Enjoy this scenic approximate 2 hour round trip ride on the historic Heber Creeper. We travel through the south end of the Heber Valley, and around the Deer Creek Reservoir.This is a pre-convention event. Meet at the Heber Valley RR Depot, 450 South 600 West, Heber City, UT 84032.
Two Clinics or three morning Narrow Gauge Layout Tours. See below for more information.
Two Clinics or four afternoon Layout Tours in the Clinton/Syracuse area. See below for more information.
Up to six people can join Bob and Karin Gerald to operate their Milwaukee Road N-scale railroad. See details below
Two Clinics or three morning Layout Tours in the West Jordan area. See below for more information.
Two Clinics or three afternoon Layout Tours in the Layton/Centerville area. See below for more information.
Up to seven people can join Doug Jolley operate his Denver & Rio Grande Western Sn3 railroad. See details below.
Take guided tours through the Stadler Rail US manufacturing facility where they are building commuter rail cars for CalTrain and other rail systems. There will also be a mini Train Show with some local modular layouts. See details below.
Get yourself up to Promontory Summit to see and/or take part in the reenactment of the driving of the Golden Spike at the completion of the transcontinental rail system. See details below.
Hear Martin Ritter, CEO Stadler Rail US tells us about Stadler Rail involvement in commuter rail and light rail projects around the world.
See Lee Nicholas' nationally acclaimed Utah Colorado Western HO-scale railroad. See details below.
Meet with Martin Saturday Afternoon at 2:00 to learn about Stadler Rail
General Fare for all four days or only one.
Spouse and Children Fare for all four days on only one.
Open to folks presenting a Clinic, layout owner hosting a Tour or Ops Session, Convention Committee members, and identified Volunteers.
Heber Valley RR - Wednesday 5 June - 2:30 PM
Get yourself up to Heber City, Utah to take a ride on the Deer Creek Express (Departs at 3:30 PM)This is a pre-convention event. Meet at the Heber Valley RR Depot, 450 South 600 West, Heber City, UT 84032.This approximately 90 minute trip offers incredible views of the Wasatch Mountains, the wide-open vistas of Deer Creek Reservoir, and the beautiful Heber Valley. The Deer Creek Express departs from the depot, follows the shores of Deer Creek Reservoir to Decker Bay (about 7 track miles), and returns.Snacks are available for purchase in the depot prior to boarding and on board the train.You will be met by one of our local volunteers to get your ticket and help you board the train.More info at: https://www.hebervalleyrr.org/calendar/If a reduced fare becomes available, you will be refunded the difference.
Clinic Blue 1 - Thursday, 6 June, 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM
Kevin Anderson, MMR Signal Aspects and IndicationsDescription: Ever wondered what those signal colors mean that you see along the railroad right of way?Come find out what an aspect (signal color) is and the indication to go with it from a currentAmtrak conductor.
Clinic Blue 2 - Thursday, 6 June, 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Jon Parsons, AzatraxRailroad Signaling for Modelers and RailfansWhat do those colored lights along the railroad tracks mean, and how can I add some to my layout? In this clinic John Parsons introduces North American railroad signal practices, then compares different methods of detecting trains on a model railroad and how to construct a working signal system.John is the owner of Azatrax, a company the produces and sells model railroad train detection and signaling electronics.
Thursday Morning Layout Tours - Narrow Gauge - 9:00 AM to Noon
Self Directed Tours (there ain't no bus Gus) A map and directions will be provided.Doug Jolley -Sn3 -Denver & Rio Grande Western, 3rd Division.Doug’s D&RGW, 3rd Division is a multilevel Sn3 layout recreating the Rio Grande’s line from Gunnison to Ridgeway including the large dual gauge yard of Montrose in 1955. While the line was abandoned by 1950, the model assumes that it was kept in service due to a couple of freelanced connections that add extra operating potential. The layout occupies an 18 X 42 foot room and contains many scratch built structures, several of which have full interior detail. All track work is hand laid including switches. Many of his smooth running steam engines have sound decoders installed.Mark Evans - Sn3 - Rio Grande Southern.Mark’s double-deck narrow gauge railroad occupies an area of 14 X 38 feet, with a helix connecting the two levels. It models the portion of the RGS from Ridgeway to Vance junction where the branch to Telluride starts plus a reverse loop that represents Ophir and points south. Track is hand laid and ore that 70% complete. The excellent structures are both kit and scratch built as well as many scratch built pieces of rolling stock. Locomotive are all from PBL.Gregg Cudworth - Nn3 - Rio Grande Southern.Layout Description: Gregg’s double deck Nn3 layout fills a 40 X 50 foot basement. He chose N scale because he wanted to model big scenes rather than big models. All trackwork, including switches, is handlaid using code 30 rail on PCB and wood ties resting on Masonite spline roadbed. Eventually ther will be about 650 feet of mainline starting at 36 inches on the lower level and reaching 66 inches on the upper level. The structures are a mix of scratch built and laser cut kits. The scenery is formed using carved foam as a base covered with cast plaster rocks, ground foam and dirt texturing. Trees are made using sage brush armatures covered with polyfiber and ground foam. Motive power is either scratch built or kits. Rolling stock is a mixture of MicroTrains and resin and etched brass kits. Track and scenery is about 25% complete
Model Contest Setup
Bring some of your best work to be judged per NMRA standards as well as public favorites.See the writeup in the Rocky Mountain Region Call Board at:https://sites.google.com/view/callboardspring2024/the-contest-chair-2You can get the necessary forms (901, 902, and Judges Guide at: https://www.nmra.org/celebration-contests-3
Clinic Blue 3 - Thursday, 6 June, 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM
Landon Wilkey, The curator of Historic Wendover Airfield will offer a brief railroad history of Wendover Army Air Base in World War II. He will then address how the model railroad community has brought new engagement to the museum and historic site.
