NMRA logoPotomac Division
Mid- Eastern Region of the NMRA

        Potomac Division Challenge 15- Favorite Motive Power seen in the Potomac Division (click caption to see write up)

The Division's email Yahoo 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 Potomac Division has "live" build and take clinics which 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. *** The JMRI DecoderPro Technical clinics requires pre-registration and are limited to a maximum of 8 participants due to the hands-on programming of decoders. A waiting list will be established if more than 8 persons express interest. Click here for more information on this clinic.    ** The Using TinkerCAD clinic will require participants to bring a laptop computer to enable them to run TinkerCAD during the clinic. For more information on this clinic click here

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

DATE
TOPIC
CLINICIAN
***December 9, 2023
"Using JMRI DecoderPro to program decoders"
George Meyrick and Ernie Little, MMR
** January 20, 2024
"Using TinkerCAD"
Kurt Thompson, MMR
***February 10, 2024
"Using JMRI DecoderPro to program decoders"
George Meyrick and Ernie Little, MMR

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

VIRTUAL CLINICS

The Potomac Division Virtual Clinics are normally held on the third Sunday of each month at 3:00 P.M. using the Zoom video platform. Click here for information on how to use Zoom. 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. Here is what is on tap for the next three months:
DATE
TOPIC
CLINICIAN
December 17, 2023
"Locomotive Build for AP Motive Power"
Kurt Thompson, MMR
January 21, 2024
"Portrait of a Railroad"
Jonathon Jones
February 18, 2024
"Modeling Railroad Marine Car Rail car Barge/Ferry Operations"
John Gray

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 access 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 click here. Past NMRA virtual events can be accessed on their You Tube channel by clicking here.

POTOMAC DIVISION MEMBERS VISIT THE BURNT TREE INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY

                        

Members of the Potomac Division members visited the Burnt Tree Industrial Railway located in Aroda, VA., on Saturday, September 16th. Those participating had a full day of operating and riding on this 1/8 scale model railroad. To view a report on the visit click here.
 

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! Watch here for more information as it becomes 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.

BERNIE KEMPINSKI OPEN HOUSE

Bernie Kempinski is having an open house of his U.S. Military Railroad Aquia Branch on Sunday, December 3, 2023 from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM. If you want to attend please RSVP Bernie at Bkempins@yahoo.com. A notice with full information about his layout and address was sent to Potomac Division members via email.

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.

Visit the Northern Virginia Model Railroaders whose layout's HO scale trains depict the Western North Carolina Railroad during the steam to diesel transition. Traction fans will enjoy watching our trolleys running under overhead wire. The layout also features award winning structures and operations conducted on a permanent 20 foot by 50 foot layout controlled by DCC. Bring the kids to see Thomas the tank engine and his friends who will be running too. The Club is located in the historic, circa 1859, Vienna Depot of the former Washington & Old Dominion Railroad (W&OD), 231 Dominion Road, N.E., 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)and masks are optional. 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

DECEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

The Board of Directors meeting will be Tuesday, December 19,2023 at 7:30 PM. The meeting will be held using the Zoom platform and can be accessed by the clicking here.

POTOMAC/JAMES RIVER DIVISION'S HOLD JOINT MEET

The Potomac and James River Divisions held a joint meet at the Battlefield Baptist Church in Warrenton, VA on Saturday, November 4, 2023. There were seven clinics, a popular vote contest, White Elephant sale, Achievement Program evaluations, and three model train layouts open for a layout tour. Some fifty members attended and participated in the event. To see a write up of the meet click here.

NOMINATION FOR 2024 ABRAMS AWARD

The Board of Directors is seeking nominations for the 2024 Marshall Abrams Award to recognize a Potomac Division member who has demonstrated outstanding service to the Division.

The following guidelines will be used in determining the recipient:

1. The recipient must be a member in good standing of the Division.

2. The recipient must have shown a level of service above and beyond that expected by other members of the Division.

3. In addition to service to the Division, service to the Mid-Eastern Region and national model train efforts may also be considered.

Nominations should be sent by January 1, 2024 to Superintendent Ernie Little at super@potomac-nmra.org. The email should cite reasons why the nominee should be considered for the award.

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.

The selection process will take place in January, 2024. A committee, appointed by the Division Superintendent, will review the nominations and select the individual(s) to receive the award. The committee is authorized to select two individuals if it sees fit. Although the committee will determine the recipient(s) of the award by February 1, 2024, the announcement of the individual(s) will not be made until the Division's Annual Meeting.

If you are interested in serving on the selection committee please email Ernie Little.

