smdnmra

Next Business Meeting; 12 October

The Sunday, 12 October meeting will be held at Bob Johnson’s home where we will be visiting the West Virginia Midland RR (WVM). This is a stand gauge short line operation that features steep grades and lots of geared engines. The Midland is a “what might have been” railroad inspired by the prototype West Virginia Midland and is set in the early summer of 1954. The only catch is that the real WVM was a narrow-gauge line that went out of business in 1930. In my world the WVM survived the great depression, converted to standard gauge and prospered during World War II. Like the prototype, the WVM is based in and around Webster Springs, WV. It connects with the B&O on the west end and Western Maryland Ry on the east.

As usual, the meeting starts at 2:00PM.

Please email southmountaindiv@gmail.com to obtain the street address.

Park on the street in from of the house walk down the driveway. Enter through the basement door at the rear of the house (directional signage will be posted).

Reminder:

SMD membership meetings are always the 2nd Sunday of the month at 2PM. The only exceptions are for April, when the Mini-Con replaces our business meeting, and in May, which will take place one week later, on the 3rd Sunday.

Please consider hosting a meeting sometime during the 2025 – 2026 program year. Email southmountaindiv@gmail.com. We try to avoid back-to-back repeat visits so if you have never hosted, or it has been a year or so since you did, give it a thought.

The schedule is as follows.

November 9th – Larry Daily; Shepherdstown, WV.

Hosts Needed:

As of this writing we do not have any meeting hosts signed up for December through May of 2026. We need volunteers to step up as hosts. Your layout doesn’t need to be large, or finished, or even operational. Without hosts we cannot hold our meetings. Repeat hosts (within the past year) are okay but we really would like to see some layouts that we have not visited for a couple of year or never seen at all. If you would like to host, or have any questions concerning hosting please contact your Division superintendent at southmountaindiv@gmail.com.

Mini-Clinics:

It has long been the policy of the SMD to present mini-clinics at each meeting. In some cases clinics are conducted by the host. However, not every host is in a position to do so. We are asking for members to volunteer to develop and present mini-clinics at meetings to fill these gaps. If you can to do a mini-clinic please contact your Division superintendent at southmountaindiv@gmail.com.

From the Desk of the Superintendent, OCT 2025

By Dan Mulhearn

I was reading recently of some politician, I believe it may have been a vice president who said, “This job is just one dxxx thing after another.” I know the feeling. Thanks to the wonderful physical therapy and occupational therapy staffs here at Quincy Village; I was off the walker and even driving again. Subsequently, on September 11th, myself and two other gentlemen seated at my table tested positive for COVID-19. My apologies for not being able to attend our September gathering. As this is written my quarantine ends tomorrow. Barring some other dxxx thing I look forward to our October meeting as well as the annual MER Convention at King of Prussia, 16-19 October.

Have you downloaded the latest MER newsletter? It updates us on National and Regional happenings. There are also well done articles on such things as decals, structure building and other items of interest. It is well worth your time.

Our Division needs volunteers willing to host a Division Meeting at their home. If that volunteer is you, please reach out to Division staff to put that in motion. We are always interested in what you’ve been up to and enjoying the progress on your model railroad.

Next Business Meeting; 14 September

The September meeting will be a return visit to Steve King’s home to enjoy his large “N” scale layout. As usual, the meeting starts at 2:00PM.

Please email southmountaindiv@gmail.com to obtain the street address.

Steve operates the Virginia Midland Railroad, which is a large “N” scale layout that features heavy coal operations with just enough general freight traffic thrown in to make things interesting for the operators. In many ways the Virginia Midland brings back memories of the N&W (post Virginian merger). It features long trains of hoppers, multi-engine power consists, and even independently controlled helpers. Even if you are not personally into heavy freight drag operations this layout is worth seeing. This is probably one of the largest N scale layouts in the area. All operations are controlled using CVP (Easy DCC) wireless throttles.

Reminder:

The schedule is as follows.