Clinic Blue 4 - Thursday 6 Jun, 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM
Blaine Holbrook - Northern Utah DivisionPlaster CarvingLearn the ins and outs of carving plaster to look like realistic cliffs, rocks and mountain scenery.
Thursday Afternoon Layout Tours - Clinton/Syracuse - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Self Directed Tours - A map and directions will be provided.Rob Spangler - HO - Western Pacific, 8th Subdivision - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PMRob’s layout is a proto-freelanced extension of the Western Pacific set in Utah in 1978-1982 era. The layout is approximately 30 X 30 feet. Scenery is outstanding with a custom painted backdrop. There are many large scratch built and kit bashed buildings. The layout has two levels with a lower deck staging yard and a branch line. Construction details include the use of structural backdrops to reinforce the 60 foot long serpentine peninsula. Rob uses code 83, 70 and 55 flex track, and NCE DCC for control.James Gronwald - HO - Denver & Rio Grande Western - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PMJames models the D&RGW coal hauling in the Soldier Summit area of Utah in the 1950-60’s era. The room is a basement room 14 X 20 feet with a dogleg of 13 X 19 feet. He has about 300 feet of double track main line. James has done some outstanding hand carved mountain scenery. Back drops are hand painted. In May or 2013 James started construction of the second phase of the layout, which includes the Salt Lake City area and industrial sidings. This area is about the same size as his first phase.Steve Blodgett - HO - Bear River RR - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PMSteve’s Bear River RR is a fictitious short line connecting the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific in the 1880’s. The basement train room is 28 X 12 feet, with round the room bench work and a central peninsula. The railroad travels through towns, farmland, mountains and canyons. Structures are either kits, kit-bashed, or scratch built representing the era around the 1880’s in the Western United States. Steve runs both freight and passenger service. All 200 feet of track is hand laid. The layout is at eye level with plenty of footstools to stand on.Mickey Braun - HO - Freelanced RR.This layout is 17 x 22 feet with over 200 feet of mainline track on two levels. The layout is freelanced using mostly Union Pacific locomotives in the modern era. He runs primarily freight with an occasional Front Runner train.
Ops Session 1 Milwaukee Road - Thursday 6 June, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Self Directed Tours - A map and directions will be provided.Bob and Karin Gerald's N-scale Milwaukee Road in Northern Idaho in 1955. I would like to hold a TT&TO session if enough people with at least an understanding of that kind of dispatching sign up (9 people max). Operations use an NCE system for control with a car card and waybill system. Layout has a working ABS signaling system.Additional information: Bob and Karin Gerald's Milwaukee Road — Layout Design Special Interest Group (https://www.ldsig.org/geraldmilwaukee)$5 fee is refunded if you show up and participate.
Clinic Yellow 1 - Friday 7 June, 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM
David Seeley - Northern Utah DivisionWeatheringWeathering is more then just splattering brown paint on your models. I'm going to try to show there are rules to weathering to make it look right. I spent 21 years working at Kennecott working on and driving the big trucks in the mine. I have seen a lot of equipent get beat up and I have tried to use the same approch on my models. There are only a few simple steps to follow and you can make your models look just like they have seen years of service on your railroad. I also try to show that the track and buildings and even the ground can show signs of weathering also.
