Welcome

Division 12, Mid Central Region, NMRA, Inc., also known as the Alleghany Western Division, is a recently formed division of the National Model Railroad Association, located in Northwestern Pennsylvania and Southwestern New York.

For the most up-to-date information about our organization, membership meetings, or public events please use the News/Events page or search button at the bottom of this page.

 

Next Membership Meeting Event:

Meeting via Zoom, 3D-3R-2025. Tri-Divisional/Tri-Regional Zoom meeting in conjunction with WNY Division, NFR; and Lakeshores Division, NER. 10 AM-2 PM. 3 clinics via Zoom: “How and Why to Install a Decoder Buddy” by Nick Santo; “The Life, Rebirth and Miniaturization of an Erie Dining Car” by Chris Costello; “Concord Flyer Convention Preview” by Tage Erickson. Link will be sent to the membership via email.

Superintendent’s Letter for January 2025:

The NMRA at 90.

2025 marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the NMRA in 1935. As the hobby grew in the 1930’s, modelers from clubs in Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, among others, discovered their equipment wouldn’t run reliably on each other’s layouts due to differing standards. This began a movement toward collaboration and unified standards, culminating in a convention in Milwaukee on Labor Day weekend in 1935 that resulted in the founding of the NMRA.

90 years is a long time for any organization to survive. It is interesting to note that we in 2025 are further removed in time from the NMRA’s founding, than the early NMRA was removed from the exponential expansion and advancement of American railroading during and following the Civil War.

While the development of unified standards was, and remains, an unalloyed good, we should remember that even this basic function of the NMRA would not have been created without the early pioneers of the hobby coming together in a spirit of fellowship.

As for that fellowship, the reader can see from the list of upcoming events in our newsletter that the founding spirit of the NMRA remains strong and continues to flourish beyond that small beginning in September 1935. Your Division 12 will likewise do its small part, and continue to uphold our motto of “Fellowship, Mentorship, and Community” hopefully for the next 90 years, and beyond.

Mike Hauk

Superintendent, Division 12, MCR

 

Current Builder’s Plate newsletter available here.

Current Mid-Central Region Kingpin newsletter available here.

 

Know of any train shows in Western Pennsylvania, Western New York, or North East Ohio? Please send them to me at webeditor@div12mcr.org

  Allegheny Western Facebook Page or Facebook Group

 National Model Railroad Association

 Mid Central Region