Membership -- Potomac Divison of NMRA

Share the fun of model-railroading!

The Potomac Division has developed a very attractive color brochure to promote the hobby and membership in the NMRA. It is available for you to print and give to your friends and acquaintances to interest them in our hobby. Click here to open the PDF file ready for printing Note that the file is set up for easy two-sided printing at home by folding on the short edge. If you want copies of the high quality professionally printed brochures, please write to the Webmaster using the box below.

Click here (1) to open the NMRA web page for information. From there, jump directly to the online NMRA membership application, by clicking on Membership and then the Apply Online tab.
Click here (2) to join the Potomac Division discussion group on Yahoo: PD_NMRA.
Click here (3) if you would like update or submit your information for the Potomac Division. Fill in the form that opens, then click on Submit.

So Why Join?

Just as the NMRA organization has three levels, membership benefits accrue at three levels.

At the local, Potomac Division, level we offer:

Potomac Division web site

Achievement Program - Your opportunity to have your modeling work evaluated by your peers and recognized for excellence.
Excursions - We’ve recently re-activated our excursion program. Typically we visit sites with a prototype railroad focus, either an actual road or an on-line industry.
Helper Service - Are you stuck on something in building your railroad, be it mechanical, structural, or electrical? We have people willing to lend a hand.
Home Pages - Want to promote your pike? We’ll list it on our web page. We'll even host it for you.
Layout Disposal - Death and taxes are certain, you owe it to your heirs to do some planning for your railroad after you’re gone. We have information ready to help you.
Layout Tours - Come visit the best layouts in the area at these monthly get-togethers.
Modeling Ideas - A library of idea of varying sizes and scopes.
Operating Groups - Interested in operating a railroad in a prototype manner? We have groups that will welcome you to the fun. Session frequencies vary from weekly to monthly.
Operations Saturday - Not sure you want to join a group, but want to find out what the fun and excitement is about? Our periodic sessions are a perfect way to dip your toe into the water.
Potomac Flyer - Our bi-monthly newsletter about all things model railroading happening in the Potomac Division.
MiniCon - A local, annual, one-day convention, complete with modular layouts, clinics, judging for merit and the AP Program, a white elephant table where members exchange equipment and related materials that are surplus to their needs, at prices usually far below the market.
Yahoo Group - An on-line extension of the Division.

At our regional, Mid-Eastern Region (MER), level we offer:

MER web site
Annual Convention - A multi-day affair with clinics, layout tours, operating sessions, modular layouts, judging, and prototype tours.
The Local - A regional newsletter published six times a year.

At the national, NMRA, level we offer:

National NMRA web site

Standards - When one manufacturer’s cars work with another manufacturer’s locomotive on yet a third manufacturer’s track, thank the NMRA. When your DCC system, with decoders from one manufacturer and the base system from another, works, thank the NMRA.
Annual Convention - Larger than the regional convention, includes the National Train Show.
NMRA Magazine - A monthly model railroading magazine.
Kalmbach Library - Your resource for modeling and prototype information. People sometimes ask where to get prototype photographs. For one project I worked on, the single best resource for such photos was this library.