Tag: meeting

Next Business Meeting: 09 February

February Meeting:

The February meeting will be held on Sunday, 09 February, at Richard Benjamin’s home in Frederick, MD. AS usual, the meeting starts at 2:00PM.

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

Richard has provided the following information about his railroad.

The Bedford Division of the PRR ran from the yards at Hollidaysburg, PA to the state line at Maryland. The Western Maryland connected with the PRR at the state line to carry freight to Cumberland, MD. At Bedford, there was a connection with the Huntington and Broadtop to move coal from the west side of the Broadtop mining operations.

The current layout models from Brooksville to the State Line in the early fall of 1949. The Huntington and Broadtop is represented as a coal mine just south of Bedford. The B&O is modeled as a parallel line that diverted at Hyndman, PA that ran up Wills Creak toward Sand Patch.

The layout is a mushroom design, so named by John Armstrong when he saw the original layout at my house in Dallas, TX. I am not real happy with the layout and I am contemplating some major revisions to eliminate a low duck under and a 2 turn helix. Currently, there is a 47” duck under, so be warned.

Note that the Everitt Railway is still operating today on some of the trackage of this division.

A short presentation of the Mushroom concept will be given as a clinic following the business meeting.

From the Desk of the Superintendent

Robert “Bob” Johnson, Superintendent (2022-25)

I hope all of you had a good holiday season and survived the cold and snow we recently experienced.

Thanks to Steve King for hosting the January meeting. It is always enjoyable to see his large N scale railroad. The new SMD free standing “pull-up” promotional sign was displayed at the meeting and was well received by those attending.

We had a very productive discussion concerning membership recruitment and a number of very good ideas were presented. I was very pleased with the engagement of the members present. It was pointed out that there are a very large number of train shows held in our area every year. Now that we have the promotional sign it was suggested that we reach out to the groups hosting these shows and try to get permission to set up the sign and a small table to hold SMD brochures. The intention is to have one or more members of the Division work the table during each show.

A list of possible shows to consider is included in the meeting minutes, which can be found online at https://portal.smdnmra.org/2025/02/01/draft-meeting-minutes-12-january-2025/.

It was also suggested that we expand the distribution of brochure racks to a number of small hobby shops and possibly even public libraries in our area. This will require the printing of additional brochures. The membership voted to fund the printing of 400 additional brochures (around $200).

February Meeting:

The February meeting will be held on Sunday, 09 February, at Richard Benjamin’s home in Frederick, MD. AS usual, the meeting starts at 2:00PM.

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

Richard has provided the following information about his railroad.

The Bedford Division of the PRR ran from the yards at Hollidaysburg, PA to the state line at Maryland. The Western Maryland connected with the PRR at the state line to carry freight to Cumberland, MD. At Bedford, there was a connection with the Huntington and Broadtop to move coal from the west side of the Broadtop mining operations.

The current layout models from Brooksville to the State Line in the early fall of 1949. The Huntington and Broadtop is represented as a coal mine just south of Bedford. The B&O is modeled as a parallel line that diverted at Hyndman, PA that ran up Wills Creak toward Sand Patch.

The layout is a mushroom design, so named by John Armstrong when he saw the original layout at my house in Dallas, TX. I am not real happy with the layout and I am contemplating some major revisions to eliminate a low duck under and a 2 turn helix. Currently, there is a 47” duck under, so be warned.

Note that the Everitt Railway is still operating today on some of the trackage of this division.

A short presentation of the Mushroom concept will be given as a clinic following the business meeting.

Elections:

We will need to vote on our officers for the 2025 – 2026 program year at the March meeting. As of now we have one candidate for the position of Superintendent and one for Paymaster. We have a possible volunteer for the position of Clerk but it is not definite at this time. If you would like to be considered for any of these positions please let me know and/or attend the upcoming January meeting and volunteer there.

In addition, we need a number of volunteers to serve in appointed positions. A listing of the primary positions, along with a description of the associated duties, was published in the last Wheel Report and on our web site.

Thanks go out to Alex Polimeni for developing this information.

2025 Mini Con:

Grant Berry has agreed to take the lead on the Division Mini-Con again this coming spring (April) and Mainline Hobby Supply has again offered to support the event. It will be held on a Saturday in April but as of this writing we do not have a scheduled date from the fire company for room availability. As always, Grant will need help with registration, event set-up, and of course clinicians. Start thinking now as to what sort of table clinic you could present at the event.

