WISE Division of the NMRA

You found us! You do like railroads and trains whether their real or models right?
Great! Us too!

==========================================================================================================

TRAINFEST® 2021

Dear Friends,

We have some sad news to share. After a lengthy discussion The Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Southeastern Division of the NMRA has made the decision NOT to proceed with Trainfest this year. We really wanted to have Trainfest this year, however we think the risks are too great to hold the show in 2021. Trainfest is facing large challenges with the cost structure of the event and the number of volunteers it takes to put on the show.

We are at a point where we should start spending money to put on the 2021 show. Money we cannot recover if the show has to be cancelled. Such a loss would place the 2022 show at risk.

It is too early to tell where the direction of the show will be 12 months from now.

trainfest.com/

==========================================================================================================

NMRA Museum Exhibit Open

Did you know that “The Magic of Scale Model Railroading” exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum is now open?

The museum itself opened to the public on April 1, and the exhibit opened a few days later. It’s an extremely impressive exhibit that shows the history of model railroading, contains a 40-foot wall of model trains that are exact replicas of trains that ran on 1:1 rails, has actual scenes from completed model railroads, and even incorporates a model railroad in the process of being built.

It’s a very informative exhibit for model railroaders and non-modelers alike.

To see a 20-minute video tour of the entire exhibit, or to read about how the exhibit came into being, or just to view a few photos, visit nmra.org. You’ll find a link to the video, article, and photos right there on the homepage.

==========================================================================================================

Announcement of 2022 National Convention

St. Louis will host the 2022 convention and it is expected that all contracts for that convention will be signed shortly, if not by the time you read this.
See you all in St. Louis August 7 - 14, 2022.

=======================================================================================================

If you meet others who need information on NMRA and how to join, ask them to visit NMRA's website or find membership information here.

================================================================================================================

Show Us What You Have Been Up To!

Our Owl Car newsletter is now only in digital format. The advantage is that we are not limited on the pages we can put together. Our text and pictures will all be larger.

So let’s have some fun! Send pictures and a short description of what you have been doing while quarantined to your home. This will be like a neat little brag session for the Division and its members. And if you have just been running trains, send us some shots from your layout.

Send your email to our Owl Car Editor Steve Miazga (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and we will all look forward to our new Owl Car in the next issue.

================================================================================================================

This is the home of the WISE Division of the NMRA. What that really means is if you're in or around the area of Southeastern Wisconsin (WISE) such as:

Kenosha
Milwaukee
Ozaukee
Racine
Walworth
Washington
Waukesha

AND you like (or are even passionate about) modeling trains, railroads and their environs, then our chapter of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) is here to welcome you.

We are all like-minded individuals who are enthusiatsic about some, or all, aspects of railroads. Some of us have layouts ranging from a few square feet of shelf space to entirely dedicated basements. Some of us have layouts that are currently only in our imaginations. Many of us have both! You can never have too many trains.

We meet monthly through much of the year sharing our knowledge, experiences, triumphs and failures all while enjoying and supporting each other in our particular interests of model railroading.

Interested? Look around - come to a meet.

Model Trains & Railroads in Southeast Wisconsin

Come Meet Us:

Trial NMRA Membership