NMRA logoPotomac Division
Mid- Eastern Region of the NMRA

       Potomac Division Challenge 24 - Scratch Built Models (click caption to see write up)


The Division's email group is PD2MERNMRA@groups.io. If you have not joined and wish to do so please contact the Superintendent.

POTOMAC DIVISION ACTIVITIES

BUILD AND TAKE CLINICS

PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED

The Division's "live" build and take clinics take place at Jerry Stanley's Hobby Barn and other locations.  If you have something you would like to do a presentation on please let Jerry Stanley know  by clicking here

Here is what on the schedule for the next three months.

DATE
TOPIC
CLINICIAN
June 14, 2025 10:00 AM
"TBD"
"TBD"
July 12, 2025 10:00 AM
"TBD"
"TBD"
August 9, 2025 10:00 AM
"TBD"
"TBD"

Click here to see ALL of the upcoming Hobby Barn events.

VIRTUAL CLINICS

The Division's Virtual Clinics are normally held on the third Sunday of each month at 3:00 P.M. using the Zoom video platform. An email containing information on how to register and gain access to the on-line clinic is sent to via the Division email list prior to the clinic.Click here for information on how to use Zoom.

Here is what is on tap for the next three months:

DATE
TOPIC
CLINICIAN
June 22, 2025
"The Virginian - Norfolk to Roanoke"
Bill Mosteller
July 20, 2025
"Norfolk and Western Railroad"
"Tim Hensley"
August 17, 2025
"A History of Narrow Gauge Railroads - Part I - Origins in the North Wales Slate Industry"
Ed Koehler

If you have a topic you would like to present click here to contact our Superintendent, Ernie Little.
 
If you want to see a list of ALL Potomac Division clinics, both virtual and "build and take" click here.

To access the Virtual clinic area of the clinic page. Click here

Past Virtual clinic videos are posted on the Potomac Division's YouTube channel and can be accessed by clicking on "Potomac Division Mid Eastern Region NMRA".

NATIONAL VIRTUAL MODEL RAILROAD EVENTS

The NMRA has virtual model railroad events and the next event has not been announced. When information becomes available it will be posted here.  For more information go to the NMRAX page on Facebook. Past NMRA virtual events can be accessed on their You Tube channel by clicking here.

NATIONAL MODEL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 90 YEARS

The NMRA has its' 90th anniversary in 2025 and celebrates the organization's longevity, the strength of its community, and its commitment to excellence in model railroading.
 

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO WITH ALL THE TIME YOU HAVE AVAILABLE?

The Potomac Division brings to your attention that the PD website provides access to past Potomac Flyer issues, past clinics, and railroad trivia in form of a crossword puzzle challenge. The crossword puzzle will be a PDF file you can download that provides the puzzle, clues, AND the solution.

LAYOUT TOURS

In person Layout Tours are back! The next tour is in the planning process and watch here for  information when it is available.

If you are willing to host an open house of your layout please email layout-tours@potomac-nmra.org and let the layout committee know.

VIRTUAL LAYOUT TOURS

Virtual layout tours are recorded and can be accessed by Clicking here to access the virtual layout tour area on the prior layout tour page.

If you are interested in providing a virtual layout tour please let the BOD know so it can be scheduled.


UPCOMING TRAIN SHOWS

Great Scale Model Train and Railroad Collectors Shows and Railroad Market Place. Click here to go to the show's website.

Greensberg's Great Train & Toy Show. Click here to go to the Great American Train Show's website.

Northern Virginia Model Railroaders.

Click here to go to the NVMR website.

Expand your enjoyment of the "Viva Vienna" celebration on May 24 and 25, with a visit to our club to see our model railroad in action. The layout’s HO scale trains depict the Western North Carolina Railroad during the steam to diesel transition.  Traction fans will appreciate watching our trolleys running under overhead wire.  The layout also features award winning structures and operations conducted on a permanent 20 x 50’ layout using DCC. Bring the kids to see Thomas the Tank Engine who will be running too. The Northern Virginia Model Railroad Club resides in the historic, circa 1859, Vienna Depot of the former Washington & Old Dominion Railroad (W&OD), 231 Dominion Road NE., Vienna, VA.History buffs will enjoy the museum in the waiting room with its displays of the history of the W&OD. Hours are 1-5 P.M. with FREE ADMISSION (donations accepted). Virtual tour: click here. 

NMRA PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM:

Did you know that the NMRA has a partnership program where NMRA members can receive discounts as an NMRA member? See the information below:

 
 





POTOMAC DIVISION NEWS

JUNE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

The next Board of Directors meeting will be Tuesday, June17th at 7:30 P.M. The meeting will be held using the Zoom virtual platform and can be accessed by clicking here.

G SCALE MODEL TRAIN ITEMS FOR SALE

The Potomac Division is assisting the family of former Potomac Division and Life Member Albert Adams who passed away in 2020 by liquidating G scale model railroad items from his estate. The proceeds of the liquidation will be used to further the future operations of the Division. The items appear to be in very good condition, many are in their original box, and there are still items available for purchase. The items are being sold "as-is", there is no implied warranty on the items, and all sales will be final. NMRA members can purchase items for a discounted price. For more information please click here.

2025 POTOMAC DIVISION ELECTION RESULTS

The 2025 Division elections resulted in one new Board of Director, Greg Cassidy (Senior Assistant Superintendent) and two re-elected Directors, Ernie Little (Superintendent) and Lee Stoermer (Clerk). Ken Wilson (Assistant Superintendent) and Jerry Stanley (Paymaster) continue in their positions and which will be up for election in 2026. The Board of Directors thanks Alex Belida, MMR for his service as Senior Assistant Superintendent as he had to step down from office due to our bylaws length of holding the position contained in our bylaws.

