next Division Meeting.

Second, members who can’t get to Division meetings can download a clinic and learn the information and techniques in the comfort of their homes. Are you building a layout and ready to tackle the backdrop? There is the EduTRAIN® clinic Backdrops by Tom Oxnard, MMR®. Looking for roofing ideas? How about Modeling Slate Roofs by Bruce DeYoung MMR®?

Where do you find these EduTRAIN® Clinics? They reside on the NMRA website at nmra.org/edutrain/edutrain-approved-clinics. (Member login required)

The EduTRAIN® Program currently contains 24 clinics and we would love to have more. If you have a clinic of general interest and would be willing to have it included in the program, here are some guidelines.

The clinic topic should be one that can be mastered by another NMRA member after viewing your clinic and reading your brief presenter notes.
The clinic must be in PowerPoint.
Any photos or diagrams in your presentation must belong to you. We don’t want to run into any copyright issues.
You must include a sentence or two for each slide in the presenter notes – unless the slide itself contains the text explaining the slide.

If you are interested in submitting a clinic, just send an e-mail expressing your interest to Mike Hohn MMR®, Education Department Manager, at educate@nmra.org.

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!

753. Todd Summers (MCoR)

754. Phillip Burnside (MWR)

755. Thomas Cain (MWR)

756. William Fassett (PNR)

757. Daniel Figy (PNR)

758. Jeffrie Herrmann (PNR)

759. James Spice (PSR)

"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

Upcoming Conventions

March 18-21 NERx Virtual Convention, Facebook and Youtube (NER)
April 24-28 The Tech Line, Milpitas, CA (PCR)
May 2-4 Around The Bend, South Bend, IN (MWR)
May 16-19 North Coast Limited 2024, Cleveland, OH (MCR)
May 16-19 Sawdust City Hauler, Eau Claire, WI (TLR)
May 22-26 Surrey Excursion 2024, Surrey, BC Canada (PNR)
June 13-15 Grand Island Express, Grand Island, NE (MCoR)
June 20-23 River Rails 2024, Decatur, AL (SER)
Aug 4-11 Surfliner 2024 NMRA National Convention, Long Beach, CA (NMRA)
Sept 19-22 Lakeshores '24, Rochester, NY (NER)
Oct 10-13 North Central Express 2024, Northville, MI (NCR)
Oct 17-20 Piedmont Junction, Durham, NC (MER)
Oct 25-27 79th NMRA British Region Convention 2024, Berkshire, UK

Partnership Program

The companies listed below give discounts to NMRA members when orders are placed using a special discount code. Newly added companies are in bold red. 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

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)

Mudd Creek Models

New Creations Victorian Railroad Building

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

Team Track Models

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

WiFi Model Railroad

Yelton Models

Coming soon to all members

Castle Peak & Thunder (G)
Railroad Rooming House (N)
Why Standards Matter: S-3 & S4: The Track/Wheel Relationship
Ambroid Hopper Kit (HO)
Look! Up in the Sky!

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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