Please email southmountaindiv@gmail.com and we will put you in contact with Grant.

The Susquehanna Division has expressed interest in participating in the event with us this coming spring but details have not been finalized. More to come on this development.

2027 MER Convention:

We are still looking for two or three volunteers to form an exploratory committee to get things started for the 2027 MER convention which we are scheduled to host. Since the MER handles most of the convention arrangements the committee’s responsibilities at this time will primarily be centered around locating a suitable host hotel, developing a list of potential layout tour hosts, and to identify some sort of rail related prototype tour. Again, if you are interested please let us know. Email southmountaindiv@gmail.com.

MA & PA Information:

SMD member Jay Beckham says that he has quite a bit of informational material about the MA & PA which he will give to anyone interested. Please email southmountaindiv@gmail.com and we will put you in contact with Jay.

Draft Meeting Minutes; 12 January 2025

South Mountain Division – Mid-Eastern Region – National Model Railroad Association

Draft Meeting Minutes; 12 January 2025

Called to order at 2:27 PM

14 present

Several members reported ill, one forced to atend his wedding anniversary event with his wife.

Bob thanked Richard Benjamin for hosting (at his Hobbytown store) the November event. That event is reported to have produced one confirmed new member and 2 others may have joined.

New member Fred Larimore & wife Vicky introduced themselves.

Bob reports that the February meetng will be on 2/9 and will be at the home of Richard Benjamin. Richard is the developer of the “Mushroom” design concept. Want to understand what that means? Come to the meetng in February.

The March meetng will be 3/9 and at the home of Jane and Pete Clarke.

The secretary was not present, so no minutes were read.

The treasurer had sent in his report. Balance $3,448.68. Payments have been:

  • $81.88 – for printng Christmas cards
  • $39.42 – for mailing those cards
  • $180.19 – for the new SMD banner and other costs of the November event.

Members have suggested that SMD add a 3rd “event” to the Division calendar. Currently we have the “Mini-Con” in April at Mainline Hobby Supply, and the November event at Hobbytown Fredrick. One suggested we add 2 more. But no specifics were given.

Bob reports that the Susquehanna Division may have some members who will give clinics at the 2025 Mini-Con (4/5).

Membership had been about 90 in past years, but since Covid has dropped to near 60. But the number of those who actively attend SMD events has remained about the same. Bob reported that the MER as a whole has had a similar reduction in membership, so SMD is just experiencing the same reduction as the NMRA as a whole.

It was suggested that the focus of our attempts to gain more members shift from the very young to the middle age demographic. Frank Benenati offered to set up the new banner at the sales table he will have at the next show in Timonium (on 2/1 & 2/2/2025). This was accepted and also agreed that he should have some brochures. Bob will see that he gets all that in time for the show.

Discussion of other shows and places we could display the banner and/or have brochures.

  • The Hagerstown show (but it’s only open 10 am to 2 pm so it’s hardly worth the set up/take down time)
  • The Bunker Hill show
  • Westminster show
  • Quincy Village open house

Also shops that might allow our brochures were discussed. Mainline and Hobbytown already have and display them. There’s a new store in Mt. Airy (Toys and Trains) and evidently one in Thurmont.

How about Libraries? It’s felt that they are very limited in what they are allowed to display.

How about the Brunswick Railroad Days event? – At $150 per table it’s felt this is cost prohibitive.

To support the above program, it was moved to approve spending no more than around $200.00 to get 400 more brochures printed. That motion passed unanimously. One member, Dan Mulhearn offered to approach Quincy Village about allowing us to meet in the Village train room in May. No one else offers to follow up on any of the other suggestions.

Bob reports that a member has agreed to run for Superintendent and that Ray Price has agreed to continue as treasurer (Paymaster). No one has volunteered for the Clerk position. If no one does, then Bob suggests that we modify the by-laws to make “Paymaster/Clerk” a single position. That would allow anyone to volunteer to take notes at any given meeting. No one disagreed with that suggestion, so Bob will look into it.

Future meetings – February and March see above. April is the Mini-Con, May is open. Dan Mullen offerred to ask if the Quincy Village club would like to host that meeting.

Dan also mentioned that it is he who has offered to serve as Superintendent in the next election.

A motion to close the meeting was made and passed unanimously. The meeting closed at 3:15.