POTOMAC DIVISION FALL MINICON SCHEDULED

SAVE THE DATE - On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Potomac Division  Fall Mincon has been scheduled to be held a at the Battlefield Baptist Church in  Warrenton, Virginia. It will be a joint meet with the James River Division. Planning is underway and watch here for more information as it becomes available.

2025 POTOMAC DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING AND SPRING MINICON

The Potomac Division Annual meeting and mincon took place on Saturday, May 17th  at the Dranesville Community Center Community Room located at 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, Va 22101. A report on this event can be seen by clicking here.

MARSHALL ABRAMS AWARD

There was not an award this year due to lack of nominations. The  2024 Marshall Abrams Award was presented to Alex Belida, MMR, at the May 4th Annual meeting.

The Marshall Abrams Award was created by the Potomac Board of Directors in the Spring of 2021 in honor of the late Marshall Abrams who served the Division in several positions including Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Potomac Flyer Publisher, and Division webmaster.

Previous recipients of the award are Mat Thompson, MMR, and Jerry Stanley.

A Flashback: 1993 to 1996 Division Newletters found

In early February member Greg Cassidy found copies of Division newletters from Winter of 1993 to Fall of 1996 in a box at his home. Did you know that the Division was named the Dixie Division and was changed to the Potomac Division on March 12, 1994? For more information you can go to the Potomac Flyer page and look at the old issues or you can click here to see some of the history about the Division name change. While you are thinking about it do you have any old Potomac Flyers from December, 1996 to January of 2020 in a box at your house. If you do the Board of Directors would like to borrow them so they could be scanned and added to the Flyer page. Good time to look as Spring is just around the corner!

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS OF THE DIVISION

Please join the Board of Directors in welcoming new members to the Potomac Division by reaching out to them and helping them settle in to their new Division.

JANUARY - 2024
Jeffrey Barsky - Washington, DC
Paul Dunham - Reston, VA
Russell Hann - Chantilly, VA
Dana Richard - Nokesville, VA
Neal Shelton - Haymarket, VA
Greg Viggiano - Alexandria, VA
Zoe Wei - Fairfax, VA
John Witek - Leesburg, VA
FEBRUARY - 2024
Rodney Bosco - Vienna, VA
Thomas Braithwaite-Berg - Laurel, MD
Tom Matty - Derwood, MD

MARCH - 2024
Todd Smith - Manassas, VA
John Lyon - Rockville, MD
APRIL - 2024
Veon Coffman - Gainesville, VA
John McWilliam - Aldie, VA
Jeremy Smith - Herndon, VA
Stephan Gerhardt - Falls Church, VA
MAY - 2024
David Ray - Winchester, VA
Lonnie Weyant - Lake Frederick, VA
JULY - 2024
Edson Worden - Lexington Park, MD
AUGUST - 2024
Curtis Clint - Reston, VA
Theodore Daniels - Washington, DC
OCTOBER - 2024
Morgan Cash - Falls Church, VA
Larry Griffin - Lake Frederick, VA
Robert Kinsey - Great Falls, VA
NOVEMBER - 2024
Barnhardt Family - Gainesville, VA
Dean Morris - Solomons, MD
John Paschal - Bethesda, MD
Jeffrey Phillips - Leesburg, VA
DECEMBER - 2024
Troy Hamilton - Oxon Hill, MD
Troy Sanchez - Burke, VA
FEBRUARY - 2025
Clifford Burns - Fairfax, VA
David Maynard - Ashburn, VA
Dee Trainham - Fairfax, VA

APRIL - 2025
Robert Peak - Strasburg, VA
MAY - 2025
John Drye - Alexandria, VA

THE NEXT POTOMAC FLYER FAVORITE CHALLENGE - "Cabooses" for the August - September Issue

The Challenge for the August - September , 2025 Flyer will be for "Cabooses". Get out your camera and send along photo or two with a short description. Send your submissions to: Potomac-Flyer@potomac-nmra.org. The deadline for entries is  July 5, 2025.

The staff of the Potomac Flyer thanks everyone who submitted "Scratchbuilt Models" entries for our previous Challenge.

PRIOR POTOMAC DIVISION CHALLENGES

To see the prior Potomac Division Challenges  Click here to see the submissions.


ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM NEWS:

The Potomac Division has several Master Model Railroaders (MMRs). To see a list of the PD MMRs click here.

There are several members working on Achievement Program Certificates and getting closer to becoming Master Model Railroaders. They continue to work toward the goal and are making progress. To see a list of the AP certificate members click here.

Congratulations to Jim Hellwege on his achievement of the Electrical AP certificate.
Congratulations to Greg Cassidy on his achievement of the Electrical and Scenery AP certificates.
Congratulations to Lee Stoermer on his achievement of the Chief Dispatcher AP certificate
Congratulations to Jim Hellwege on his achievement of the Electrical AP certificate.
Congratulations to Greg Cassidy on his achievement of the Electrical and Scenery AP certificates.
Congratulations to Lee Stoermer on his achievement of the Chief Dispatcher AP certificate.
Congratulations to MIke Byle on his achievement of the Electrical AP certificate and receiving his Golden Spike Award.
Congratulations to Paul Hutchins on achieving the Volunteer AP certificate.  

Many more of our members are one certificate from achieving Master Model Railroader status. Keep up the good work!



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Last modified: June 05 2025 15:46:38.