Oregon Rails 2026 (May 13–16, Tigard, OR)—organized by the 2nd Division of the Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) of the NMRA—delivers something you don’t often get at a regional: real prototype access + a full slate of layout tours and clinics + hobby stores with NO SALES TAX + swap meet.
🚆 Prototype Tours — The Headliner
Oregon Rail Heritage Center (Portland) See iconic locomotives up close: SP 4449 Daylight, SP&S 700, UP 3203, Mt. Emily Shay—plus restoration work and additional equipment.
WES (Westside Express Service) Shops A rare guided look inside a working commuter rail maintenance facility.
👉 Real railroading. Local. Hard to access otherwise.
🏡 Layout Tours — ~20 Layouts
A wide range of high-quality indoor layouts
Garden railways rarely open to the public
🛍️ Train Stores — Tax-Free
Great local hobby shops, including Whistle Stop Trains and The Hobby Smith.
And Oregon has NO SALES TAX. That’s real savings on every purchase.
⏳ Act Now — Support Your Region
As of this past weekend, the convention was just 27 registrations short of break-even.
👉 If you’ve been thinking about going, now is the time to sign up and support your region. 👉 Prototype tours are limited—and will fill first.
👉 And note: next year, the PNR convention will be folded into the National Convention, so this is your chance for a dedicated PNR regional event in this format.
This is your opportunity to be part of the leadership of the 4th Division of the Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) of the NMRA. We are seeking candidates for the office of Superintendent and two Board Member positions. These are for two-year terms starting on September 1, 2026 and ending on August 31, 2028. The Board meets every two months with meetings alternating between in-person and Zoom. The election for these positions will be held in late May 2026.
If you are interested in running for either of these positions, or would like more information, please contact Bob Kenworthy, Assistant Superintendent by telephone or text at (253) 312-7506 or by email at bkenworthy4@comcast.net. We plan to finalize the ballots by May 1st.
We are also looking for someone to fill the position of Secretary. This position is appointed by the Superintendent and does not require election. The new Secretary may take office as soon as appointed and may serve as long as desired by the Secretary and Superintendent.
Duties of Superintendent, Board Members, and Secretary:
The duties of the Superintendent include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Membership.
Assist the Secretary in scheduling meetings and distributing agendas.
Sign all contracts or other instruments authorized by the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Division.
Appoint chairs of standing committees, with the consent of the Board of Directors.
Appoint members of standing committees, when the procedures for those committees call for such action.
Appoint chairs and members of ad hoc committees.
Serve on the PNR Board of Directors.
The duties of a Director include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Attend all Board of Directors meetings.
Serve as a direct representative of the members and act in their best interests in the management of the Division.
The duties of the Secretary include, but are not necessarily limited to:
With assistance from the Superintendent, schedule Board of Directors and General Membership meetings and distribute agendas.
Keep minutes of all meetings. Provide copies of such minutes to others as prescribed elsewhere in the Bylaws and in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
Maintain corporate records as prescribed elsewhere in the Bylaws and in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
Perform other secretarial duties deemed necessary or specified in the Bylaws and in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
Steve Cox presents Japanese Trains. Japanese trains have continually set global standards. We will explore the evolution of Japan’s rail system and how that passion for trains is captured and celebrated through Japanese model railways.
We will attempt to get the Zoom media going again, here is the link info
Rich Blake is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
There is no “Second Saturday” layout tour Zoom meeting on Saturday, October 11. The next layout tour Zoom is planned for Saturday, December 13. We always skip November so we can attend the Boeing Swap meet, this year on November 8. For more information on the swap meet, see https://bemrrc.org/events
And please consider presenting a layout tour on your own layout’s progress. Everyone is as interested in seeing construction progress reports as they are in seeing a finished masterpiece. Contact Lee Marsh or Burr Stewart to get going on scheduling your layout for a future “Second Saturday” online Zoom event!
The September 2025 “Second Saturday” will feature an update by Burr Stewart on adding the West Seattle steel mill to his HO layout, and what he has learned about the steel industry. After the presentation, we will have an open discussion about industries in general and the traffic they generate. As usual, we will open the Zoom meeting at 9:30am, and Burr’s presentation will start at 10:00am, on Saturday, September 13. Here is the Zoom info needed to join the meeting:
If you have not already heard, 4D and the Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) of the NMRA will be hosting the 2027 NMRA Convention in downtown Tacoma, August 10-15 2027. Planning is already underway. Both the Tacoma Convention Center and several hotels have been contracted by NMRA HQ.
Now … we need everyone’s support to make this the best convention ever! We will be hosting guests from around the planet.
First, put it in your calendar: August 10-15, 2027.
Second, think about how YOU can contribute:
Perhaps open your layout for a layout tour?
Or, offer an operating session.
Or, present a clinic.
Or be a volunteer … or just attend as a participant
… Whatever you do, we need YOUR support!
Third, tell your friends and family about this. They may not want to attend the core convention, but there is something for everyone – especially kids of all ages – at the National Train Show, open to the public, that will take place on the Saturday and Sunday following the Convention.