Using the one used on his railroad, Steve King then spoke on how to read a timetable.

Draft Meeting Minutes; 10 November 2024

South Mountain Division – Mid-Eastern Region – National Model Railroad Association

Draft Meeting Minutes; November 10th, 2024

Division members met in-person at the Cumberland Valley Model Railroad Club in Chambersburg, MD. The Superintendent called the meeting to order at 2:30pm with approximately 15 members in attendance. Superintendent Bob Johnson thanked the Club for hosting the Division, thanked John Pursell for arranging the visit, and introduced the club president. This is the second time the Division has visited the club in recent memory, which has nearly every scale short of live steam represented under one roof.

Draft Minutes & Paymaster’s Report

The Superintendent submitted one amendment to the previous meeting minutes (an incorrect date was cited for the Mini-Con) and asked for a motion to approve the amended minutes, which was made, seconded, and carried. Treasurer Ray Price reported a current treasury balance of $3921.67 after a $64.00 disbursement by MER which allocates $1 per Division member twice annually.

Old Business:

The Superintendent revisited the subject of potential volunteers for the elected officer positions of Superintendent and Clerk, and asked Clerk Alex Polimeni for an update on officer position descriptions, who reported they would be ready before the next Wheel Report was due to be published.

A matter was clarified that non-Division members cannot be elected Superintendent even if they’re NMRA members of another Division.

The Superintendent revisited the subject of a Christmas card/letter to be “snail mailed” to the Division, and distributed a draft copy of the card/letter for those in attendance to review. Division members Don Florwick, Andrew Dodge, and Tom Fedor all contributed to the card/letter. The Superintendent confirmed he would take charge of the mailing going forward.

The Superintendent updated the Division on the matter of new brochures and reported that he had placed the order for a new supply which would be ready before December.

The Superintendent revisited the topic of the Susquehanna Division asking SMD about co-hosting the April Mini-Con, and said that although he responded to Susquehanna Division, they have not gotten back to him.

New Business:

The Superintendent addressed the matter of recruiting new members into the Division and formally introduced a “model railroading meet & greet” at Division member Richard Benjamin’s Hobbytown USA location in Frederick MD in lieu of a December membership meeting.

The Superintendent proposes a motion to approve funds to have a vinyl banner made for use at the meet & greet, Mini-Con and other Division activities. Abroad NMRA member Jane Clarke recommended a $150 banner by VistaPrint. A motion to approve funds was made, seconded, and carried.

The Superintendent asked for volunteers for the December meet & greet.

Division member John Pursell inquired about the hours of the meet & greet, which are 10am-4pm. Discussion followed about the practicalities of demonstrating DCC.

The Treasurer made mention of an NMRA fiscal incentive program for people over the age of 65. The Superintendent commented that an annual NMRA membership costs about the same as an average meal for two at a chain restaurant.

The Superintendent confirmed the 2025 MER convention will be in King of Prussia, PA. The Superintendent then asked for volunteers to form an exploratory committee for the October 2027 convention, which SMD has been asked to host. Clerk Alex Polimeni and abroad NMRA member Rich Randall volunteered due to familiarity in working with venues. Division member Steve King was mentioned as being knowledgeable about hotels. The Comfort Inn in Frederick was cited as a possible venue. Abroad NMRA member Jane Clarke suggested the East Broad Top as a possible prototype to visit. Discussion followed about the practicalities of chartering a bus.

The Superintendent asked the Clarkes for an update on the EBT, who encouraged everyone to visit the EBT and its museum in Robertsdale. They cited the new ownership as applying for “every possible grant” to raise money and secure funding, raising $1.6 mil for the line’s “surprisingly salvageable” steel girder bridge. The EBT has also added two new miles of track to Jordan’s Summit.

The Superintendent introduced the Cumberland Valley Model Railroad Club President. Discussion followed regarding the history of the club, which was founded in 1996 and currently resides in their 3rd and final location, which was originally a pipe warehouse. The club stands at about 35 active members and most of the layouts were built after 2005.

A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and carried around 3:30pm.

Next Business Meeting: 12 January

After a short break to accommodate the HobbyTown event in December we will resume our regular meeting schedule on Sunday, 12 January with the meeting starting at 2:00 PM.  Our host for this meeting is Steve King who resides in Fayetteville (Pond Bank), PA.

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

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. To my mind 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.