The April meeting was scheduled to be hosted by Fred L. Unfortunately, he had to cancel due to medical issues so a call was sent out for a new host.
The April meeting is very important since we will be electing officers and discussing the 2027 convention planning process in detail. No hosting offers were received so Bob J. has offered to host at his home in Jefferson, Maryland. Please make a special effort to attend this meeting to elect 2026 / 2027 officers and discuss hosting the 2027 convention.
The April meeting will be a repeat visit this program year. Bob hosted in October of 2025 but assures us that there have been a number of new scenery items added to the West Virginia Midland since then.
West Virginia Midland RR (WVM)
The WVM is a standard 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 Two. Like the prototype, the WVM is based in and around Webster Springs, W. Va. and connects with the B&O on the west end and the Western Maryland on the east end.
Contact southmountaindiv@gmail.com for the address and directions. Please park along the street in from of the house walk down the driveway, and enter through the basement door to the rear of the house. Direction signs will be posted.
Upcoming meeting
- 17 May, Jay Beckham at Berkley Springs, WV.
NOTE: This is the 3rd Sunday of the month, to avoid Mother’s Day conflict.
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.
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 2026 – 2027 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:
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.
