Advancing Model Railroading
in Texas and Louisiana
Our Mission
The Lone Star Region of the NMRA exists to promote the hobby of model railroading. We strive to educate the public about model railroading and encourage its growth throughout our area, which includes most of the states of Texas and Louisiana.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and part of the worldwide National Model Railroad Association community, we help modelers learn, connect, and enjoy “the world’s greatest hobby.”
Whether you’re new to model railroading or a longtime modeler, we’re here to support you.
Latest News
- The latest issue of The Marker Lamp is now online! See the happenings at Connections 2026, learn about basic wiring and electronics for your layout, and more.
- Photos of the 2026 LSR Convention Contest Winners are now online. Check out all of the outstanding winners!
- Our new Events Calendar is now online. Look for an event near you, and submit events to get the word out.
- Back issues of The Marker Lamp through 2004 and many clinics are now online. Enjoy!
- Congratulations to our newest officers and committee chairs, who took office on May 14.
How to Get Involved
1
Find Some Friends
The LSR is divided into Divisions, where all the action happens. Find your Division and see first-hand what NMRA membership is all about.
2
Join the NMRA
Membership in the NMRA has dozens of benefits, including discounts, education, and special events. Join today!
3
Stay in the Know
The LSR sends updates about events and publishes a quarterly magazine online, the Marker Lamp. Sign up for our email list to get notified.
2027 Convention
Join us in the Dallas area for the 2027 Lone Star Region NMRA Convention. The North Star Express will be June 17-19, 2027.
More details and our website will be published soon. Save the date!
Read the Latest
Marker Lamp
The June 2026 issue of The Marker Lamp is now available online, featuring these topics and more:
- Connections Made at the 2026 LSR Convention
- Using Blunami Decoders
- Basic Electronics and Wiring for the F&N
- Steve Sandifer’s Howard Branch
Click to read or download this issue or earlier issues today!
Recent Contest Winners
Click here to view the contest winners from the 2026 LSR NMRA Convention, which was held in Austin, Texas. View outstanding models ranging from full trains, to photographs, to buildings (like the Best in Show winner, the D&RGW Parlor Car, by Russell Gifford, shown above).
Get Started in Model Railroading
Model Railroading is Fun!
It truly is the world’s best hobby, with something for everyone, including model-building, electronics, woodworking, animation, creating scenery, 3D printing, doing historical research, operating trains, and more. Don’t worry if you don’t want to do it all, you can easily find your niche. Learn more about the hobby here.
Learn the Basics
Ready to jump in but not sure where to start? The NMRA has a great Beginner’s Guide to help with that. There’s also a great beginner’s column in The Marker Lamp.
Keep Advancing
There are plenty of other educational resources available as well, including the NMRA Achievement Program and the NMRA YouTube channel featuring NMRAx. The LSR also hosts dozens of clinics here on our website on a wide array of topics.
