Working Together to Guide Our Club in the Right Direction
The Big Bend Model Railroad Club (BBMRC) held its first meeting on September 15, 1987. The BBMRC was organized for the purpose of promoting and preserving model railroad activities for the benefit of the general public and the members of the Club and for the purpose of promoting and preserving historical material and information pertaining to railroad transportation. The organization’s unofficial motto is: “Let’s Run Trains!”
The Big Bend Model Railroad Club decided to incorporate and was chartered as “The Big Bend Model Railroad Association, Inc.” (BBMRA) on June 28, 1990.
The Association has a seven-member Board of Directors: The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary/Editor, N Division Coordinator, HO Division Coordinator, and Large Scale Division Coordinator. General elections are held for the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary/Editor while the three Division Coordinators are elected by members from each Division.
At present, the BBMRA is comprised of three divisions: The Small Scale Division (N&Z), the HO Scale Division, and the Large Scale Division (all scales larger than HO).
The Small-Scale Division features six 3 by 7 foot modules with four separate loops as well as an ever-growing T-Trak modular layout. The HO Division maintains and operates a dual mainline 7 by 16 feet T-Trak layout. The HO Division also supports a Time-Saver sub-division consisting of a 2 by 8 feet switching layout designed for public operations. The Large Scale Division operates various 0-27 and/or O Scale table-top layouts and supports a Thomas the Tank Engine sub-division and a live-steam sub-division: the Tallahassee Live Steamers who run G Scale trains on a 12 by 24 foot non-electric modular layout.
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month. Clinics and other member-oriented activities are conducted during the meetings. Member swap meets are held quarterly. Members currently meet via ZOOM but previously met at the Capital City Christian Church, 6115 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL for face-to-face sessions.
Each year the Association sponsors our Tallahassee Model Railroad Show and Sale at the North Florida Fairgrounds. The event showcases our Association and other clubs from surrounding communities.
Our Board of Directors
Our 2020-21 Board of Directors would be pleased to assist you. Please use the links below to email them.
| Andy J. Zimmerman | President & Show Manager |
| Stacey Elliott | Vice President |
| Sheldon Harrison | Secretary |
| Neal Meadows, Ed.D. | Treasurer |
| Sam Miller | Lantern Newsletter Co-Editor & Large Scale Coordinator |
| Phil Weston | HO Scale Coordinator |
| Brandon McKenny | Small Scale Coordinator |
| Robert Feuerstein | Membership and Hospitality Coordinator Co-Coordinator of T-TRAK |
| Stacey Elliott | BBMRA Facebook Page Editor & Co-Coordinator of T-TRAK |
| Andy Millott | Program Director |
| Neal Meadows, Ed.D. | BBMRA Webmaster & Lantern Newsletter Co-Editor |
Small-Scale Division
The Small-Scale division incorporates Z and N Scales. Our N Scale sub-division has a traveling layout built on 6 doors that can be run in multiple configurations. The division also supports a smaller T-Trak modular layout. Both layouts are wired to operate as a DC or DCC. The Z Scale sub-division’s layouts are owned by individual members and are incorporated into BBMRA operational events.
HO-Scale Division
The HO-Scale division currently supports a 7 by 16 feet modular layout using T-Trak modules. Corner modules are owned by the Association with club members owning the straight modules. The division also supports a “Time Saver” subdivision. The “Time Saver” is 2 by 8 feet switching layout designed for children of all ages (including adults) to operate.
Large-Scale Division
The large-scale division primarily operates Lionel trains. From steam to diesel, passenger to freight, the Lionel trains capture the imagination of many. The Tallahassee Live Steamers is a G Scale “Live Steam” sub-division and operates and maintains a 12 by 24 foot no scenery modular layout for the steam enthusiast. If you’re into running large trains without the use of electricity, then you’ll be right at home with this group. The division has just added a new Thomas sub-division incorporating Lionel Thomas the Tank Engine trains.
