Tag: meeting

Next Business Meeting: 08 MAR

The 08 March Division business meeting will be hosted in Damascus, MD by Pete and Jane Clarke on Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Contact southmountaindiv@gmail.com for their address and directions.

Modeling the East Broad Top in Damascus Maryland

We model the East Broad Top Railroad in 1926. The EBT was a narrow-gauge line that ran from coal mines in the Robertsdale area of the mountains to an iron furnace in Orbisonia/Rockhill Furnace and then up to Mount Union where there was a coal cleaning plant, refractory brick plants, and an interchange with the Pennsylvania Railroad.

By 1926 the iron furnace was long gone, but on our version, it has been re-opened by the current owners, the Madeira Hill Co. The furnace consumes large amounts of coal (which needs to be coked first), limestone, and iron ore. Its output is pig iron which is then taken to Mt. Union. This has added a great deal of operational interest to the railroad. The fact that the iron furnace has reopened created a renewed need for iron ore and limestone. Both those had been mined along the Shade Gap branch of the EBT. So, the Shade Gap branch, which had fallen on hard times since the furnace closed in 1908, has been rebuilt. In Shade Gap this line serves limestone and iron ore mines. In Neelyton (the end of the Shade Gap branch) it serves the ganister mine for the refractory brick plants in Mt. Union and a lumber mill. Both towns also get miscellaneous freight and have coal dealers for home heating.

The layout is in a 20’ x 26’ basement and is fully scenicked. It’s early fall, so it’s still warm in the valley but cold on the mountain. Both of us work on models. Jane scratch built the Orbisonia station and roundhouse, Pete the company store and houses in Robertsdale. The excellent models of Ewings Mill and Neelyton station were built by Frank Benenati. Other structures are kits (many by White Ground) or kit bashed. There are still models to be done, but there’s at least a stand-in for every structure so the layout looks complete.

All trains are powered by steam engines (by Hallmark and one Blackstone), all but two have sound. The gas-electric M-1 (with sound) handles a portion of the mail train run.

Trains run on TT/TO with a 4:1 fast clock. Control is Digitrax DCC (Simplex) using radio throttles. Car cards, timetable, instructions, and an operator’s guide let guest operators know how to run trains. The EBT is a heavy-duty, busy railroad. Only the Shade Gap branch runs with a more relaxed narrow gauge feel. All trains do their own switching, so all operators should expect plenty of work to do. While the passenger train does not have much switching of cars, that operator is required to record the sacks of mail picked up and dropped off in each town. There is one yard operator, we call that job the furnace shifter. Please let us know if you’d like to get on the crew call list!

Unfortunately, our basement is not handicapped-accessible.

Clinic — After the meeting, Pete & Jane will discuss the ongoing rebuilding of the EBT (12 inch to the foot version).

Reminder:

SMD membership meetings are always the 2nd Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. The only exception is due to Mother’s Day 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.

Meeting Hosts Needed:

The SMD is in need, emergency need, you might say.   Our host for the April meeting has unfortunately had a medical emergency and has had to cancel.    We are therefore asking if another of our members could jump  on short notice to host our April meeting.  This is our first year in a long time that we will be having an April meeting since April has always been the month of our Mini-Con for many years.   If someone could come forth, their generosity would be greatly appreciated. 

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; MAR 2026

Daniel Mulhearn NMRA, MER, South Mountain Division Superintendent 2025-2026.

The South Mountain Division February meeting was, unfortunately, called due to snow. Parking at the meeting location would have been difficult.

The 08 March Division business meeting will be hosted in Damascus, MD by Pete and Jane Clarke on Sunday at 2:00 PM. I will not be able to attend the meeting as I will be out of town. A very good friend in southern West Virginia has received devastating health news. I was a regular operator on their layout for many years. On Saturday there will be a final op session on the layout. I feel I must attend with many other old friends. I am requesting Bob Johnson to sit in for me.

The MER annual convention handbook has landed in my mailbox. It is quite detailed and extensive, spelling  out what exactly the MER Convention Committee will do and what the Division is required to do. Our first priority is to locate a suitable venue for the event. I have heard from Alan Mende at Susquehanna Division and he feels that Division would have no objection to us considering Gettysburg. Alan feels that would be an excellent venue, however we need to be certain the time of our convention does not conflict with an annual motorcycle enthusiast’s gathering at Gettysburg.

The members of the Division need to be considering officers for the 2026-2027 program year. I am willing to take on another term as superintendent, although I am dealing with slowly increasing symptoms from my Parkinsons. The time may come when I will have to stop driving and that will be that. We need a paymaster (treasurer) and a clerk (secretary) as well. Our current treasurer may be willing to continue; but we know the current volunteer as secretary would like to be relieved of that responsibility. I do feel that we should have an assistant superintendent for situations where the superintendent may be absent or otherwise require assistance.

Spring is ready to arrive with it’s outdoor chores and activities. But, keep enjoying our wonderful hobby also.

CANCELED – Next Business Meeting; 08 FEB

Dave T reports that his location has heavy snow and ice that blocks the parking area at his house.  No significant melting is expected this week and some long range forecasts are calling for more snow next Sunday.  Therefore the February meeting has been canceled.  
The next meeting will be at Jane and Pete Clarke’s East Broad Top railroad in Damascus, MD this coming March.

February Meeting:

The February SMD meeting will be hosted by Dave T in Winchester, VA. Contact southmountaindiv@gmail.com for his address and directions.

Dave’s 30’x15’ layout represents the Pennsylvania Railroad somewhere along the Middle Division during the steam/diesel transition era. Several distinguishing features of the PRR include a four-track mainline, stone-arch bridges, PRR towers, and a set of prototype signals. The unusual track plan includes a continuous-loop 4-track mainline running through a lower 10-track staging yard, two helixes within mountains, and a branch line.

