Model Railroad Club honors President

Eric Wieberg, Committee Chairman, making presentation to Gordon Tuenge, President

At its annual luncheon last Saturday, the Tri-State Model Railroad Club honored its

President, Gordon Tuenge, by presenting him with a plaque and the first model of its newlyproduced HO-scale signature boxcar.

The car, custom-decorated for the club, celebrates the history of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad's "Old Line," which stretched from Marietta, Georgia to Etowah, Tennessee, and had a branch to Murphy, N.C.

In honoring Tuenge, the Club noted the accomplishments made during his leadership. They cited the increase in club activities and membership, the guidance from a small, informal group to the achievement of recognized status as a not-for-profit 501-C-3 organization, the building of a modular layout for display, the "Ride the Rails" fund-raisers to assist

in the restoration of the old Mineral Bluff Depot, and his negotiation of a contract with Fannin County to occupy the Depot upon its restoration and to build a large model railroad layout there for public display.

"Gordon has been tireless in his efforts on behalf of the Club and to further the awareness of model railroading in general," said a Club spokesman. "We're pleased that he will continue as President, and feel that this recognition is long overdue."

Tuenge is a retired New York Central and Norfolk Southern employee, and currently serves as a volunteer with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad.

The Club also heard a presentation on the activities of the

National Model Railroad Association given by Ron Gough, Master Model Railroader, and John Travis, both members of the Piedmont Division of the NMRA.

They also presented the details of the NMRA's Southeast Region Convention, to be held May 18-20, 2007, in Cartersville, Ga.

The Tri-State Model Railroaders meet the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Morganton, Ga.

Anyone interested in model railroading is invited to attend. For further information regarding the Club and its activities, contact Gordon Tuenge at 706- 455-8903.