Clinic:   Walt Liles presents "Modeling the Sandersville Railroad."  Walt will discuss operations and equipment on Georgia's Sandersville Railroad.  He has lots of great information and photos from the railroad and adjacent area that serve the Kaolin industry. Presented at the 2016 SER convention, this will be a fun clinic to attend. 

Bring and Brag:  Bring your favorite models of short line railroads from around the United States.

The Board of Directors meets prior to the Division meeting.  The BOD meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

Clinic:   Scott Chatfield presents "Bicentennial Locomotives," in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Bicentennial. 

Bring and Brag:  Bicentennial Locomotives, Cars, or Prototype Photos of Bicentennial equipment that YOU took. 

The Board of Directors meets prior to the Division meeting.  The BOD meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

The Piedmont Division is holding its 3rd Annual Facebook Photo Contest May 7 through May 14, 2016.  Take a photo of a prototype or model train and post it to the Facebook group Piedmont Division, NMRA.  

The winner will receive a $25.00 gift certificate from Blue Ox Trains of Roswell, GA!

Contest Instructions and Guidelines

1. This is a Facebook Contest.
2. You must be a member of the Facebook Group Piedmont Division, NMRA.  If you are not a member, you may join the group.
3. The subject can be a prototype or model.
4. No limit to the number of photos that can be entered.
5. Must be your photo.
6. Include the location and time when you shot the photo and anything else you would like to share.
7. Photos must be taken May 7 through May 14, 2016.
8. Photos must be posted on Facebook May 7 through May 14.  No emails will be accepted.
9. Photos with obscene content, including subject and text, are not permitted.  The Piedmont Division reserves the right to remove any photo.
10. The winner will be announced May 16, 2016. 
11. Please, NO TRESPASSING on railroad property to take photos.  Be safe and have fun. 

 Keep those photos coming! For additional information please contact Walt Liles at wliles.crrman@gmail.com.

Weathering with PanPastels will teach participants the basics of weathering freight cars with these innovative products and tools.  Participants will be able to weather their own model car, in any scale, with confidence following the guidance of the two instructors, Peter Youngblood, MMR, and Perry Lamb.

A limited number of participants will be able to "go wild" and experiment on car bodies provided free of charge. Participants will need to bring their own car, in any scale, already coated with a flat finish (like Dullcoat).

Registration is required to attend this class. It is open to non-NMRA members, but a maximum of 12 participants can attend. NMRA members will receive first priority.

PanPastels kits are available for purchase at Hobbytown USA and NMRA members receive a discount.  Please let Perry know if you would like to have a kit pre-ordered for you.

To register contact Perry Lamb at training@piedmont-div.org.

Clinic:   Modeling Non-US Railroads; the joys and difficulties of modeling something completely different. 

Due to a scheduling conflict, the May meeting will be held the 3rd week of the month.  We will go back to our normal meeting date, the 2nd Tuesday of each month, in June.

Clinic: Dave Bennett presents "Making mountains and rockwork out of foam the easy way."

Bring and Brag:  Bring your best running/favorite switcher.

The Board of Directors meets prior to the Division meeting.  The BOD meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

Clinic:   Morris Smith and Steve Austin present "Concept and Design of the ‘CountryRoads Railroad’ Free-mo modular group." Morris and Steve will discuss the concept of this specialized modular group set along US Hwy 11 in the transition era, with exact standards for landscape color palette, scenery design constraints, equipment selection and equipment cutoff date, and more. They will have a module on hand so that members can see the steps involved in constructing each module. 

Bring and Brag:  Any railroad equipment, or structure, that would have been on or by a prototype railroad in 1957. Nothing newer!

The Board of Directors meets prior to the Division meeting.  The BOD meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. 

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The Piedmont Division presents its first 2016 special clinic session, Installing a DCC Mobile Decoder.

Please note that this is NOT a plug-and-play DCC installation class.  Students need to be ready to learn to install a wired-in decoder.  Registration is required as enrollment is limited to 8 students.

Students will need to bring the following:

1. Locomotive
2. A soldering station
3. ROSIN flux
4. Proper solder - we will have solder handy so students won't need to run out and purchase it
5. Decoder wire (like the Digitrax package with the 9 colors)
6. 3/64" and 1/16" shrink wrap  We will have some on hand.
7. Wire strippers
8. Screwdrivers slot and Philips
9. Wire cutters
10. Flat nose pliers
11. Suitable decoder for the locomotive in question.

If you are interested in attending or have questions, please contact Perry Lamb at perry_lamb@mindspring.com

Clinic:   Walt Liles presents “Installing a Tortoise Switch Machine."  Walt will have a display and slides to show you step-by-step how to install a Tortoise switch machine, answering some of the most common questions in the hobby.

Bring and Brag:  Railroad stations.  Bring models or photos of your railroad stations. 

The Board of Directors meets prior to the Division meeting.  The BOD meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. 

Due to a scheduling conflict, the February meeting will be held the 3rd week of the month.  We will go back to our normal meeting date, the 2nd Tuesday of each month, in March.

Clinics:   This is a special night as two clinics will be presented, running concurrently.  Pick your favorite and attend.

Howard Goodwin, MMR presents "What's in the box?"  Howard provides insight to what you will find in the typical modeler's toolbox as well as things you need, things you should consider, and things you haven't thought of.

Jim Travis presents "Great Scenery Techniques."  Jim will be sharing different scenery techniques that he has used with great success. 

Bring and Brag:  Bring your favorite tank car.  All eras and scales welcome.

The Board of Directors meets prior to the Division meeting.  The BOD meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.