Next Meeting; 11 OCT

Upcoming Meetings

(Note that all meetings start at 2:00 PM)

October 11

Dave T’s 30 x 15’ 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 famed Barneytown & ScuppervilleRR. The layout is about 63.5% sceniced.

Mini-Clinic

Dave will share his recent investigation into using switch lists to control operations. This will be more of a discussion than a presentation.

Directions & Parking

Dave’s home is in Winchester, VA. Most GPS systems should get you to his shared driveway where there will be a RR sign, as well as the address and name on the mailbox. Follow the gravel lane down past the pond and straight up the hill to his house on the right. Park anywhere in front or behind the barn. The driveway branch going left around the barn or right through the carport is a “reversing loop.” Please enter the house through the side door under the carport. You can hang coats on the hallway hooks or use the bench. We will start in the basement where there are trains.

November 8

As of this writing we do not have a host for the November meeting. If you would like to volunteer please contact the Superintendent.

December 13

As of this writing we do not have a host for the December meeting. If you would like to volunteer please contact the Superintendent.

For street addresses and volunteer opportunities email southmountaindiv@gmail.com.

From the Desk of the Superintendent

Daniel Mulhearn NMRA, MER, South Mountain Division Superintendent 2025-2027

This report must start with a big apology to those members whom attended the September Division meeting. Following the noon meal, I went back to my room and made a couple of notes to myself for the upcoming meeting. I sat down to rest and do a little reading. Jenny, who works the 3 to 11 shift woke me up at 4:45 to give me my meds and tell me to come out for dinner; oops. It’s been a stressful year for me and the two surgeries I endured in August are still taking it out on me, I’m really sorry about that. I hear from Bob Johnson and others that plans for the 2027 convention are progressing well. We will get together in the near future to discuss what I can be doing to assist the committee in moving forward.

Union Pacific “Big Boy” 4014 was on Horseshoe Curve on the Norfolk Southern former Pennsylvania RR main line. The Virtual Railfan site gave a front row seat to the event. What a show and 4014 put on. On the second run by the engineer slipped the front set of drivers two or three times. Engineers hate to do that and firemen hate to see their fire go up the stack. The UP “Abraham Lincoln” memorial diesel was right behind the tenders as well as three NS sesquicentennial diesels in the beautiful UP business train. However engineer Ed Dickens, UP’s steam program chief, got control and walked that heavy train up the grade without help from the diesels. A once in a lifetime event!

The 2027 NMRA National Convention is occurring in Tacoma, WA. I already have my Amtrak ticket in hand. The Floridian (former Capitol Ltd.) from Martinsburg WV to Chicago then the Empire Builder to Seattle. With luck and an on time arrival in Chicago I can have lunch and a couple of steins of good German draft beer at Borghoff’s Restaurant before train time on the Empire Builder.

Well, I hope to see you at the October Division meeting. When I get back here from Church I will make a point of informing the day shift ladies that they need to make sure I get out for the meeting.

NMRA US Membership Fee Reduced to $50

NMRA announced in the SEP/OCT e-bulletin a reduction for the annual US membership fee from $68 down to $50—without removing a single member benefit. Complete access to the NMRA Magazine, digital archives, insurance coverage, local division activities, and all standard member perks are retained.

Note that auto-renewal is now the default selection when joining or renewing online.

Basic Member (No Print Subscription) – as of 8/1/2026
All Rights and Benefits; Does include the Digital NMRA Magazine access.
Cost – $50.00 (US) per year, 2 years for $100.00 (US)

Click this Membership link to see all classes and options for joining the NMRA.

Next Meeting; 13 SEP

Upcoming Meetings

(Note that all meetings start at 2:00 PM)

September 13th

The September meeting will be a return visit to Steve K’s home in Fayetteville (Pond Bank), PA to enjoy his large “N” scale layout.

Steve operates the Virginia Midland Railroad which is a large “N” scale layout which 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) and 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.

October 11

The October SMD meeting will be hosted by Dave T in Winchester, VA.

November 8

As of this writing we do not have a host for the November meeting. If you would like to volunteer please contact the Superintendent.

December 13

As of this writing we do not have a host for the December meeting. If you would like to volunteer please contact the Superintendent.

For street addresses and volunteer opportunities email southmountaindiv@gmail.com.

From the Desk of the Superintendent

From Daniel Mulhearn

As September and the cooler days of autumn approach, we are about to start our annual meeting schedule. I have just returned from the NMRA National convention at Chattanooga. We are always in need of volunteers to host our Division meetings. Please let us know if you are interested.

The Division members working on our hosting of the 2027 MER convention have been quite busy and a great deal has been done. I attended the recent MCR Region convention and noted there were no outside activities scheduled except self-drive home layout visits. There were volunteers who were available to provide information on area prototype rail and non-rail attractions. There was a Saturday banquet to close the convention; with RMC Editor Otto M Vondrak as the speaker.

The National Convention was also limited in group outside activities. Home op sessions and layout visits were self-drive. There were nightly social get togethers scheduled at the hotel but no closing banquet; it was replaced by an award ceremony for the contest results. Op sessions were available on site with the large N gauge layout of the Operations Road Show or the large HO layout of the Reading Technical and Historical Society. The National Train Show was one of the best in years and drew enormous crowds in addition to the convention attendees. I bumped into Rick K from our Division as well as many old friends from my old Coal Division MCR days.

As this is being written I am getting ready to leave for Hershey for the first of three procedures involved with the Deep Brain Stimulation surgery process. I do hope to be up and about for the September Division meeting and certainly hope to see you there.