This freelance HO scale layout, located in Interlochen, Michigan, is designed around The New York Central Railroad in the 1950s transition period. Volunteer operators use switch engines and road locomotives to make up freight trains to be taken around and throughout the layout. A full operating session, with 4 operators, a dispatcher, and a yardmaster takes 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours.
The LNAC (Louisville, New Albany, and Corydon Railway) is a freelanced Short Line railroad. In addition to the Short Line LNAC route which goes from Corydon Junction, Indiana to Corydon, Indiana, Jens’ railroad also runs between Louisville, Kentucky and Huntingburg, Indiana. Based on a late 1990’s theme, it is an HO Scale, NCE DCC, 3 level shelf layout. The NCE Power Cab runs the entire layout supplemented by Cell Phones with the WI Throttle App. All factories and business names are true to the area. The layout is a point-to-point operation but has continuous run capability.
Rich Mahaney, NCR president, conducted a clinic on five operational features for model railroads, focusing on interchanges, freight houses, team tracks, rail transload facilities, and safety considerations. He provided real-life examples, emphasizing their importance for enhancing operational activity and interest in model railroading, and offered practical modeling tips for enthusiasts.
Quick recap The meeting began with introductions and discussions about model train layouts before focusing on website updates and new NMRA branding guidelines. The group reviewed logo requirements and discussed
The November 2025 meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 15th at 10am, held in Conference Room A at Foster Family Community Health Center, Traverse City, MI. Attendees can join via Zoom. The agenda includes introductions, reports from officials, discussions on future meetings, and a Show & Tell segment.
TJ Stratton hosted a clinic on building resin railroad car kits, highlighting a temporary shortage of materials but expecting new orders soon. He emphasized the advantages of resin kits for niche models, detailed necessary tools and assembly techniques, and encouraged participants to reach out for help while fostering communication through an email group.
The meeting covered administrative updates, financial matters, and a detailed presentation on building model train car kits by T.J. Stratton. Discussions included the importance of preserving older items, the resin car project, membership discounts, and upcoming presentations. Next steps were outlined, including communication plans and follow-up sessions for members.
The October 2025 meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, at 10am in Conference Room A, Foster Family Community Health Center, Traverse City, MI. Participants can join in person or via Zoom. The agenda includes introductions, reports, a clinic, and future meeting dates through January 2026. No meetings occur in summer.
David Zolnierek’s clinic focused on creating aspen trees for model railroads, offering insights on species, growth habits, and seasonal appearances. The presentation included detailed tree-making techniques, materials, and practical model layout tips, concluding with a PowerPoint and distribution of tree models for attendees.
On September 20, 2025, the NMRA NCR Div. 2 board held a meeting to discuss various updates, including website improvements, membership, and upcoming clinics. A $99 annual license for a search plug-in was approved. A Spring 2026 open house was contemplated. The next board meeting is scheduled for December 20, 2025.
