HARM Switchlist - August, 2026

Welcome aboard The HARM Switchlist, the monthly online bulletin of the Harford Associates for Railroad Modeling—where serious operations meet good company trackside. Each issue keeps members in the loop with a quick, friendly read: Pick-Ups looks back at the highlights and happenings from the past month, Set-Outs flags the upcoming sessions, events, and opportunities you won’t want to miss, and the YardMaster Report spotlights a member, organization, or manufacturer helping keep the hobby rolling. Whether you’re here for the timetable precision or the coffee-and-conversation crew, grab your orders and let’s get to work.

Pick-Ups

The 2026 NMRA National Convention recently came to a close after being held during the last week of July in Chattanooga, Tennessee. For one week each year, model railroaders from across North America gather to celebrate the hobby through education, fellowship, and plenty of railroading.

A National Convention offers something for every model railroader. Attendees can tour outstanding home and club layouts, participate in operating sessions on layouts of every size and scale, attend dozens of clinics presented by nationally recognized modelers, and enjoy rail excursions showcasing the host area's railroad heritage. Many conventions also feature tours of local model railroad manufacturers and hobby businesses, giving participants a behind-the-scenes look at how many of their favorite products are designed and produced. The week is rounded out with numerous social events, where old friendships are renewed, new ones are made, and ideas are exchanged long after the day's activities have ended.

HARM was represented at this year's convention by Scott Wooddell, who presented a clinic on the Operations Special Interest Group (OPSIG) Achievement Program. The presentation introduced attendees to OPSIG's fun and informal recognition program that encourages participation, learning, and service while maintaining a sense of humor along the way. In addition to presenting, Scott attended clinics, toured layouts, visited the National Train Show, and took part in a rail excursion sponsored by Scale Trains and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. The excursion was powered by Southern Railway steam locomotive No. 4501, which had recently returned to service in its freshly restored Southern green paint scheme, making for a memorable highlight of the convention.

Several members of the Mid-Eastern Region (MER) of the NMRA also attended the convention, representing the region through clinics, committee work, volunteer service, and participation in many of the week's activities. As always, attendees returned home with new ideas, fresh inspiration, and renewed enthusiasm for the hobby—proof that the NMRA National Convention is much more than a gathering of model railroaders; it is an opportunity to learn, share, and build lasting friendships that strengthen the hobby for everyone.

Set-Outs

YardMaster Report

If you're looking for inspiration for your layout or simply want to spend time with fellow model railroaders, this fall offers two outstanding opportunities close to home. The Mid-Atlantic Railroad Prototype Modelers (MARPM) Meet, October 1–4, 2026, in Linthicum, Maryland, is one of the premier prototype modeling events in the country, featuring presentations, manufacturers, historical societies, and hundreds of prototype photos and modeling ideas. Just two weeks later, the Mid-Eastern Region (MER) Convention – Tracks to Tidewater, October 15–18, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, offers a full schedule of clinics, home and club layout tours, operating sessions, vendors, contests, and plenty of opportunities to meet and learn from model railroaders throughout the region. Whether you've attended dozens of conventions or have never been to one, I encourage you to consider making the trip. You'll return with new techniques, fresh inspiration, and maybe even a few new friends—many of whom share the same passion for operating railroads that we enjoy here at HARM.

Scott Wooddell