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:

June 14th 2025 Between the rails picnic June 2025: Saturday, June 14th, 2025. Division 12 Annual Picnic. Westfield, NY Railroad Park. 102-106 N Gale St, Westfield, NY 14787.

Superintendent’s Letter for May 2025:

Tariffs, Schmariffs…

As we have seen in recent weeks, even if you are not interested in world affairs, world affairs are interested in you. Happenings around the globe ripple down even to our little hobby, and suddenly everyone on social media is an “expert” on global trade and international relations.

I recently took shipment of a new freight car from a well-known hobby manufacturer, and the total cost, including shipping and higher tariffs, was over $70. The price of freight cars from this manufacturer was already pushing the upper bounds of my personal cost-benefit calculation, and that much moola for an HO-scale freight car is now excessive to my mind, no matter how finely detailed. Unfortunate for that manufacturer, but as consumers we do have the luxury of a bit of choice.

For me, the choice includes dipping into my (large) stash of unbuilt resin kits instead of ordering a ready-to-run offering from a manufacturer, should I have an itch to expand my freight car fleet. This is actually a double-win, as I enjoy the process of building those types of kits, and many in my stash are of interesting but obscure prototypes that will never be offered in RTR form.

Another choice for some might be starting a scenery project. Scenic materials are relatively inexpensive and immune from tariff wars, unless you extensively use high-end products like the beautiful but expensive stuff from Martin Welberg, etc.

A third possible option is to pause buying more “stuff” and instead spend some time and effort catching up on deferred maintenance on your rolling stock and railroad. I’ve certainly got a list of small items that need attention that I never seem to get around to fixing. Are all the wheelsets on your cars and locomotives in gauge? Are all the couplers at the correct height? Does your track need cleaning? Maybe it’s time to replace that turnout that always seems to cause a derailment at random times…

So, higher hobby costs due to tariffs and political decisions out of our control do not mean your railroad progress should come to a screeching halt. Instead, be flexible and ponder a few ways you can eke some enjoyment out of our hobby that won’t cost one (new) red cent!

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

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 National Model Railroad Association

 Mid Central Region