It may be storming but we are operating trains

 Best way to spend a stormy Saturday afternoon is runnng some N Scale trains. After playing around we got things humming and looked at Dave’s new industrial complex.  

Meeting this Saturday May 10th in Fredericksburg

Location: Central Rappahannock Regional Library - Porter Branch

930 AM to Noon - Clinics

Loacation: Fredericksburg Area

Workshop 1 - Gerard Fitzgerald   The Origins of the NMRA: A Historical Look Back During Our 90th Anniversary

The clinic will examine the history and early decades of the NMRA in light of the 90th anniversary of the organization's founding in 1935. While the country and the hobby were different in the 1930s and 1940s, there were also similarities to current approaches to model railroading in 2025, especially with respect to modeling the prototype.  While not definitive, the clinic will briefly examine various cultural, organizational, and technological aspects of the early years of the hobby, reflecting the ongoing series of articles by the author commemorating the anniversary in the NMRA Magazine this year.

 
Workshop 2 - Steve Raque -Modeling P&LE Lot 874-H and 875-H Covered Hoppers

Summary of information and photos of the prototype, available models, and some tips on improved details.

Modeling Theme - Gondola

Layout Tour

Shannon Crabtree

Survey on Meetings sent to your Email

 Members and friends should have an email in their inbox that has a Survey on meeting day and content.  Also there is information on the next Zoom meeting.  Please take the survey to help JRD Officers better set things for member participation.  

Next Hangout coming in April 9th

 Our next Zoom hangout will be on April 9th at 7pm.  Details coming the weekend before via email.  

Next Meeting March 8th (This Saturday)

 

Please Note the Reversed Order - Tour in the Morning and Meeting after Lunch!

Layout Tour Location: RF&P Model Railroaders, Ashland, VA
Layout Tour starts at 930 AM Saturday March 8th

Lunch on your own

Meeting starts at 1 PM

Meeting  Location: Ashland Public Library Railroad Ave

Annual Meeting - Agenda - Motion to allow board to move bank account to new bank

Workshop One - Garth Groff - How to make your own Decals

How I use Ghost White Toner to make water-slide decals in a Hewlett-Packard laser printer, with emphasis on using Mac Pages software. Along the way I will explore sources for both free and purchased fonts, recommendations for paper, and hints on how to get the best results from the various tools and materials. Useful prototype lettering information will be included in the handout, but will not be discussed in the interest of time. A selection of my models will be on display.

I might add, this is NOT a hands-on clinic, but more of a lecture with examples and visual aids along with swag

Modeling Theme - Critter

We hope to see you there!!

Lunch & Layout and Zoom Meetings in February

This February will see 2 events. 

The first will a Lunch & Layout on February 8th starting at Noon.  Our starting point will be Fishn' Pig in Farmville - Menu.  Link for directions at Google.  The open house at Tully's will begin at 2 PM.  

The second event with be a Zoom gathering on the 12th at 7pm. Details will come via email a day or two in advance.

Great Meeting on Zoom last Saturday Morning

 We had a great meeting last Saturday I really appreciate Rick stepping up and doing his clinic on the use of signaling and LCC on his large HO Scale Layout.  The presentation generated a lot of questions and the ability to show the layout live throwing turnouts and changing sig We had over 20 participants.  

January Meeting Moved To ZOOM

 The weather forecast for 2-4” of snow early Saturday has lead to changing the January James River Division meeting to Zoom. Check your email for the invitation and the login codes. Room opens at 8am and we start at 930AM  Hope to see you Saturday 

Next Meeting in Farmville on January 11th

 Next Meeting on January 11th in Farmville 

Notice of Annual Meeting

Workshop - Railroads of Farmville - Richard McClintock - Farmville came into existence at a transportation crossroads, where the main north-south trail crossed the navigable Appomattox River. It really blossomed when the South Side Rail Road came through in 1854. But two other railroads later featured in Farmville's history: a north-south road which might have turned Farmville into Ashland, on the dominant north-south route, and a narrow-gauge road that led to an international shipping port on the James River. The town saw five-foot, standard, and narrow gauges. Clinic will explore the history and fates of these three roads, with lots of anecdotes and vintage photos.

Location: Faith Bible Fellowship

207 N. Bridge Street

Farmville, Virginia 23901

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hcqiS2Njx8dQFVQx6

930-945 AM Welcome

945-1045 AM Workshop - Railroads of Farmville

1045-1100 AM - Break to Vote on Modeling Theme

1100-1130 AM- Annual Meeting - 

1130-1145  AM- Drawings for Door Prizes Etc

Noon to 1 - Lunch

1 PM- Tully's Winter Layout

215 PM  - New Visitor Center/ Station Replica at High Bridge Tour with Presentation

Modeling Theme - Flat Car

Next Meeting in Palmyra VA November 16th

 Next Meeting - Palmyra VA November 16th

Location:     Fluvanna County Public Library

Clinics

    1:  Computerize your model railroad data - what it can do for you - Ken Montero

    2:    Heavy Lift - Wayland Moore

            

    3:    T-Trak Overview - Philip Taylor

Layouts

    1.    T-Trak in N Scale in the Library

    2.    Bob Minnis 

Modeling Theme

    Covered Hopper

Next Meeting Sept 21 in Charlottesville at Rail Tales

 Next Meeting

Sept 21 - Charlottesville at Rail Tales

**THIS IS A CHANGE OF OUR NORMAL WEEKEND**

We are heading into the Fall and for the James River Division (JRD) that usually means a trip to

Charlottesville and Rail Tales. For the last several years we have been treated to a make-and-take

workshop by Bret Jones, who owns Rail Tales. By my recollection Bret has had a hand in building

dozens of layouts if not over a hundred layouts. Most of us are lucky to build one or two layouts. If

you build that many layouts, then you pick up a few skills. Add to that all the building of military

models and the tips and tricks learned from that community. This gives Bret quite a depth of

things to choose from for workshops.

For this year’s workshop we will be scratch-building a structure. The JRD will be offering this

clinic to all NMRA members with an advanced registration so Bret can have enough supplies.

The workshop will be available in N, HO, and O. We are not requiring a registration fee, but we

are requesting a donation of $15 for N or HO scale and $30 for O scale. Donations can be made at

the JRD meet in Charlottesville.

Bret says Participants will need: 

1.  Hobby knife with fresh blades 

2.  Metal straight edge (preferably scale ruler!)

3.  Cutting mat/board/surface

4.  Fine natural fiber brush you don’t care about (for glue). We will provide glue as part of the cost. 

5.  Options- Metal squares would be great

Rail Tales is going to include corner braces in the materials.

If you need any tools, you may contact Rail Tales (434) 984-1170. They will be happy to order the tools for you and have them ready for you to pay for and pick up before the meeting starts on Saturday,

September 21.

To register for the workshop during the JRD meet in Charlottesville on September 21, please use

the REGISTRATION LINK below no later than August 30. Again, advanced registration is

required so Bret can have enough

Layout Tours

1. T-Trak Module Setup at Rail Tales Workshop after Lunch

2. Bob Macionis - Rebuilt Layout.  -  Some of you missed this last time and have asked about seeing the revised layout