Gerry Leone, NMRA Communications Director

The Howell Day Museum is issuing a new release of its highly successful Gorre and Daphetid bobber cabooses. Two new bobbers, numbered 3 and 5, are now available from Headquarters at $19.95 for one or $34.95 for both. Add $4 S&H. The ready-to-run cars are HO only. They feature operating magnetic-knuckle couplers and free-rolling metal wheels. See the ad in NMRA Magazine. HQ’s phone is 423-892-2846.

Registrations for Grand Rails 2012, next year’s national convention in Grand Rapids, are taking off. Half of the available Furniture City Flyers Club memberships are already gone. Details at www.gr2012.org. 90 clinic slots are filled, with topics ranging from geared locomotives to timetable/train order operation. If you’re interested in presenting a clinic, have them fill out the application form on the website. They’re especially want clinics covering prototype modeling and operations.

Speaking of the convention, there has been a change in the visitation procedure for Bruce and Janet Chubb’s Sunset Valley Oregon System. The SVOS will now be open a portion of every day from Sunday, July 29, through Saturday August 4, for self-guided tours. Special commemorative tickets will be available each day. Attendees may visit any time, any day.

If you give adult or family classes on model railroading, Fred Bock, the NMRA’s Education Department Assistant Manager, is looking for ideas, lesson plans, and course material. Tell Fred what your program is about via email at fbockLSRDiv6@aol.com. Use “Adult Education” as the Subject.