The old MRH Members map

Dear Nevin,

There used to be an interactive "MRH Members Map", but only this still-image
(with limited Zoom-in capability) still exists...

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/15733?page=15#comment-331891

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Ops Sig

Have you joined Ops Sig? Yearly membership is $10 for online magazines. And the ops Sig group has a listing of members interested in ops. 

Pre Coivd, I drove 3 hours  (200 miles) one way to participate in Ops. Ops were 5-7 hours so in my mind as long as the op session equals or is greater than the drive I'm good.

https://www.opsig.org/join/

Hobby Shop nearby....

in the Liberty Square Shopping Center at State Route 74 and I-64? Teays Valley Hobby & Crafts?

At least there used to be one there. I've stopped there on my journey between Cincinnati and Charlottesville, VA. Go right through Point Pleasant on the way!

Good luck!

NMRA benefit

I've been an NMRA member mainly for the Division level connections. Twelve years ago, I moved from West Virginia to metro Cleveland. A couple years later, I moved to the mid Hudson Valley in New York, then to far west Texas in El Paso. Now I'm in middle Tennessee. All along the way, the contacts I've made with local NMRA members led to operating sessions and local operators helping with my layout.

Craig mentioned the OpSig bunch and that is another avenue to pursue. Clubs, hobby shops, and email lists can increase your network of local modelers. I know a nice layout in Charleston, WV, hosts operating sessions every month. Maybe work with the crew there to get things rolling on your layout.

Eric

Ratio of Reward

Much like Craig T.  I'll drive 2-4 hours one-way from north central Indiana to participate in numerous sessions.  Indy, Chicagoland, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Cincy, Lima, Toledo, metro Detroit...they all hold 5+ hour sessions, with most being more like 7-8.  The running trains time vs drive time is a + ratio for sure, but the layouts themselves make the trips worthwhile. Most of them have been magazine published and are geared 100% around operations.  The camaraderie makes the trips that much better.  

A 2 hour drive for a 2 hour session may be pushing it to get interested parties.  I'd probably do it once just to do it, and the experience would dictate future trips.  It's like going to see a favorite performer or a favorite band, the drive is worth it if the experience rewards it so. 

Good wishes for your build.

More than you think

There are a lot of people probably in any given area than you'd likely think. I live in a pretty rural area, but there's a model railroader just down the street from me, about 5 houses away, but he's not into ops. There's another guy less than a mile away, a pal of mine who helped me with my track plan and wiring. But neither are NMRA members or spend any time on forums (which is why I wouldn't bother suggesting checking with the local NMRA region, as I think few people in the hobby are members, though it wouldn't be a bad place to start if you haven't tried that already). The guy down the street saw my name in a letter to the editor in MR a while back and cornered me when I was test driving my WW2 Jeep down the street going back past his house, to ask if that was me.

So, there's the chance encounter. You might ask the local art supply places and ask to put up a flyer there? If there are any local hobby stores anywhere in the area, do the same and ask the people there if they know anyone in your area. If you're lucky, you'll find "that guy" who seems to know everyone in the area. That's how I started realizing who was in the area in the hobby and got into ops with those guys.

Seek & Find

Join the NMRA on a RailPass. It costs $19.95 for 9 months membership.  Trial Membership | National Model Railroad Association (nmra.org  This allows you to do many things. You can attend any convemtion. Get some great discounts from many vendors, since you live in a remote area you will find this very helpful for mail orders. You can get help from other members. You can find region officers who may be able to direct youto members closer to you. You can join Op-Sig and find out where operators are. You can join the Layout Design SIG for help planning your layout.

Excellent ideas

These are all really good ideas.  I appreciate it.  Thanks to everyone.  

OpSig...

As others have mentioned, check out the nearby NMRA divisions, join OpSig, etc.  The best way to find operators is to be an operator yourself.  Get out to op sessions and you'll find your operators. 

Randy

@RSeiler As others have

Though I am an NMRA member and like the local region, not all regions are the same and I'm sure that a very small percentage of model railroaders are members.

The "good old boy" network is the best thing, but the guy has to find them to tap into that info. Hence, his problem.

That's his primary issue, that he can't find any local guys to get into the op sessions to find any others. Once someone finds "that guy" who always seems to know everyone in the hobby, the problem is solved. But getting there, well...

There was a mention of a club a long distance away. I'd recommend contacting them anyway, to see if they know anyone in specific area. A club might have "that guy" who knows folks in the region.

the first time i

Knew most of my locaal MRs were MRs was when i saw them at the nearest show, 120 miles away.  that was pre-internet, but even now, most of them aren't on the web for the most part.  So yes, it can be a real problem.

Try This

The president of the NMRA's Mid Central Region lives in Charleston, is very into operation, used to operate on a layout in Gallipolis (prior to that layout owner passing away) and is a very nice guy.  I recommend contacting him and discussing your problem.  Contact info is on the region's website:

https://www.nmra.org/regions/mid-central-region

Bob Bartizek