Registration is now open for the NMRA MER 2026 Tracks To Tidewater Convention.
October 15 – 18, 2026, at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach.
MER 2027 Convention Progress
Significant progress has been made in the planning for the 2027 Mid Eastern Region (MER) fall convention. At this time I am looking for two (2) volunteers to join the planning committee.
1. Railroad / Industrial Tours Coordinator
We have identified at least six potential sites for convention rail-related tours. We are looking for one individual to take the lead on further exploring these locations and if possible setting up the tours (would like to get two sites). Initially, this will primarily involve identifying contacts and reaching out to them to see if they would be open to the tours. As we get closer to the actual convention the coordinator will serve as a liaison between the SMD and the tour site personnel.
2. Publicity Coordinator
As we move forward we need an individual to work on getting publicity in the commercial press (Model Railroader, NMRA Bulletin, etc.), provide timely information to the convention website manager, assisting in the development of the convention publicity material which will be printed in the MER LOCAL, and getting publicity in the local press. The majority of the background material will be developed by other committee members but the publicity coordinator will need to take the lead on formatting the info and submitting it for publication.
If you can volunteer, or just want further details, please email the convention manager (Bob Johnson) at rcyrilj@aol.com.
MER 2027 Convention
By now, we imagine that most of you are aware that the South Mountain Division 10 has been tasked with hosting the 2027 Mid Eastern Region (MER) convention. The first problem we faced was finding a suitable venue to stage the convention. The MER provides some fairly specific guidelines for suitable facilities. Unfortunately, for various reasons, none of the venues that we have used in the past are currently available.
After a fairly long search we have decided to utilize the Hilton Garden Inn located in Martinsburg, WV. This facility is very nice but marginal in terms of convention space. It is literally the only suitable location that we have found. The primary issue with the Hilton is the number of convention breakout rooms available. It meets the MER’s minimum requirements but could present challenges.
Dates
Tentative, 2nd or 3rd week of October, 2027 (MER will finalize date)
Schedule
- Thursday, afternoon & evening
- Friday and Saturday, all day
- Sunday, morning plus going home layout tours in afternoon
A complete draft schedule to be drawn up within the coming weeks.
Leadership
Going forward we will need a number of additional volunteers for various positions & committees. As we firm up the draft schedule we will send e-mails detailing open positions.
Immediate Needs
Volunteers (tentative) to host layout tours (schedule, TBD); specially in the Winchester, Martinsburg, and Hagerstown corridor.
In addition, we are asking for the names of non-NMRA members and model railroad clubs who might be willing to be open (schedules are flexible).
Volunteers to host operating sessions (probably Thursday or Friday evening). Again, we will welcome non NMRA members to participate.
Prototype Tours (Friday morning & afternoon)
We have already secured a tour of the East Broad Top. This tour will accommodate approximately 40 individuals. Based on the projected attendance figures from the MER, we will require several additional tour locations within the Winchester, Martinsburg, and Hagerstown corridor that utilize significant rail service and may be amenable to hosting a tour of their facilities. We have identified the following potential locations.
- Carmease Quarry, Clear Brook (Winchester), VA
- Argos Martinsburg (quarry), Martinsburg, WV
- Martin’s Elevator, Inc, Hagerstown, MD
- U.S. Silica (glass sand quarry), Berkley Springs, WV
If you know of any other locations that would amenable to host a rail-oriented tour or you have a contact at one of the locations listed above, please let us know.
We will provide you with regular updates regarding the convention’s progress and actively seek volunteers throughout the summer.
Kindly direct all responses at this time to the convention manager, Bob Johnson, at rcyrilj@aol.com. He will compile the received information and disseminate it to the designated committee chair.
Next Business Meeting: 17 May
The May meeting will be hosted by Jay Beckham who lives near Berkley Springs, WV. Contact southmountaindiv@gmail.com for the address and directions. As always, the meeting will start at 2:00PM.
Jay’s Layout, in his words:
My layout concept is to model, in O scale, the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend Railroad in the 60s, the time I first saw it in person. I have always had an interest in traction, and interurbans in particular. It was the railroad I modeled when we first moved into this house. Then, for a period of time, I changed to modeling the PRR. Now I am back to the South Shore. I am trying to use as much of the old layout as possible as far as track design but a mid-western railroad is certainly different from the PRR that I was modeling. We have redesigned the CTC to suit the South Shore. Trying to use as many of my many buildings, most of which were scratch built. Also have corrected most of the track to a 60” minimum radius and from #5 to #6 or larger turnouts.
Following the business meeting Jay will be presenting a clinic addressing the use of AI in model railroading.
This will be the last meeting of the 2025 / 2026 program year.
2026 – 2027 SMD Meetings
It is not too early to start thinking about next year’s meeting. If you would like to host a meeting next year let us know now. Volunteer now to get your choice of months to be the host. We have already received an offer to host the October meeting so we only need 8 more of you to take the plunge.
From the Desk of the Superintendent; May 2026
Our April Division meeting was quite productive as to getting prepared to host the 2027 Mid East Region annual convention. Alex will be our Convention Chair dealing with liaison to the Region and the world at large as well as assisting The Convention Manager. Convention Manager will be the nuts and bolts guy and Bob Johnson has stepped up to assume that role.
Division members who can be available for staffing at the convention, host open house sessions and perhaps op sessions at their home layouts and potential clinic presenters need to be identified. Steve King has volunteered to help with that. Layout open houses will be spreads over several days.
Pete and Jane Clarke are working with their fellows at the East Broad Top to provide an event at the EBT during the convention. That event will be a self drive or carpool event.
Andrew Dodge MMR has volunteered to work on our presentation to be given at this fall’s MER Convention promoting our event. The Regional Convention Committee does a lot of the work involved in planning for the convention, but there is plenty for us to do.
As was mentioned at the April meeting, I am facing some medical issues. I’ve consulted with caregivers at Penn State Neurology and will probably undergo their recommended Deep Brain Stimulus (DBS) surgery. This entails two day surgeries and one involving at least an overnight stay. I’m told the chances of complications or extended “down” time is minimal. So I am hoping to be an active participant in our Division activities and especially our hosting of the 2027 convention.
2026 / 2027 Officers Election
The only elected positions on the SMD management staff are the Superintendent (president), Clerk (secretary) and Paymaster (treasurer). The officers elected at the April meeting are as follows.
- Superintendent – Dan Mulhearn
- Clerk – Jeff Adams
- Paymaster – Ray Price