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

VIRGINIA STATE PARK LECTURE FEATURING BERNIE KEMPINSKI

Well known model railroader, civil war historian, and Potomac Division member Bernie Kempinski will be giving a lecture on Saturday, December 2, 2023 starting at 10:00 AM about railroads during the civil war. The lecture will be presented at the Leesylvania State Park in their Park's Visitor Center as part of their coffee talk series. Admission to the park is $7.00 and the visitor center is located just past the marina at 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191, and you follow the signs to get to it. Complementary coffee and light refreshments will be available.

NICKEL CITY LINE CONDUCTS 200th OPERATIONS SESSION

On Saturday, September 30, 2023 the Bob Rodriguez held the 200th Operations Session of his Nickel City Line model railroad since the first session was held on November 30, 2002. The operations were conducted in two shifts with a total of sixteen participants on site, one virtual, and two visitors. Click here to see more information on this historic event.

MID-EASTERN REGION CONVENTION HELD

                     

The NMRA Mid-Eastern Convention was held in Altoona, Pennsylvania, from October 19th through October 22nd with 202 NMRA members in attendance. The Potomac Division had several members present and involved in the presentation of clinics, participating in the model contest, or just attending clinics and other events. Among them were Gil Fuchs, Bill Mosteller, Ken Wilson, Alex Belida, Ernie Little, Brian Sheron, Bob Minnis, and others. The photo on the left of the modeling contest First Place Steam award presented to Alex Belida, MMR for his scratch built Vertical Boiler Engine. The photo on the right is of the Mid-Eastern Region Superintendent's meeting held on Saturday morning with Gordy Robinson MMR, NMRA President (on the left) and Ernie Little, MMR, Potomac Division's Superintendent (next to Gordy) in attendance.

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  - 2023
Alan Lander - Huntington, MD
Jeff Lodge - Alexandria, VA
Frank Mallison - Alexandria, VA
Christopher Thayer - Vienna, VA
APRIL - 2023
Carter Murray- Silver Spring, MD
Scott Vakerics -  Kensington, MD
MAY- 2023
Earl  Boatman - Herndon, VA
Sean Hoyden - Broad Run, VA
Thomas Kane - Purcellville, VA
Mark McGowan - Round Hill, VA
JUNE - 2023
Christopher Petrone - Alexandria, VA
JULY - 2023
Stuart Sutton - Silver Spring, MD
AUGUST - 2023
Ethan Rogers - Alexandria, VA
SEPTEMBER- 2023
Ty Bateman - Great Falls, VA
Chris Ruegger - Lansdowne, VA
Greg Tate - Woodbridge, VA

OCTOBER - 2023
Brendan Harrington - McLean, VA
Jeffrey Jordan - Fort Valley, VA
Michael Byle  - Colonial Beach, VA
William Hooks - Colonial Beach, VA

THE NEXT POTOMAC FLYER FAVORITE CHALLENGE - Show Me Your Favorite Railroad Station, Passenger or Freight --- February - March 2024 Issue

The Challenge for the February - March 2024 Flyer will be for your favorite model railroad station, passenger or freight, or combo. So get out your camera, take a picture, and make up a short description of your favorite train station, passenger or freight (or combined). Let's see what you have to offer! Send your submissions to: Potomac-Flyer@potomac-nmra.org. The deadline for entries is January 10, 2024.

The staff of the Potomac Flyer thanks everyone who submitted Favorite Motive Power entries for our previous Challenge. (And heads up on the April - May Challenge: it will be for your original photos and descriptions of real engines - not models. Let me repeat that these must be you original photos, not someone else's or an image plucked off of the web.

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 MIke Byle on his receipt of the Golden Spike award.
Congratulations to Paul Hutchins on achieving the Volunteer AP certificate.  

Congratulations to Marty McGuirk on his achievement of the Master Builder -  Scenery and Model Railroad Engineer - Electrical certificates.

Congratulations to Gregg Cassidy on his receipt of his Golden Spike Award.

Congratulations to Alex Belida on his achievement of the Master Building - Motive Power certificate.

Congratulations to Mat Thompson on his achievement of the Association Volunteer certificate.

Many mo the Master Building - Motive Power certificate.

Congratulations to Mat Thompson on his achievement of the Association Volunteer certificate.

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


    Have you changed your email address recently. Please notify NMRA headquarters of any changes in address, email address, or phone numbers so you can continue to receive  National, Region, and the Division notifications. Click here to go the the NMRA website.

Potomac Division (PD)       PD Contacts       Mid‑Eastern Region       National Model Railroad Association (NMRA)





Last modified: November 30 2023 10:46:31.