Train Order

01 / IN THIS ISSUE

From the Editor

Welcome to the new look of the Train Order! Our Division website has been getting a fresh look, and now the newsletter is following along. We're bringing the two together with matching colors, cleaner layouts and easier navigation. The goal is to make our news, photos and modeling ideas easier to find and enjoy, whether you're reading on a computer, tablet or phone. Take a look around at div1.ncrnmra.org and let me know what you think!

September brought us back together with plenty to share. From passenger cars and a Z scale Mikado to signals, scratchbuilt structures and layout improvements, our members gave us a good look at what kept them busy over the summer. Thank you to everyone who brought something along or shared pictures.

Let's keep that going in the Train Order. A photo and a few sentences are enough. Tell us what you built, what you changed, what worked or what you are still trying to figure out. Those small discoveries can be just what another member needs for a project of their own.

Send photos, modeling tips, layout updates and railroad news to blackswampdiv@div1.ncrnmra.org. Please include a name and a short description with each photo.

02 / IN THIS ISSUE

View from the Cab

We covered quite a bit of business at our September meeting, and several decisions will shape the coming season. First, put Friday, October 30 on your calendar for our next meeting at Proclaim FM Community Center. This replaces the October date previously announced.

2027 Swap Meet - The membership approved moving forward with the Division One Swap Meet on October 23, 2027, including an $800 expenditure to secure the Proclaim facility. Thank you to those who asked questions, reviewed the proposal and helped us reach a decision. There is plenty of planning ahead, and we will share more as the arrangements develop.

Future Clinics - We also asked about your ideas about clinics. Members suggested Layout Command Control (LCC), Digital Command Control (DCC), JMRI software, decaling, throttle programming and modeling water. Small groups could give us time to work through a particular skill or problem. If you can lead a session, or have a topic you would like help with, please talk to Brian Burr or me.

2026 Build Challenge - The subjects are set: a gas station, food service or restaurant, a water feature, or a bridge. Your project must be a new build, but it can be simple. Entries are due at the March meeting. See the 2026 Build Challenge section for examples and participation rewards.

Elections - Division elections will be held at our Friday, April 23, 2027 meeting. The April meeting has moved because of a scheduling conflict at Proclaim. Several current officers have indicated that they do not plan to run again. If you would like to help guide the Division, please ask a Board member what is involved. See the Help Lead Division One election section in this issue for a list of positions up for election and descriptions of their responsibilities. We need members willing to take part in keeping our meetings and activities going.

Marshall Stull | Superintendent

03 / IN THIS ISSUE

Clinic Corner

Modeling Water

Happy Fall y'all! The clinic for October's meeting will be about modeling water. We'll have four different presenters showing their tricks and tips for this intimidating task.

Marshall Stull will be showing artist acrylics.
Dave McMullian will be showing open water and wave effects.
Tony Kukwa will be showing water-based polyurethane.
Steve Glass will be showing Enviro-tex casting resin.

Don't miss this group clinic!

Brian Burr
Assistant Superintendent

04 / IN THIS ISSUE

2026 Build Challenge

Pick a subject, build something new and share it with the Division! This year’s challenge gives you four subjects to choose from, with plenty of room to make a project that fits your interests and your railroad.

Choose One of These Subjects

Gas station — build a gas station scene.
Food service or restaurant — a restaurant, diner or even a food stand counts.
Water feature — a pond, stream or another scene featuring water.
Bridge — it does not need to be a large structure. A culvert counts as a bridge!

Keep It Manageable

Your entry must be a new build, rather than a model you have already completed. It does not need to be big or complicated. A project of any size is welcome, and something as simple as a culvert or food stand is a good way to take part.

The aim is to get people building, try something new and share what we learn along the way. Choose a project you can enjoy working on, and bring progress or questions to Show and Tell.

Participation Rewards

We will use the same reward format as the previous flat car load challenge:

$15 Visa gift card for each participant, provided after the finished model is presented.
All entrants will also be included in a drawing for an additional $25 Visa gift card.

Entries are due at the March meeting. Bring your finished model to present to the Division. Choose one of the four subjects and start planning your new build!

05 / IN THIS ISSUE

October 30 Meeting

Proclaim FM Community Center
7112 Angola Road, Holland, Ohio 43528
Doors open at 6:00 PM • Meeting begins at 7:00 PM

Proposed agenda:

Welcome and business
Achievement Program update
Questions and answers
Show and Tell
Break and door prize
Clinic - Modeling Water group clinic with Marshall Stull, Dave McMullian, Tony Kukwa and Steve Glass
Upcoming events and open discussion

Bring a model, photos or a question for Show and Tell. Have something to sell or give away? Bring it for the Rip Track table.

