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THIRD DIVISION

PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION,
NATIONAL MODEL
RAILROAD ASSOCIATION
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Where is the 3rd Division?

    The 3rd Division encompasses Eastern Oregon, Southern Idaho and Southwestern Montana.
 

What we do:

     We build and run trains!  To show them off to everyone we hold two Divisional Meets each year.  These are typically in the Boise, Idaho area.   Division meet activities include clinics, NMRA and popular model and photo contests, displays, a silent auction, vendors and home layout tours.
 

Upcoming events:
 

     2012 Fall Meet.  September 22nd, at the Covenant Presbyterian Church 4848 North Five Mile Road Boise, ID 83713 (McMillan and Five Mile). Click here to get the details.   Click here for directions.  Fall Special Contest: Get It Off The Shelf!  Get that kit that's been collecting dust for at least a year off the shelf, build it and bring it out!  No limits, any kit, any price.  The older the kit the better!

      Treasure Valley Train Expo.  September 2012, at the O'Conner Field House, 2207 Blaine, Caldwell.  Noon to 8:00 P.M. Friday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday and 10:00 AM to 6:00 P.M. Sunday.  Admission $5.00 Children 12 and under Free.  The event will include modular layouts, model contests, vendors and clinics.  Clubs are encouraged to participate.  Vendor tables are available.  For further information contact Troy Dewey, 208-461-5028 treasurevalleytrainexpo@gmail.com 1509 Caldwell Blvd. #19, Nampa, Id. 83651
 
 

Scheduled meetings and events within the Division:
 

    The Division holds a monthly business and gab session at Idaho Pizza Co., 4218 Overland Road, Boise, on the second Tuesday of the month, January through November,  at 7:00 PM.  For further information contact any of the Division officers listed below. Click here for directions.

    TNT Modeling Group Mini-Meets.  The Mini-Meets are held on the fourth Saturday of the month, January through October, at Idaho Pizza Co., 405 E. Fairview Ave., Meridian at noon.  The event consists of a no-host lunch, a clinic or video presentation followed by a progressive layout tour of typically two layouts.  For further information contact Bruce McCosh, 386-9629, bmccosh@cableone.net or Tom Waters, 375-4796, twaters8@msn.com. Click here for directions.  In the event that these Mini-Meets conflict with Division Meets the Mini-Meet will be canceled that month.

    The Eagle Rock Railroad Historical Society, Inc.   Eagle Rock's annual RAILSHOW is held on the second weekend of October at the Idaho Falls Recreation Center, 520 Memorial Drive, Idaho Falls, ID.  Regular meetings are held Thursdays at 7:00 PM.  For further information click on the name.

    Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society.   Located in Union Pacific's building B-59 Southwest of the Union Pacific Depot in the Old Town part of Pocatello, Idaho.  Regular meetings are held Wednesdays at 7:00 PM with an open house on the third Saturday of each month from 10 'til 2.  For further information click on the name.
 

    Operating sessions:

    Joel Slagg hosts two operating sessions each month on his HO scale Union Pacific Nevada Division layout.  These sessions are generally held on the first and third Tuesdays at 7:30 PM  Click here for the schedule and contact information.

    Rick Uhlenkott hosts an operating session on his N scale Leisure Prairie layout.  His layout is based on the scenery, trestles and bridges of northern Idaho's Camas Prairie railroad.  Operating sessions are generally on the fourth Tuesday of the month.  Contact Rick for verification and directions.  (208) 465-0371 rduhlenkott@aol.com
 

Officers of the Division:

Superintendent

      Warren Smith
(208) 855-0656 casvas1@q.com
Secretary

      Skip Dautel
(208) 362-9579 swdautel@q.com
Treasurer
      Andy Doll
(208) 884-1171 trainman2@mindspring.com
Purple Sage (newsletter) Editor

      Rick Uhlenkott
(208) 465-0371 rduhlenkott@aol.com
Achievement Program

      Bruce McCosh
(208) 386-9629 bmccosh@cableone.net
Immediate Past Superintendent

      Terry Nelson
(208) 895-8030 terrynelson8030@msn.com

Organizations, Clubs and Private Railroads in the Division:

    Organizations and Clubs;

     The Rocky Mountain Hi-Railers invite you to join in the fun of S-scale.  Based in Boise, we have members in all corners of the state who are dedicated to promoting 1:64 scale model railroading.  Our award-winning portable layout, Lookout Junction, has been featured in S magazines and in video, and represented Idaho at the National Train Shows in Seattle (2004) and Sacramento (2011).  At 550 square feet, Lookout Junction provides the option of AC/DCC operation, running four independent trains on two levels with 45 turnouts, two wyes, a 10-track yard, two crossovers, an HO-scale ("narrow gauge") logging train, a radio-controlled helicopter, and the famous double crossing that gives the layout its name.  Often featured at train shows across Idaho, the club is currently preparing the layout for its next national appearance at the 2014 National Train Show in Portland.  We generally meet the third Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. to work on the layout and plan the events of the club.  For information, contact John Eichmann, number22@q.com, or Shane Jibben, sjibben@nxnw.com.