Our theme is Expand Your Horizon and we want everyone to come away with new ideas and new friendships.
We will welcome both NMRA members and non-NMRA members (though non-members will pay a little more).
Our website has just been published and will expand as we finalize our plans. But you can signup to our newsletter now. Visit us at:
During the weekend of 19-20 July 2025 we enjoyed our annual participation in the 23rd Annual “Clamshell Railroad Days” at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco WA on the southwest coast. This is an open house event hosted by the museum and is one of the main fundraising events to support the various museum projects to include restoration of the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Co narrow gauge passenger car the “Nachotta”.
The Pacific Northwest On30 Modular Group was of course there with a large setup. Also in attendance for the weekend was the Mount Rainier N Scale, Cascade Z Scale, the Longview, Kelso and Rainier Model Railroad Club (HO Scale), and Dean and Donna’s Lego Layout.
One of our members, Daniel Bentz made a great video that showcases all the various layouts and a lot of fun train operations action. See the video here on youtube.
You’ve been offered a model train donation but you don’t have room or need for it. What do you do now? The 4D Superintendent has an offer you can’t refuse. Mike has talked to several brick-and-mortar train shops in the region who buy collections. They are willing to give the 4D a donation based on what they can sell the donations for. You take the donation from the person offering it; deliver it to your closest train shop. They sell it and 4D gets a portion of the proceeds. It is a win for everybody. Here is the list of train shops that Mike has talked to. If you have additional recommendations, check to see if they would be willing to join the list.
Mike Huntzinger – Port Angeles 360-797-4010
Electric Train Shop – Burien Scott 206-244-7077
PnP Trains – Renton Paul Pellegrino 206-909-2176 Paula Pellegrino 206-909-8796
The annual NMRA Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) Regional Convention, Ainsworth Connector, was held May 9 – 11, 2025 in Pasco, Washington. Hosted by the PNR 5th Division (5D), the Convention offered self-guided layout tours, HO and N -scale Free-Mo layouts, operating sessions, many clinics, Modeling With The Masters class, Achievement Program (AP) evaluations, Celebration/Contest room, and more! NMRA President, Gordy Robinson, MMR, was also there and gave an update on all changes happening at the NMRA HQ national level!
A special highlight was the PF&S Railway Supply Manufacturing Tour. This manufacturing company, based in Pasco, produces the excellent Tomar Industries signals (I have some on my layout) and drumheads, Precision Scale brass and plastic detailed parts, and Utah Pacific model railroad parts. They gave us a detailed tour of all their manufacturing steps and warehouse. They also have a HUGE train store, selling not only their own products, but many, many other products. This is the biggest train store I have ever seen, and they have both new and old products. It felt like a time travel back 30 years as they have tons of *brand new* products from the last 30 years. Below are some pictures from the tour. If you want to visit them, they are located out on a farm here; their Facebook page is here. They are super friendly, so give them a call on (509) 528 2233 if you have any questions or check when they are open.
The op sessions were hosted by Tri-City Model Railroaders club, Facebook page here. It was excellent and I had a lot of fun switching through the layers of the layout (look at those helices!). Interestingly they are starting to deploy LCC for signals and block detection. They have weekly open houses, and also host many op sessions for their members. If you are in town, contact them and see if you can join – they are super friendly. They also have a small store in their space with some excellent deals from donations they have received.
The store is HUGE with old and new products packed on the shelves.More products…And even more…Lee Calkins from 5D, our new NMRA board Western District Director (our district) running for train deals.Tons of brand new Preiser figuresTons of new WalthersProto productsThe founder’s grandson, is now running manufacturing and he showed us around their manufacturing and warehouse facililty. Note that he is wearing a gun; Mike Stepner thought it was because of the “snake country” they are in, I think it’s to protect them in case of robbery or burglary.Ms Tomar herself showing Gordy Robinson, NMRA President, her products.Tomar has a wide range of signal products, all made in Pasco.Ms Tomar checking her inventoryInfo about PF&S
7:30 to 8:15 am Check-in at the Snoqualmie Depot. 8:30 to 9:00 am Train ride from Snoqualmie Depot to Northwest Railway Museum (NRM). 9:10 to 9:55 am Clinic Session 1 – Shop Tour and 2 Clinics 10:05 to 10:50 am Clinic Session 2 – Shop Tour, NRM Layout Presentation, and 2 Clinics 11:00 to 11:45 am Clinic Session 3 – Shop Tour and 2 Clinics
11:45 to 12:40 pm Lunch and Annual Meeting
12:40 to 1:00 pm Roundhouse Exhibit Gallery Presentation 1:00 to 1:20 pm 2027 NMRA National Convention in Tacoma Presentation 1:30 to 2:00 pm Train ride from NRM to Snoqualmie Depot 2:00 to 3:00 pm Travel Time to Layout Open Houses 3:00 to 5:00 pm Layout Open Houses
