This informative newsletter features the latest news and stories from the Twin Cities Division of the Thousand Lakes Region. We have a busy Division so check out our Facebook page for updates and more news. Our Facebook is called the “Twin Cities Division of the NMRA”.
You can download PDF files of previous Crossing Gate Newsletters here. To stay up-to-date with club news, visit our Facebook Page.
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- January – March 2023 – Spring Update
- October-December 2022 — Operations Retreat 1 report
- July-Sept 2022 — MMR #703 and more
- April-June 2022 — Modelers Meet 2022 report, TLR Convention 2022
- Jan-Mar 2022 — Modeler’s Meet is Back
- Oct-Dec 2021 — It is Fall. It is Modeling Season.
- July-Sept 2021 — Summer of change
- April-June 2021 — Upcoming plans for May, TLR convention
- Winter 2020 — Meeting online in the time of COVID, Plans for January and February.
- Spring 2019 — Railroad Modeler’s Retreat, Lester Breuer’s Modeling, Spring Layout Tours, TCD Final Season Meeting Minutes
- Winter 2018-2019 — Narrow Gauge Convention, MN&S Meet, Old Cabooze Kits
- Summer/Fall 2018 — TCD at 2018 NMRA Convention; Peggy Lee, Depot Agent; Caboose Lighting; May 10 Minutes
- Spring 2018 — Ed Petry’s Sierra Railroad, Lester Breuer Blogs on Improving Cars, Volunteer for Nat’l Narrow Gauge Convention, Instant Aging Juice, European Trains
- Winter 2017 — TCD meets with MN&S fans, Small European Layouts, cont., Meet Richard Webb, Get Inside Modeling Contests
- Fall 2017 — TCD Fall Tour, Small European Layouts, North Metro layout
- Summer 2017 — TCD Spring Tour, Meet Kevin Foley, Mike Engler wins at TLR (again), Trains at German American Institute, TCD Schedule for 2017-18
- Spring 2017 — Modelers’ Retreat, Tool Shed, Painting Figures, Threshing Machine, TCD Contest Winners
- Winter 2016 — TCD Fall Tour, TCD Visits Newport, Using Sign Kit, Meet Ev Smith
- Fall 2016 — Results of TCD Survey, Tie Replacement Scene on Layout, New TCD schedule for 2016-17
- Summer 2016 — TCD Board Calls for New Thinking on Programming, TCD Spring Layout Tours, TCD Contest Winners
- Spring 2016 — 2nd Annual Retreat, Lighted Snowplow, Readying New Cars, Rusting Cars, Meet Jane & Martin Carlson
- Winter 2015 — TCD Fall Tour, Part 2 of Voltage Spikes on DCC Layouts, Meet John Ehresmann
- Fall 2015 — TCD Layout Project for 2015-16, Intro. to Voltage, Spikes on DCC Layouts, and Meet Jules Loipersbeck
- Summer 2015 — TCD Spring Home Layout Tour, Meet John Niemeyer, Randolph RR Days & Menomonie Meet, and TCD Contest Winners
- Spring 2015 — TCD’s Winter RR Retreat, Les Breuer on Brakes, and Meet Bill Dredge
- Winter 2014 — Three Layouts on Tour, North Metro Layout Grows, and Meet David Herbert
- Fall 2014 — New RR Museum to Open to Public
- Summer 2014 — TLR Convention, TCD Contest, and Meet Larry Vanden Plas
- Spring 2014 — Island Paradise in Central America
- Winter 2013 — Skyscraper Art, Tool Corner, and Meet John Thomas
- Fall 2013 — Long Distance Switching Action
- Summer 2013 — Convention Follow-up and Skyscraper Art
- Spring 2013 — Programming a decoder, Trollies, and The Convention Comes to Town!
- Winter 2012 — Staging yards, DCC, and the Hennepin Overland
- Fall 2012 — Ironhorse, Hobo signs, and the End-o’-Line
- Summer 2012 — Spring layout tour, skyscrapers, AP certificates, and even MORE contest winners!
- Spring 2012 — Gapless expansion joints, tarpaper roofs, and more contest winners
- Winter 2011 — Layout tour recap, contest winners, Scratchbuilt warehouse completion
- Fall 2011 — Fall layout tours, Lighting Al’s Diner, Scratchbuild a warehouse: Part 3
- Summer 2011 — TCD Layout tours, scratchbuild a warehouse: part 2, Al’s Diner, lighting your caboose
- Spring 2011 — TCD Programs, HO Genesis engine revamp, scratchbuild a warehouse, “Dead Man’s Throttle” on Digitraxx
- Winter 2010 — Fall layout tour recap, TLR 2011 Convention, Living above the depot, Golden Spike information
- Fall 2010 — NMRA 75, TLR 2011 Convention, TCD 2011 Season and Tours
- Summer 2010 — NMRA 75, TLR 2010 Convention
- Spring 2010 — NMRA 75, ATCS, Part 2
- Winter 2009 — Galloping Goose, ATCS Monitor-Introduction
- Fall 2009 — Fall layout tours, Trainfest 2009
- Summer 2009 — TLR Convention recap, Tell-tales for your railroad
- Spring 2009 — Winter layout tours, Convention
- Winter 2008 — TLR Conventon, hilltop structures
- Fall 2008 — Anaheim awards to TCD members, layout storage, recap of layout tours
- Summer 2008 — TLR Convention recap, publication of new Bylaws and membership changes
- Spring 2008 — Perske remembrance, layout tools, call for discussion of membership
- Winter 2007 — Membership & Bylaw changes proposed
- Fall 2007 — 2007 NMRA Convention report, layout tour pictures
- Summer 2007 — Changes for the TCD, trip to the National Railway Museum, Business Meeting Minutes, layout tour pictures
- Spring 2007 — 25 years of the TCD, part 2 of engine performance, peeling paint, spring layout tours, TLR ’07 Convention recap
- Winter 2006 — Moving to Mill City Museum, TLR ’07 primer, more modeling tips & tricks, engine performance
- Fall 2006 — Modeling tips, Wayzata depo, new Superintendent
- Summer 2006 — Division at the Crossroads, Proposed By-Law changes
- Spring 2006 — Railroading for young people, Kalmbach Memorial Library, Pike Registry
- Winter 2005 — Auction results, TLR Convention primer, new members
- Fall 2005 — Layout tours, vacationing by rail, December auction
- Summer 2005 — Upcoming changes for TCD/ Mounting Switch Control Boxes/ Almeda & Indian Beach Operation
- Spring 2005 — The Life and Death of Glouster Depot/ Light Rail’s Final Leg Opens/ Spring layout tours
- Winter 2004 — A steamy summer for the Grand Excursion 2004 / Light Rail’s Opening Day / Errors in kit design & workmanship
- Fall 2004 — A Ride on the Minnesota Prairie Lines / Looking for Non-Rails / Seen on the Internet
- Summer 2004 — Special Business Meeting / Proposed By-Law Amendments / TCD Rideshare Program / 3 Division Members win at TLR convention
- Spring 2004 — A founder looks back at the early TCDivision years / A young modeler’s view of the future / A brief history of the TCDivision
- Winter 2003 — A tour of MTC’s Light Rail Maintenance Base / Great American Train Show Model Contest winners / A look at the Achievement Program
- Fall 2003 — Maple Leaf 2003 Convention Report / Railroad Club at the U of M / A quilt shop in an old depot
- Summer 2003 — New monthly meeting location / TCD visits the 261 / NMRA model contest at GATS