I'm 60/40 at this point 60 not going and 40 going as it is about a 4-6 hour trip for me. I've never been to an NMRA event.
Well, this is not an NMRA event, rather the focus is N Scale only, so that, plus doing something you have never done before makes this a good bucket list checkoff item in life. And if you push your comfort zone to do the full experience, you will have a really great time. I have driven 12 hours to an event, and flown to several that are further than that just to enjoy model trains.
Antique and Street Rod shows - like Iola, WI - are much the same. I agree with you that we Lone Wolf's can learn a lot with your way. My way. Rich
All it takes is an ask, and we will be happy to find a room and a time for a Trainboard/UMTRR meetup or any other groups that want to put names, faces, and internet handles together.
Robert- this is pretty much why we started the conventions way back when. To make a safe place for all of us nerds and lone wolves to get together without fear or reprisal! I say that gently, as this is one of those places where folks that have a common interest that seems odd to outsiders can meet other folks with a similar bent, and share ideas and thoughts. It turns out, you can learn something from every encounter. And most folks that come to the convention are willing to share, they just might need a little prompting. I encourage everyone to give it a try. It's been a long time since we have been able to gather at all, much less in a focused N Scale environment!
we will be there have only missed 2 in the last 12 years or so The last few room sales have died or slowed down a lot as the public show is now 3 days were before was Saturday only. rich www.rslaserkits.com
An N Scale Convention is on my bucket list. Seems they are all way East of me. I will have to plan the Reno one when it comes around. Its a 13 hour drive...I should still be able to do that. Drove 12+ hour days when I drove a truck...lol.
I'll echo Robert's comments. I went to one, the Portland NSC show, and participated in the tours. I wish I did room sales, but funds were tight. The layout tours were EXCELLENT. I met several TB folks there, it was a gas!
George, other than an ask (which we are asking ), what else needs to be coordinated or done to make this happen?
Just drop me an email at george at nscaleenthusiast dot com and I'll get it set up.Who's going to be the lead contact for the event?
Wow, now we're an EVENT! (Is that anything like a "Major Award"?!?) I will be the contact for the UMTRR "Get A Room!" Since I am umtrr-author, after all... George J, I will e-mail you at the NSE so it's official.
The NSE tries to sequence East, Central, West, though it's also based on where the event can be scheduled and not be so expensive that there's no money left for trains...
We're official for a Trainboard/UMTRR Meetup just prior to the Welcome Reception on Wednesday of the convention. More to come... Thanks BNSF FAN for this idea and for helping to set it up! This should be fun!
Thanks George! Can't take credit for the idea but am happy to be part of putting this together. The folks at NSE have been very generous and set us up with a time slot of 6:30PM to 7:30PM on Wednesday June 15th. This is the hour before the Micro-Trains Line Reception. Like George said, "More to come..." so stay tuned
Good news and bad news... Good news: I have been asked to cover the event for a Major National Model Railroad Publication. Bad news: I don't think I can do that and handle a UMTRR meetup as well. So I'll instead be a participant at the TB meetup instead. I'll be the one trying to figure out how to use the digital camera.
I attended my first NTRAK National Convention in 1989 that was held in Houston at the same time as the NMRA National Convention. I went on layout tours, attended clinics and helped friends with their NTRAK modules. In 1993, NTRAK was back in Houston again and we debuted the Imperial Sugar modules. Later attended NTRAK conventions in Orlando and Atlanta (joint NMRA). 2001 in St. Louis, another joint one with NMRA. Then it was a few year before I made it to the NTRAK and N Scale Collectors that were in Shantilly, Virginia at the same time. My first exposure to room sales. Then the next was the joint convention of the Collectors and NTRAK at Louisville in 2008 or so. Then the Collectors wanted us in the Houston area to host a convention so some of us decided to go to the Collector Convention in Portland to see how it was done. (Ran into Hemi there) It was also in Portland where I got involved with BS sessions hosted by Kirk Ready in his room after room sales closed down. Some epic sessions that lasted well into the morning hours. The next year was Houston, actually Sugar Land, a mile or so from my house. Then Sacramento and Kansas City. I have had a blast at every one of them, with the tours, the fellowship, running trains, banquets, manufacturer's breakfasts and a little shopping. I never bought anything in the auctions but did sell a bunch.