Western Director
Lee Calkins resides in North Idaho with his wife and four children. A civil engineer by trade, Lee brings a passion for community building, education, and organization to model railroading. His personal modeling interests focus on the Union Pacific and Milwaukee Road operating through Idaho during the 1970s and 1980s, with a strong focus on Free-moN and modular modeling across multiple scales.
Lee has served in numerous leadership roles across the hobby, including NRail Treasurer, Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) Education Chair, and President of the N-Scale Events Group. He has led major modular layouts and events, such as the 8,000 sq. ft. Free-moN layout at the 2019 Salt Lake City National Train Show, the Operation Road Show layout at the 2023 Grapevine Convention, and the triennial Evanston N-Scale Weekend.
As Western District Director, Lee's mission is centered around service, family involvement, and expanding access to model railroading. Driven by his motto - "Come and See, Come and Play, Come and Learn, and Come and Stay" - he is dedicated to supporting local divisions, promoting education, and growing an inclusive, vibrant community for modelers of all skill levels across the NMRA.