I went to my first national model railroad convention in 1991. It was here in Bellevue. I had started an HO layout of Tennessee Pass and knew several local modelers I had met through a couple of local hobby shops and an occasional visit to the 4th Division clinic on Beacon Hill. But I did not know a lot of model railroaders.
That convention changed my whole approach to the hobby. It was a National Narrow Gauge Convention, but the emphasis was on great model building and interesting and impressive layouts. The models were beautifully built and detailed, the clinics were extremely helpful in improving my model building. I learned a lot about many railroads I had never heard of, and I met a lot of great modelers from all over the country and many from outside the US.
I now have a closet full of shirts from many conventions all over the US. And I have a closet full of unbuilt kits and shelves full of books and magazines. Best of all, I have a layout that runs and is fun to share with many who come over to operate.
This September, many of you will take advantage of the upcoming National Narrow Gauge Convention in Tacoma. You will meet and learn from some of the best modelers from across the world and you can see firsthand the latest in model kits and supplies from national vendors. Finally, you will have access to many fine area wide layouts seldom open to those of us who do not know the owner of the layout.
The convention is at the Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma September 1 through 4. The next one will be in Denver and then in Pittsburg. So, here is your last chance for a long while to have all this so handy in your area. There will be over 30 clinics and over 25 local layouts featuring many scales and prototypes. Details of the clinics and layouts are on the website and in the files section of the NNG.groups.io site.
There will also be several large modular layouts in the Atrium and vendor room at the hotel. These include the Hangman Creek Logging in On3, the Arizona Mudhens in Hon3and the Monson Sheepscot River Railroad in Maine In On30.
Take advantage of this fine opportunity.
Visit the Convention website for full details at 2022 National Narrow Gauge Convention (seattlenngc.com)
Russ,
Your experience should encourage all local modelers to attend the 2022 National Narrow Gauge Convention! It is rare for a national model railroad convention to be held in our area: an opportunity that should not be missed.
There are now 37 inspiring layouts on the Convention tour. They are in various stages of construction, so you can get ideas for building your own layout. Dale Kreutzer has done a great job of organizing the tour with area maps to aid in your planning and giving an accurate description of each layout so you will know in advance what you are going to see.
Don’t miss out! https://www.seattlenngc.com/
Roger Nulton