October 12th – Bob Johnson; Jefferson, MD

Mini-Clinics:

September Wheel Report Posted

Click here to read current and past SMD newsletters.

Notes from the Editor:

By Ron Polimeni

Over the years, I’ve been something of an instigator attempting to encourage others to step up and hold office in our SMD. This year, I figured it was about time I put my money where my mouth is and step up myself. So, I’m now the editor in chief of our Wheel Report newsletter. This year we’re trying something new. There will be three of us assembling the publication. Andrew Dodge, MMR, will be assistant editor and Bob Johnson will be publisher. I will be responsible for collecting articles and material for publication. Andrew will assist with proofreading and editing. Bob will layout and publish the final copy. It’s a new idea and time will tell how well it works out.

That said, I haven’t given up on instigating others to step up. I will be looking for stories wherever I can find them. It is my hope that we can use the Wheel Report to rejuvenate enthusiasm for our organization. Our membership has much to share and it is my hope that we can do so through participation in the Wheel Report. I’m open to all thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to contact me through the Division email, southmountaindiv@gmail.com.

Wheel Report Content:

We are always looking for Wheel Report content from the membership. Articles addressing prototype railroading (including your experiences while visiting a prototype location) and model railroading (how you designed / built your layout, modeling structures, model railroad operations, etc. All of this adds interest to your Wheel Report and builds membership enthusiasm.

In September we are publishing the first of a four-part article written by Division member Andrew Dodge, MMR. Note that Andrew’s feature piece will only be available to members via the emailed distribution of the newsletter.

Your October issue will include an article by Bob Johnson discussing how he developed the concept for his West Virginia Midland and how that development drives operations on the layout.

If you would like to submit an article please email southmountaindiv@gmail.com. Wheel Report editor Ron Polimeni would like articles formatted in a Microsoft Word compatible file or pasted into the body of the email. Please do not submit PDF files. Pictures for articles should be attached to the email, with their corresponding captions clearly labeled with each picture’s file name so they can be matched to each image. Do not paste images into a Word document. All submissions and pictures must be the property of the author to be considered for publication.

From the Desk of the Superintendent

By Dan Mulhearn

Greetings fellow model railroad enthusiasts. I had just gotten home from the NMRA National in Detroit. My plan was to hit the ground running in my new job as SMD Superintendent. Well, hit the ground I did.

“Surgery on that broken right femur,” they said.

“Twelve to fifteen weeks rehab,” they said.

Given the circumstances, I will not be able to attend the September meeting. I am asking that Bob Johnson stand in for me. Which leads me to the thought, the Division could use an Assistant Superintendent position. I do intend to work very hard to attend all future meetings. I am looking forward to working with Division members to keep the Division and our mutual hobby rolling forward.

One important piece of my plan is the Achievement Program (AP). This lineup is an excellent way to gain or improve hobby skills. I encourage all of us to look into AP as a way to advance enjoyment of model railroading. In my case I currently have five certificates. It is time for me to choose one of the remaining two required certificates that will elevate me to Master Model Railroader (MMR). So I have chosen Master Builder – Cars. Then, for my seventh certificate it’s going to be Master Builder – Structures. Both these certificates require scratch building. I’m hoping my Parkinson’s tremors will allow me to get them done. Let me know how you are doing and what you are working on.

The annual MER Convention is also something well worth attending and should be on everyone’s to do list. The Philadelphia Division is hosting, October 16-19 in King of Prussia, PA. Regional conventions are very affordable as compared to the National. You will find interesting clinics on many model railroad and prototype subjects. Rail oriented and non-rail oriented outings are available.There are often opportunities to attend op sessions at area layouts. You may wish to display your work in the display/contest room. I have seen Division members present interesting clinics after our meetings. Many of these could easily be prepared for presentation at an MER convention.

Since I am fairly new to this area I’m looking forward to meeting all of you. I’ll see you at future meetings and hopefully at the MER Convention this fall.