Layout Tours and Operations


Tours: There are over 25 layouts (all scales, home and club) that will be open for self-guided tours during the convention. The Convention Layout Tour Guidebook will provide details on each, directions, and maps to each one. We have tried to group them by area on each day so that you can see as many as possible. There will also be some layouts open on Sunday that you can see on the way home.
Operations: There are a number of layout operations sessions hosted by the Operations SIG that you may sign up to participate. See the list below for layouts and the schedule.

 
  • Layout Tours There are over 25 layouts (all scales, home and club) that will be open for self-guided tours during the convention. The Convention Layout Tour Guidebook will provide details and maps on each. For more detailed information about the layouts, and some representative photos, click here.
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  • Operations
    Model railroad operations refer to the movement of the model trains over the layout to simulate the practices of the prototype.  This simulation includes several of the operating positions seen on the prototype including an engineer, conductor, dispatcher or station agent.  The movement of the trains is usually controlled by some type of schedule and/or permission from the dispatcher or superintendent (owner).  The purpose is to make the model railroad feel like an integral part of a nationwide rail system by moving merchandise and passengers over the line and connecting with points off of the modeled portion of the railroad through interchange and staging. Each railroad will have its own unique operating scheme and system depending on the type of railroad modeled.
  • Model Railroad Operating sessions are planned for every day of the Convention. (For descriptions and photos, click here. ) These sessions are restricted to a set number of operators, so sign up early by clicking here to send an email to the Convention Operations Coordinator once you have registered for the convention. You do not have to be an experienced operator to join these sessions - just be a person interested in operating a layout, and willing to learn. There will be a clinic on Thursday morning for all those signed up to operate to go over the layouts, how they operate, and the "rules of the road". Below is a list of currently scheduled sessions. AM = 9:00AM to 12:00 Noon, PM = 1:00PM to 4:00PM, NT = 6:00PM to 9:00PM. # Column is maximum number of operators at a session. If you do not make it on a session list, watch the bulletin board at the Company Store for late openings or changes.

    		•
    Day
    		Layout Scale
    #
      Wednesday
    NT
    		 Pacific Desert Lines, SDMRRM
    N
    25
      Thursday
    PM
    		 Snow Creek Railroad (Bob Treat)
    G
    6
       
    PM
    		 Gopher Canyon Line (Steve Seidensticker)
    G
    10
       
    NT
    		 Southern Mountain Railroad (Don Mitchell)
    HO
    4
      Friday
    AM
    		 Short Track MRRC, MG&SEM (complete with hot dog lunch)
    N
    15
       
    PM
    		 Pacific Desert Lines, SDMRRM
    N
    25
       
    NT
    		 Pennsylvania and Reading Seashore Lines (Max Schwanda)
    O
    6
      Saturday
    AM
    		 Nevada County Railroad (Dick Roberts)
    HO
    8
       
    AM
    		 Tehachapi Pass - La Mesa MRRC, SDMRRM (all day)
    HO
    U
       
    PM
    		 Coyote Pass and Northern (Dick Trotter)
    HO
    8
      Sunday
    PM
    		 North County Model Railroad Society, Oceanside
    HO
    10