Clinic Yellow2 - Friday, 7 June, 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Matt Darling, Curator Cross Orchards Historic SiteUintah RailroadMatt Darling is the Curator of Cross Orchards Historic Site, which is owned and operated by the Museums of Western Colorado. Matt has worked with the Museums of Western Colorado since Dec 2015, starting as an unpaid volunteer. He has studied Colorado railroad history for most of his life. Born in Lafayette, Colorado, he began building scale model trains at age six. He has lived in Grand Junction since 1981 and holds a bachelor’s degree in U. S. History from Mesa State College. As an avid hiker, he has explored many abandoned and active railroad grades of both Colorado and Utah.His clinic is a photo tour of the Uintah Railway, one of the steepest, most crooked narrow gauge railroads in the US. With many photos from the Museums of Western Colorado Archives. Plus, some of the artifacts that remain of this unique piece of narrow gauge railroad history.
Friday Morning Layout Tours - West Jordan - 9:00 AM to Noon
Self Directed Tours - A map and directions will be provided.Willard Johnson - HO - Jordan Valley CentralThe Jordan Valley Central is a short line railroad that services the local industries in the Salt Lake area in the 1960’s with a modeler’s license to run an occasional steam engine. Main line action is based on the WP and DRGW who interchange east-west traffic in Salt Lake City. Through trains do a power and caboose change out at Baker Yard then continue on to the Shelly yard to set out/pick up the JVC local traffic. The layout features many nicely constructed kit and kitbashed buildings.Jim Hoeppner - HO - Colorado & Great WesternJim’s Colorado and Great Western is a multilevel freelanced layout based on the DRGW set in the 1970’s. All of the place names on the layout are actual stations on the DRGW but there is no attempt to accurately model any of the locations. The layout fills a 22 X 33 foot basement with the upper level going over the entrance door to avoid any duckunders. The scenery is 100% complete and has many well detailed scenes to see. There is a fully functional CTC signaling system installed that is controlled by CMRI hardware and JMRI.Bob & Karin Gerald - N - Milwaukee RoadBob and Karin’s Milwaukee Road is a multilevel N scale layout recreating the Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and Pacific Railroad’s mail line through Northern Idaho in 1955. All location on the layout are actual stations on the line, but only St Maries and Avery are reasonable recreations of the locations, with some selective compression. All other locations have had many industries added to enhance the play value during operating sessions. The layout occupies two rooms, the main room is 17 X 12 feet and the other is 11 X 12 feet. The scenery is 90% complete with several thousand homemade pine trees filling the mountain sides. There is a fully functional ABS signal system.
Clinic Yellow 3 - Friday, 7 June, 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM
Mark Riviea - Northern Utah DivisionThe Cyprus Route - Helix UpdateThe Cypress Route is a prototype-based HO scale layout inspired by the Seaboard Coast Line's Columbia Subdivision prior to May 1, 1971. This territory extended from Columbia, SC to Savannah, GA.Construction of the layout began one year ago with building the 9-foot high helix that will transport trains between three layout levels. To reveal hidden trains traveling the grade, the fascia has been opened to reveal several signature scenes as shadow boxes and ring extensions. Peeks into and around the helix reveal a busy interlocking plant, a large freight shipping port, a derailment clean-up with its still-smoldering forest fire, and another scene yet to be determined.Come see my progress so far, and my plans for the future!
Clinic Yellow 4 - Friday, 7 June, 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM
Jim Wanlass, MMR - Northern Utah DivisionCustom Built TurnoutsWatch as a custom hand-built turnout is made live! Ask questions and learn about tools, supplies and a few tips to help make building your own custom turnouts easier and with better results.
Friday Afternoon Layout Tour - Layton/Centerville - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Self Directed Tours - A map and directions will be provided.Kent Holbrook - HO - FreelancedKent’s layout is in a basement room that is 16 x 38 feet and it fills the whole room. The double mainline is 238’ long (476’ of total mainline track) that is designed for running modern Union Pacific trains. The entire layout is DC operation using Aristocraft wireless controllers, with manual ground throws on all switches. The bench work and track work are complete with scenery over 90% complete. Track and switches are code 83 with brown ties. The layout has very large radius curves to accommodate long rolling stock and passenger cars. Kent prefers children be over 12 years of age, unless accompanied and held in arms or closely supervised by an adult.Bill Hughes - HO - Union PacificBill models a freelanced UP line that runs along the south side of the Uintah Mountains from Denver via Craig to Park City then Ogden. The layout room is 18 X 18 feet. It is double decked with an eight track, double ended staging yard and a 2.5 turn helix. Scenery included the City of Rock Ridge and farm scenes on the lower level. Motive power is all diesel heading freight trains, with the occasional City of Ogden passenger train. The layout is controlled by an NCE DCC system.Warren Johnson - HO - Union PacificWarren’s layout is 11 X 30 feet with approximately 230 feet of mainline. The time frame is 1966 to 1999 when Warren worked for the Union Pacific. The layout is designed for running trains, with minimal operations. It is 99% finished.