    Nampa Model Railroad Club, Inc., is seeking new members.  We meet Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons.  Business meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM.  HO scale with approximately 300 ft. of mainline and 100 ft. of branch line.  Operating system is by CVP Products EASYDCC System with 4 digit addressing and includes both tethered and 900 MHz wireless handheld controllers.  Located in the basement of the Village Square on the corner of 2nd Street South and 13th Ave., downtown Nampa. Click here for directions.  Info: Wade Bloom, President, (208) 861-9601 or Holly Tomlinson, Secretary, (208) 869-5731. nampamodelrailroad@q.comhttp://www.freewebs.com/nampamodelrailroad/index.htm

    Old Boise N - Scale Model Rail Road Club.   Located in the Pioneer Building at 6th and Main in downtown Boise, they meet every Tuesday at 7:00 PM.  Call Darrell at 323-0238 for more information.

    Caldwell Model Railroad Club, Inc.,  Located at 809 Dearborn in Caldwell, right behind the Pennywise Drug Store.  They meet every Wednesday, 7 to 9 P.M. and Saturday, 1 to 4 P.M.   Info: Garry Blaseg (208) 465-7810 blasegs@gmail.com,Dave Wilson (208) 454-2346 bigapple5@juno.com or Todd Wolf (208) 454-1193 toddlwolf@gmail.com.  For further information click on the name.

    The Eagle Rock Railroad Historical Society, Inc.   Eagle Rock is the original name of the Idaho Falls town site.  We are dedicated to preserving the history of railroading in Southeast Idaho and the surrounding areas through the use of model railroading and historical displays.

    Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society.   PMRHS is pleased to share with you some of the pleasure that we enjoy in model railroading and preserving some of the history of railroading in and around our South Eastern Idaho community.

    Southern Idaho Garden Railway Society.  Dedicated to running trains in the middle of gardens or building gardens around running trains.... whichever, in the Treasure Valley area of southwestern Idaho.  For further information contact Ed Garlock, 338-9056, haus57@clearwire.net or Floyd Warden, 375-4286, fwarden@wgz.org

    TNT Modeling Group.  A round robin style group of modelers and train nuts the bulk of which live in the Boise and Meridian portion of the Treasure Valley of southwestern Idaho.  This group was organized with the intent of assisting each other with the construction and operation of its members' layouts.  We meet when someone in the area volunteers to host an operating or construction session and can generally be found at the two scheduled operating sessions mentioned above.  This is a tough organization to join, dues - $0.00, elected or appointed officers - zero, attendance requirements - zero, enthusiasm level for any given event - whatever you feel is fair.  For further information contact Tom Waters (208) 375-4796 twaters8@msn.com or Bruce McCosh (208) 386-9629 bmccosh@cableone.net

    Private Railroads;

    Leisure Prairie Railroad.  An N scale layout in Nampa, Idaho somewhat based on northern Idaho's Camas Prairie road with many bridges and trestles.  A very impressive layout.

    Teton Short Line.   An HO scale layout In Pocatello, Idaho frozen in the the late 50's and early 60's.  A mixture of light steam and 4 axle diesel powered freight and passengers trains traverse a North-South route, along the Idaho/Wyoming border to bridge the Great Northern and Union Pacific Railroads.

    Boise, Nampa & Owyhee Railroad.   An HO scale layout in Boise, Idaho set in the late 1800's.  Small equipment with truss rods, excellent scenery and detail.  Well worth the trip not only back in time but out to the south forty to see it!

    Elbow Valley Railroad.   An HO scale layout in Boise, Idaho set in the mid 50's.  The Elbow Valley Railroad is a privately owned short line that connects the Union Pacific in the Treasure Valley of Southern Idaho with the inland port of Lewiston, in Northern Idaho.

    Avery Power and Light Co.   An HO scale layout in Boise, Idaho set in the mid 50's.  Using early diesel, light and heavy traction.  Avery Power and Light Co. provides freight and passenger service between the Milwaukee Road's division point at Avery, Idaho and the surrounding area communities and businesses.
 

Resources:

   Clinics.  Click here for clinics presented at Division meets.

    Don's Depot.  Don's Rail Photos.  An incredible collection of railroad photos from current Class 1's to the really obscure fallen flags.

    Model Railroad Products Manufacturers and Publishers List.   A list of product manufacturers and publishers with product and contact information.


Most recent update: May 6, 2012.
This NMRA on the Web page is written and maintained by:
Bruce McCosh, bmccosh@cableone.net
This NMRA on the Web page is hosted by:
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Copyright 2011 by the National Model Railroad Association. All Rights Reserved.