The Wakanda Valley branch line runs in the foreground of the PRR mainline and features a yard/servicing facility, station connected to the PRR, two villages, several mines and industries, a coal processing plant, and an interchange with the locally famed Barneytown & Scupperville RR. The layout is about 63.5% sceniced.

Following the business portion Dave will present his recent investigation into using switch lists to control operations.

 As usual, the meeting starts at 2:00 p.m.

Reminder:

SMD membership meetings are always the 2nd Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. The only exception is due to Mother’s Day 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.

Meeting Hosts Needed:

As of this writing we do have a tentative meeting host signed up for April 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.

Draft Meeting Minutes – 11 JAN 2026

Division members met at the Western Maryland Historical Society museum in Union Bridge, MD. Superintendent Dan Mulhearn called the meeting to order at 2:23pm with 21 members in attendance. The Superintendent thanked Jeff A and the Museum staff for hosting the Division.

  • December minutes were approved with a correction to old business (Pete and Jane Clark were incorrectly cited as hosting the January meeting rather than the March meeting).
  • Paymaster provided his report on the treasury, but the amount was not recorded. No significant changes from December’s report, regardless.

Old Business

  • Ron Polimeni makes a motion to formally elect Alex Polimeni as clerk for the remainder of the year. The motion is seconded and carried. SMD will still need to elect a new clerk before the 2026-2027 year begins, however.
  • Bill M raised the issue of the 2027 MER convention, which SMD has been asked to host. Bill, Alex P, and Steve K had previously volunteered to scout possible venue locations. Bill provided a comprehensive report, citing a catch-22 that hotels require more information than we can provide before gathering enough information to vet a hotel.
  • Bill asks if Gettysburg is too far outside of the Division, as Hagerstown is our center point. Discussion followed that Gettysburg is outside of SMD’s boundaries. Consensus appeared to be that the Convention should be in SMD territory. It was also discussed that Gettysburg is more than an hour’s commute from Hagerstown.
  • Previous MER convention hotel in Hagerstown has been renovated and split into two hotels, and the convention center on the east side is in good shape.
  • Discussion follows about parsing out what responsibilities lie with the Division and with MER. Gary Brown and Kirk Bateman(?) are cited as good points of contact with MER.

New Business

  • Superintendent called upon AP Coordinator Jane Clark to provide a report. Jane reported that there has been chatter about an AP category for modules.
  • SMD publisher Bob Johnson raised ideas for Wheel Report newsletter content. Suggestions included a “help line” with a single person responsible for sourcing answers from Division membership, as well as articles based on former Mini-Con clinics.
  • It was also mentioned that articles can count toward AP certificate progress.
  • Articles can be submitted to the Division email address.
  • Discussion followed of what constitutes a good article, including prototype historical articles.
  • Discussion of remaining SMD meetings and hosts concluded the meeting.

A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and carried at 2:55. The Superintendent then yielded the floor to the museum for self-guided tours.

Next Business Meeting; 11 JAN

The January meeting will be hosted by Jeff Adams and held at Western Maryland Railway Historical Society museum located at 41 N. Main St. Union Bridge, MD 21791. As a part of the meeting Jeff will lead us on a tour of the museum.

Jeff writes, “The Western Maryland Railway Historical Society is one of the few organizations of its kind to own and operate its own museum. The Museum complex consists of two buildings built in 1902, an office building and the depot, which houses our extensive collection of WM artifacts and memorabilia. There are two model railroad layouts, an N-scale layout which represents the WM East Subdivision from Union Bridge to the Twin Bridges (west of Thurmont, MD), and an HO scale layout that represents the many industries and geographical areas served by the WM.”

As usual, the meeting starts at 2:00 p.m.

Draft Meeting Minutes – 14 Dec 2025

Division members met at Rick K’s home in Martinsburg, WV. The Superintendent called the meeting to order at 2:18pm with 13 members in attendance. The Superintendent thanked Rick for hosting the Division. Rick has recently retired from a career at CSX, and is rebuilding his layout after changing roads and design philosophy.

● The draft minutes from the May, September, October and November meetings were approved as submitted. These minutes were collectively published in a recent Wheel Report.

● The Paymaster reported a current balance of $3337.66

Old Business

● Superintendent Dan Mulhearn appealed for more meeting hosts. Pete and Jane C will be our January host and Jay B has volunteered to host our May meeting, but February, March and April remain open.

● Wheel Report Editor Ron Polimeni and publisher Bob Johnson appealed for more submissions, stating that simply talking about and sharing your hobby is more than welcome.

New Business

● The question was asked whether or not the 2026 Mini-Con had been formally called off, which it has. The Superintendent confirmed that we will have a normal membership meeting in April instead.

● Alex P provided an update on behalf of himself, Bill M and Steve K regarding deciding upon a venue for the 2027 MER Convention the Division has been asked to host. Bill has drawn up a list of information but further action has not been taken at this time.

A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and carried at 2:30. The Superintendent then yielded the floor to Rick K to speak about his model railroad.

Reminder:

SMD membership meetings are always the 2nd Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. The only exception is due to Mother’s Day 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.

Hosts Needed:

As of this writing we do not have a meeting host signed up for April of 2026. 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.

2026 Meeting Hosts Needed

We are making progress on lining up meeting hosts for the rest of the program year. Current scheduled meetings are as follows.
  • January 11th — OPEN (Host needed)
  • February 8th — Dave T.
  • March 8th — Pete and Jane C.
  • April 12 — OPEN (Host needed)
  • May 10th — Jay B.

Thanks again to those who have volunteered to host meetings.

Anyone who could host or arrange a location for  a January or April meeting please email southmountaindiv@gmail.com.