Category Archives: NMRA Updates

Twin Cities Division: New Crossing Gate Podcast Episode: “The TCD goes to the StL RPM”

Admittedly, I am way behind on my model railroad podcast listening… I’ve added this one to my queue… TCD members Joe Binish and Greg Dahl visit the RPM meet at Saint Loius.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with RPMs, these meets were born of modelers getting together and showing their modeling work, completed or in progress and discussing ways it could be improved. I’m told the experience is very communal, all skill levels are welcome and there’s no competition involved.

This episode TCD Crossing Gate discusses the events and fun at the annual St. Louis RPM. Joe Binish and Greg Dahl attended this event and bring us their experience.

The Twin Cities Division of the NMRA (TCD) is a neighboring division in the Thousand Lakes Region (TLR) to the east of us. Our friends in the TCD are quite an active group and are always entertaining with their operations focused podcast antics!

Introducing the NMRA Interchange

As discussed at our July 2026 division meeting.

CALLING NMRA MEMBERS of DSED & DIVISIONS NATIONWIDE!

The NMRA Interchange is a new place to ask questions, provide answers, post events, share ideas and make friends.

It is implemented as a Discord server and contains categories for welcoming members, a help area, the NMRA worldwide community, the NMRA Board of Directors, each of the Departments, the Achievement Program, Special Interest Groups, the basics (of modeling), the prototype (railroads), general interest groups and then each of the 17 regions. Discord also provides, free of charge, the ability to have online meetings with up to 100 people in a “room”, sharing screens and up to 25 people showing their camera feeds. 

When you join the Interchange Server, the “Automated Bot” will greet you with a message and some instructions on how to get your roles assigned.  Without roles, you will only see #the-lobby, #rules and #how-to-guides.  Please spend some time in the #rules and #how-to-guides during the /onboard process while your are waiting for the email with your personal command and code to paste in.

Familiarize yourself with the process of gaining access to the NMRA Interchange here:

NMRA National Convention 2026 – Chattanooga, TN

2026 Scenic City Express Chattanooga TN – NMRA National Convention and T-Trak World Record Attempt

The NMRA National Convention is coming to Chattanooga, TN, for the first time in 2026! The Southeastern Region is excited to host NMRA members from around the world in the Scenic City. We have a week full of fun activities planned, including:

  • Layout Tours
  • Prototype Tours
  • Steam-Powered Excursions and Dinner Train
  • Non-Rail Tours and other Activities
  • Operating Sessions
  • Special Interest Groups
  • Railroad Historical Societies
  • Modeling with the Masters(r)
  • Celebration of Models
  • Train Show

Click here for more info: https://www.nmra2026.org/

Dates: July 27 to August 2 2026