06 / IN THIS ISSUE

September Meeting Highlights

Twenty-seven Division members attended the September 18 meeting. Steve Glass tested a loaner camera for Show and Tell and planned to report his evaluation at the next meeting. Better close-up views should help everyone follow the details of the models being presented.

Ron Gilbert introduced the new Modular Railroading Achievement Program certificate. It recognizes individual work in building and operating modules, including their use at public exhibitions. Members interested in pursuing it should contact Ron to review the requirements and documentation. National's requirements are available at www.nmra.org/modular-railroading.

07 / IN THIS ISSUE

NMRA Membership Changes

The NMRA has decided to reduce membership rates! U.S. Basic membership is $50 per year and includes the digital NMRA Magazine. Premium membership is $74 per year and includes both print and digital editions. A nine-month Rail Pass trial is $19.95. If your membership has lapsed, please bring it current. See www.nmra.org/membership-application-and-renewal for details and eligibility.

08 / IN THIS ISSUE

Show and Tell: What I Did Over the Summer

Our September program featured a wide range of projects and useful discoveries:

Some presentations were virtual, so we do not have photographs of everyone’s work.

Select any photograph for a larger view. Use the arrows to browse the gallery.

Everyone who shared

Nancy Whitehall shared a sound device that reproduced steam locomotive sounds.
A member brought a locomotive and passenger cars, but we do not have the correct name. If these were yours, please contact the editor so we can give you credit.
Mike Finkler showed signals and a control panel he built for his railroad.
Rick Breitzman displayed a Z scale Mikado and announced an October 31 open house.
Jeff Schumaker shared a small tool.
Mitch Niemiec displayed a material loading and unloading structure built stick by stick from a Craftsman Kit.
Tony Kukwa showed a snap-on plastic decoder support for older Athearn Blue Box locomotives.
Jerry Sahagian shared pine tree models suited to his railroad.
Steve Glass showed three older structures improved with additional detail.
Randy Bosscher demonstrated how parts salvaged from an old layout became part of his evolving railroad.
Dave McMullian shared pictures of a new staging yard and a fleet of boxcars he built.

09 / MEMBER OPEN HOUSE

Layout Tour

Visit Rick Breitzman’s Layout

Join us for a look at Rick Breitzman’s model railroad. The scene below offers a preview of the layout you can see at his open house.

Lumber-loaded freight cars, trackside buildings and a passenger train on Rick Breitzman’s layout — A scene from Rick Breitzman’s layout. Select the photograph for a larger view.

Mark Your Calendar

Saturday
October 31, 2026

1:00–4:00 PM

Location

6732 Sylvan Hills Dr.
Sylvania, OH

Have a layout you would like to share? Contact the editor about hosting a future Layout Tour.

10 / IN THIS ISSUE

Help Lead Division One

Division elections are coming on April 23, 2027, and several current officers do not plan to run again. If you would like to help keep our meetings, clinics and activities going, please talk to Marshall Stull or another Board member. Here is a plain-English look at the positions described in our bylaws.

Elected officers serve two-year terms. Members may run again, and the bylaws do not limit the number of terms a person may serve.

Superintendent

Leads the Division and chairs both membership and Board meetings. Represents Division One on the North Central Region Board and appoints committee chairs. If the Superintendent cannot serve as the regional representative, the Division Board appoints an eligible alternate.

Assistant Superintendent

Organizes the programs that make our meetings and outings worthwhile, including clinics, layout tours and prototype tours. Leads meetings when the Superintendent is away and takes over the Superintendent’s duties if that office becomes vacant during the term.

Treasurer

Looks after the Division’s money, financial records and property. Presents the Board’s annual budget to members, reports on our finances at business meetings, receives money and pays expenses as directed by the Board. Any single item or service costing more than $250 needs approval from the membership.

Chief Clerk

Keeps the minutes of Division and Board meetings so we have a clear record of decisions and business. Also arranges for ballots to be prepared and distributed when needed.

Trainmaster for Services

Coordinates room setup and refreshments for meetings and outings. Handles other meeting arrangements assigned by the Superintendent or Board. This role helps make sure the practical details are ready when everyone arrives.

Director at Large

Serves on the Board, brings a member’s perspective to discussions and helps make decisions about Division activities and business. The bylaws provide for one Director at Large elected by the membership.

Interested in Helping?

Ask a Board member about a position that interests you. Under the bylaws, the Superintendent appoints a nominating committee chair no later than January, and the committee submits its candidate list before March for the newsletter. Let us know you are interested so you can be part of that process.

These descriptions summarize Article VIII and the nominating committee provisions in Article VI of the Division One bylaws approved in April 2017.

11 / IN THIS ISSUE