Wisconsin Southeastern Division Inc Nmra

Programs: To foster wise's primary purpose of stimulating public education and interest in model railroading, wise operates trainfest? ? , americas largest operating model railroad show. Trainfest? ? 2017 was held nov. 11th and 12th, 2017 at the wisconsin expo center in west allis, wi. The expo center is a 200,000 square foot hall on the grounds of the wi state fair park. Over 17,000 people including more than 8,000 children came to trainfest? ? 2017. The hall is filled with exhibits of manu- facturers, dealers and over 60 operating modular layouts. These layout represent the finest of model railroading from throughout the midwest. Youth of all ages were able to operate trains on selected layouts. There was also a lego railroad and tables for kids to build with legos

the wise division sponsors meets open free to the public and held on a sunday afternoon at a local hotel on designated months from sept. To may. The meets are conducted by volunteers and are intended to present to and educate the public in the history of railroads and model railroading. Each meet includes a program presenting slides, demos, or power point on historic railroading, model building or other aspects of the model railroad hobby. The meets also include a model contest room where modelers display their models or photos for judging by popular vote in various categories. The wise division also brings its dvd lending library to the meets. Members can borrow, at no cost, up to 4 items at a time.

the wise youth group is composed of a group of kids, ages 8 to 17 who are taught how to build a 2 x 4 foot section of a modular model rail- road by volunteers. The group meets on sat. Or sun. During the year at awaukesha, wi model railroad club and works on building the modular sections. The purpose is to stimulate the youths interest in the hobby and develop their modeling skills. When completed, the sections con- nect together and form a small model railroad. The wise division furn- ishes the building material, track and electronics the youth use. Each november, the youth group sets up the modular railroad at train- fest? ? , demonstrating the hobby and run their trains on what they have built.

the wise division sponsors two bus trips each year, to model railroad shows attendees pay a small portion of the cost of these bus trips.