2007 Convention: September Update

If you continually contribute expert dialog (unsolicited) to an otherwise undistracted Clinician – You may be an Obsessive-Compulsive Modeler. If your favorite libation at the Albany Pump Station is the (very telling) “Kick-Ass Brown”, you may feel a strong kinship with the Convention Chair. If you try to see all 25 Layouts on the Tour, driving 70 mph (except in the grease-bomb drive-thru lane) – favorite Railroad Hat scrunched down over your very cool shades, with a maniacal Jim Carrey grin on your face – well, you’re our kind of Guy, for whom we’ll all gladly chip in (for a monument in fond memory of).

Convention Headquarters

As of 9/18/07, there were 121 total registrants - and reports of a lot of “Last-Minute Larrys” yet-to-come - with a reserved room-count (for each night) of 34 Thursday, 82 Friday, and 78 Saturday. This is close to the maximum room numbers currently reserved for us, so Convention Overflow into adjacent rooms is being explored (at the same rates). [Errata: Contrary to a note on the initial Registration Summary (Confirmation) – a leftover from a previous Convention – there is a complimentary breakfast buffet at the Best Western with every night’s room reservation!]

General Clinics

See the adjacent schedule; several new presentations have been added. This list is still subject to change, since more repeats of clinics may be offered and other clinics are being pursued. Because of the advanced registration numbers - particularly the Thursday night room reservations - early Friday Clinics are now being organized. Clinic rooms have a capacity of at least 50 persons.

The Saturday Guided Bus and Car-Pool Tours

The Morning Port of Albany Tour, the Afternoon Amtrak Turbo Maintenance Facility Tour in Rensselaer, NY, the Morning Non-Rail Tour, and the Afternoon Erie Canal tour are still on our agenda.

Self-Guided Tours

See the adjacent schedule. Mike Ledley has had to withdraw, but three Layouts have been added to the Sunday Tour: The Rensselaer Model Railroad Society’s New England, Berkshire & Western (HO) is back in the mix at RPI in Troy, NY (thanks to some very dedicated alumni, coordinated by Kevin Endriss). Marcel Zucchino’s Adirondack Northern (HO) and his (G) Garden Railroad (weather permitting; perhaps also with a friend’s radio-controlled live-steam Mikado) are returning to the Line-up in Saratoga Springs, NY. Dean Foster – who returned to the area four years ago – has his Delaware & Hudson (2nd Subdivision) layout ready for visitors in North Bennington, VT. The Mapbooks are already being printed and delivered, so these new instructions will be placed in the Registration Packages at Check-in, along with other Corrections or Additions.

Due to expanding demand, Layout Operations have been extended to include Frank Czubryt’s Denver Union (O) and Bill McChesney’s Lehigh Valley (HO) on Thursday. The NER OpSig Coordinator is making the necessary adjustments, contacting registrants about the new alternatives. It is expected that even the 13 new positions will be taken before long.

Timetable of Hosts & Layouts

Download as a PDF.