Next stop, Brunswick, Georgia

On July 20, 2024, the Atlantic division of the Southeast Region of the MNRA held its quarterly meeting at Easterby’s, on Ashley River Road. Twenty members attended the meeting and were well serve by our waiter, Chuck.

After lunch was ordered, were enlightened with four clinics concerning model railroading. The first was by division member Lloyd Bloom concerning the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, Arizona. The park has something for every railroader in your family with static steam locomotives, numerous prototype passenger cars, and multiple layouts in several scales. Included in the passenger cars was the last railcar built for presidential transportation. The car was built in 1928 and served Presidents Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower. Also on display is the Arizona car that was part of the French Mercie train of 1949. This was a collection of 49 surplus World War I railroad cars given to the United States as a thank you for the help that the United States provided France in helping recover from World War II. Gifts from French citizens that were included in the car are on display.

In addition to the prototype displays, there are three 1280 square-foot layouts. One is an N scale, one an HO, and one an O Scale. A G scale track loops over these layouts. Back outside there is a 7 ½ inch gauge and a 15-inch narrow gauge “layout” for those who wish to ride on the cars.

The next clinic was provided by Carl Blum, also a member of the Atlantic Division. Carl described how he does operations on his three rail O scale layout. This was a look at it another method to allow operations without overburdening the operators. Currently he utilizes an Excel spreadsheet and a visual pin board to manage the operations.

Erik Schrowang, another member of the Atlantic Division presented his clinic on airbrushing. Eric has presented this clinic at regional meetings in the past. Highlights included the advice to purchase a well-made, non-knock off airbrush. He feels the name brands are better made and have a much better warranty. For example, he displayed his father’s 1970’s Badger airbrush. Erik explained that the Badger Corporation will clean and refurbish this brush for a $10 charge. He also recommended a single action airbrush for beginners, purchasing a small compressor with the water trap, and purchasing replacement parts to keep yourself up and running (especially the needle valve).

To close out our clinics experience, Tom Sullivan presented his clinic on layout lighting. Tom has a wonderful On30 Sandy River and Rangeley Lake RR. He has recently added an expansion. In the past he used room lighting to light his layout. With the expansion he elected to frame his layout scenes utilizing valances. He found eight pack boxes of 4000 Angstrom lights from Barrina, on Amazon for price under $50. He liked this wavelength of light, as it does not wash out colors with photography.

Following the clinics there was a brief show and tell period. Erik Schrowang presented a Campbell kit that he is working on. Also, Charles Gartell presented a small diesel servicing facility that he is constructing.

After the clinics and show and tell, superintendent Rick Fulkerson called a short business meeting to order. Outgoing Treasure Tom Sullivan reported that the assets of the division remain stable at $362.

As current assistant superintendent Ted pounds is moving to Memphis, Tennessee an election was held to fill this position. By unanimous decision Doug Scott was elected to the position as assistant superintendent. After serving as treasurer for three years, Tom Sullivan felt it was time to pass the baton on. Again, by unanimous decision Carl Blum was elected as the new Atlantic Division treasure.

Finally, with Doug Scott becoming the new assistant superintendent, an opening was created for a new general member of the board. By unanimous decision, Lloyd Bloom was selected.

At 1:30 P.M., having completed all business, Erik Schrowang moved that the meeting be adjourned, which was seconded by Casey Bartman.

After the meeting, a member of the Charleston Area Model Railroad Club, came up to superintendent Fulkerson. He is very interested in joining the division and the NMRA, helping serve as a liaison with CAMRC, where he has been a member since about the age of 10.

After the adjournment most members proceeded on to one or more of the five available layout tours. Those that were available included:

• Jim Behling’s Carolina Eastern HO layout
• Carl Blum’s 3-rail O gauge Misery & Short Life RR
• Tom Sullivan’s On30 Sandy River and Rangeley Lake RR
• Rick Fulkerson’s Rialto Diablo and Arizona HO switching layout
• The Charleston Model Railroad Club’s multiple layouts

The next meeting of the Atlantic Division will be in November at the Golden Isles Model Railroad Club, in Kingsland, GA. This is always a great meeting with member of the Sunshine Region coming up. Keep watching this site and our Facebook page for the date and details.