your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
While we were saddened to cancel the live in-person convention we were all looking forward to, the members of the Pacific Coast Region are pleased to announce that planning for a substitute multi-day video virtual event is well underway.
Scheduled to run from Tuesday, July 6 through Saturday, July 10, 2021, this five-day event will mix live and recorded events, including, but not limited to:
Each convention day will run from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Pacific Daylight Time. Most content will be recorded and available for playback for a period of two weeks after the original live presentation. A dedicated team of volunteers is working to make this a great convention, all for a cost of just $49.00.
The committee expects to cooperate with the successful NMRAx virtual meeting team.
The planning committee draws members from 21st Century Limited, a California nonprofit corporation that successfully ran NMRA's highly regarded San Jose 2001 and Sacramento 2011 national conventions, as well as local modelers and operators. Pacific Coast Region of the National Model Railroad Association, Inc. is also a co-sponsor of Rails by the Bay.
More detailed information is expected to be released by April 2021.
Current Plans Include:
Video Clinics
We have a clinic by Frank Markovich MMR(r) who will describe building parts of the "Magic of Scale Model Railroading" exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the capital city of California. More to come...
Video Layout Tours
We'll also be offering pre-recorded video layout tours, coupled with live moderated Q&A sessions with layout owners. You'll virtually visit the top-quality layouts of modelers like Jack Burgess, MMR(r), Guy Cantwell, Dave Connery, MMR(r), Bill Decker, Dave Houston, Otis McGee, Dave Stanley, and more. Visit the Layout Tours page for more information.
Model Show
We're also developing an online, photo-based model show to showcase the models you've built in the past year, with a "Meet the Modeler" panel so you can chat about your techniques.
Special Interest Groups
Interested in layout design? We'll offer a complete Layout Design SIG program including videos of LDSIG-oriented layouts, and a panel discussion about lessons learned and layout improvements. For operators, virtual op sessions (either as an active participant or viewer) are also under development. We will offer a number of channels for interaction among the attendees to capture some of the feelings of meeting old friends in the hallways.
National Train Show
The National Train Show, which is separately planned and operated, remains canceled and will not be held virtually this year.
Updates
Check the News & Updates page for the latest updates on additions, cancellations, and other updates to clinics and other events as the information becomes available.
Online registration and payment with PayPal now available!
http://pcrnmra.org/NMRA2021/registration.html#olRegPay
Mail-in Registration Form
Click here for the mail-in Registration Form
Please print and fill in by hand. An e-mail address is required, as all communications from the convention will be electronic via e-mail. Return completed form with your payment (in U.S. funds) to:
Rails by the Bay 2021
530 Fig Tree Lane
Martinez, CA 94553
Contacts
Media Inquiries: publicity [at] nmra2021.com (subject: Rails%20by%20the%20Bay%202021%20NMRA%20Convention)
Registration and Refunds: registrar [at] nmra2021.com (subject: Rails%20by%20the%20Bay%202021%20NMRA%20Convention)