Lynchburg Meet Cancelled

The Lynchburg event this Saturday 3/142015 is cancelled due to health issues with Chuck and the cancellation of our afternoon outdoor layout tour due to Weather.

Annual meeting will be part of the Richmond meeting.

Please keep Chuck in your thoughts and prayers.

Time to make a tree at next weeks meeting

Remember our next meeting is next week.  Come and make a tree.  

Details as follows:

March 14, 2015 - Lynchburg, VA - Annual Meeting

Time: Doors open at 9 AM

Location: Fort Hill United Methodist Church

Clinics: Making Trees by Chuck Hladik

1130 AM: Annual Meeting

Layout Tours: Bruce Boone - Boone Express

Contest: Super Detailed Diesel Locomotive

March 14, 2015 - Lynchburg, VA - Annual Meeting

Time: Doors open at 9 AM

Location: Fort Hill United Methodist Church

Clinics: Making Trees by Chuck Hladik

1130 AM: Annual Meeting

Layout Tours: Bruce Boone - Boone Express

Contest: Super Detailed Diesel Locomotive

Positions Open

The JRD is in need of some help in certain areas.  If you feel inspired to assist in these areas please feel free to let Rick or Phil know that you are willing to help

Librarian - We need a librarian to step forward to take care of the 11 box library.  The lending library is an idea that we loan out items to help with developing our skills, knowledge or just for fun.  In the past the library was only one box and if that is all you are willing to care for then let us know that interest.  If no one steps forward we will proceed at the annual meeting with a final vote to dissolve the library and sell the contents with proceeds going to the JRD.

Crossties Editor - We are looking for a Crossties editor.  This position requires the production of a quarterly newsletter for the membership and the obtaining of the content for the newsletter.  If you are interested in this position please let Phil know soon.

March Meeting

The March meeting is quickly coming upon us and I hope  that you will be able to attend the event.  This meet will include a Hands On Workshop (HOW) with Chuck Hladik on making trees.  Up to 30 folks will be able watch Chuck and them make their own tree to take home.  It always helps to put into practice a technique while you can ask questions.  After Chuck's clinic we will have the annual meeting which will include budget, proposed changes to bylaws and any new business from the floor.  

After lunch we will head out to see the Boone Express which is a large outdoor layout east of Lynchburg.  Click on the link above to see a YouTube of this impressive outdoor layout.

New Web Address for the JRD

The JRD now has its own web address.

www.jrdnmra.org

The web site will be updated and new features added.

Please check it out and update your bookmarks.

Great Meet in Fredericksburg

Thanks to all who came last Saturday to our division meet in Fredericksburg. We had a great turnout of 38 including several from neighboring divisions. In addition, I want to thank our 2 fine clinicians and our 3 hosts for open houses. We will meet again in March in Lynchburg.  Photos to follow!

First Meeting of 2015

I hope everyone had a good Holiday Season and picked up some new trains!!  We are getting ready to have our first meeting of 2015 in just over a week.  This meeting will mark the JRDs first return to Fredericksburg for a meeting in recent memory.  I hope everyone is ready to get back into their trains.  Paul Dolkos will discuss his new layout which has been in the hobby press and several members of the division have actually operated on with great enjoyment.  Once you are inspired to build or finish your layout then Mike Garber will help you focus on a paint scheme to make those engines and cars look their best.  Hope to see your there.

Philip Taylor

JRD Superintendent

January 10, 2015 - Fredericksburg, VA

Time: Doors open at 0900 AM

Location: England Run Library, 806 Lyons Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA

Clinics:  

0930: Mike Garber - Developing a paint scheme for your free lanced railroad.......or when is a "dip" paint job not the best scheme

1045: Paul Dolkos - Baltimore Harbor District

Layout Tours:3 Tours - Directions to be given at meet

Alan Bibb - 

Ken Mead

John Winters

Need a plan to use those Christmas Model Train Goodies?

We all hope to that the Christmas goodies coming this week will have some new model trains to go along with all those that have crept into the house during the past year.  What to do with all those items to either build that layout or renew the one already under construction becomes the post holiday question.  For some inspiration come to the January 10th JRD meeting where you can here well known MR author Paul Dolkos talk about his Baltimore Harbor Layout.  (Click on the link to see the track plan)  After you plan that layout you will want to make that locomotive look better so come and hear our own Mike Garber talk about "Developing a paint scheme for your free lanced railroad.......or when is a "dip" paint job not the best scheme."  Come and be inspired January 10th.





Here is the link to the Meeting page to plan your trip

Paul Dolkos Coming to the JRD

Paul Dolkos is coming to the JRD on January 10th. Here is what Paul says about his clinic:

A COUNTRY BOY MOVES TO THE BIG CITY

Seven years ago Paul Dolkos took down his rural northern New England Boston & Maine themed HO railroad to build something different. He began work on what he calls the Baltimore Harbor District, a series of railroad vignettes based on rail activities in 1955 in the Charm city region. Today the model railroad is totally operational and about 50% scenicked. Planning and construction techniques will be presented along with views of the finished modeling.

Bachman Announces Bluetooth Trains

Bachmann has announced that they will sell trains in 2015 that can be controlled by Bluetooth receivers and software made by BlueRail.  This is a new way of approaching the wireless control problem.

Bachmann

Blue Rail

More comments are on my personal train blog.

Philip Taylor
JRD Superintendent

Contest Results from MER Hub City Conventions

Results are coming in from those who attended the 2014 MER Hub City Convention.  Gerard Fitzgerald from the JRD brought home to the JRD the following prizes:

First Place Photo Contest Model: The Dolkos Bag Company

First Place Photo Contest Prototype Other: Lynchburgh Viaduct Northbound

Congratulations to Gerard for winning in both categories!