Ops Session 2 - D & RGW 3rd Division - Friday 7 June 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Self Directed Tours - A map and directions will be provided.Doug Jolley’s D&RGW, 3rd Division is a multilevel Sn3 layout recreating the Rio Grande’s line from Gunnison to Ridgeway including the large dual gauge yard of Montrose in 1955. While the line was abandoned by 1950, the model assumes that it was kept in service due to a couple of freelanced connections that add extra operating potential. The layout occupies an 18 X 42 foot room. Operation on the D&RGW is basically done in a chronological order using car cards. Included is a daily passenger run, a daily freight, a coal run, and a stock extra. Several locals are included, as well. Operation on this railroad is relatively new and still undergoing refinements.Additional Information: Doug Jolley's D&RGW Third Division — Layout Design Special Interest Group (https://www.ldsig.org/jolleydrgw)$5 fee is refunded if you show up and participate.
Ogden Railroad Museum
Self Directed Tours - A map and directions will be provided.Any Day - At your leisure. Take Trax from the Airport to downtown and FrontRunner up to the Ogden Railroad Museum an your own pace. Expect to pay $5.00 for a Day Pass on Trax, another $5.00 for a roundtrip ticket on the FrontRunner to Ogden Station, an $7.00 Museum Admission Fee.For more info visit: https://ogdencity.com/2713/Utah-State-Railroad-Museum
Stadler Rail US Public Open House and Mini Train Show
All day Saturday, 8 June.Staler Rail US is a multinational company that constructs commuter rail cars (such as CalTrain and other rail systems). You can take guided tours and see the mini Train Show.The Train Show will showcase the modular layouts of the Wasatch N-Scale Model Railroad Club and the Ophir Tintic & Western Model Railroad Club, as well as the Northern Utah Lego User Group (NUT-LUG).More info at: https://stadlerrail.com/en/about-us/locations/stadler_us_inc/26/
Presentation of Model Contest Awards
Saturday AM - 9:00 AM to 10:30 AMCelebrating the accomplishments of some very fine modelers.
Green 2 - Saturday 8 June - 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Roy Stevens3D Printing
Golden Spike Reenactment at Promontory Summit
Self-guided tour to Golden Spike National Historic Park at Promontory Summit to Observe and/or take part in the reenactment of the driving of the Golden Spike upon the completion of the transcontinental rail system by the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads.Allow approximately an hour and a half travel time. Programs start at 10:30 AM and again at 1:00 PM.Go to: https://www.nps.gov/gosp/planyourvisit/index.htmto get more information to help make your visit more successful.Expect to pay $20.00 per vehicle and bring your own lunch.
Saturday Layout Tour - Utah Colorado Western - Saturday Jun 8 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Self Directed Tours - A map and directions will be provided.Lee Nicholas' - HO Scale - UCW, set in 1967, runs between Salt Lake and Denver both of which are located in staging. The layout features many large scratchbuilt and kitbashed buildings. The scenery is excellent and has a custom painted backdrop. The CB&Q is well represented running from Casper, WY to Denver, CO, both located in staging. It runs parallel with the UCW and train movements are controlled by ABS. Live interchange between the UCW and CB&Q occurs at Clayton Yard.The UCW has been featured in MR, MRP, and GMR Keller video #27.Additional Information: Lee Nicholas' Utah Colorado Western — Layout Design Special Interest Group (https://www.ldsig.org/lee-nicholas-utah-colorado-western)
Keynote Spreaker
Saturday Jun 8 at 2:00 PMMartin Ritter, CEO Stadler Rail US will address us with the story behind Stadler, a Swiss maker of commuter rail cars, and its US branch here in Salt Lake City.
Bling available via Daylight Sales
Will be offering Polo Shirts, Coffee Mugs, and Ball Caps with the RMR 2024 logo.The shirts are Sports Authority branded Pocket Polo, available in a couple of colors. Prices start at $32.49 (sizes above XL cost a bit more).The Hats are black ball caps with the Convention Logo and go for $14.95Beverage Cups with the Convention Logo go for $9.99 each.Look for a link to Daylight Sales by May 1st. If you can't wait that long, you can call in your order at (916) 925-4449. Ask for Rocky Mountain Region Convention merchandise.Watch this space for link
Your generosity will go towards the Northern Utah Division, NMRA Pizza Box Layout Program.
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