The Derby City Express was a great time for me, but I had some misconceptions. This was my first time I attended an N scale convention and I didn't understand all the parts of it. I like the N scale modeling and the manufacturers, so that is what I wanted to see. The N Scale Collectors are a major part of this convention, but I am not a collector. The three parts or participants of this convention were the N Scale Collector, the Greatest American Hobby Train Show, and the NMRA NTrak organization. Paul Downs and the Louisville KSONS group represented this latter group, I believe. I arrived on Tuesday and left Sunday morning. I should have arrived on Wednesday morning and left on Monday morning (or afternoon). The large NTrak layout was open all day on Sunday and I missed that. Also, the manufacturers were at the convention Sunday and that would have been good to spend the day with them. The local N Scale layouts on the layout tour were really great. See Leo Bicknell's video for a review. I did participate in all the convention modeling clinics at the convention hall. Those were available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Most of them were repeated, so you could make a schedule to see all the clinics that interested you. It was VERY cold in the meeting rooms; dress warmly. I did attend the N Scale Collector Saturday night banquet and the Sunday breakfast, but I had to leave before the breakfast was over. I chose to go to the DCE instead of the NMRA convention because the DCE was all N scale (pretty much). Paul Downs and group did an excellent job. I can't imagine what a large undertaking this must be. There is SO MUCH co-ordinating to get all this done. I was glad to have the N Scale Collector there. They do add to the interest and I don't think the convention would happen without their financial support. That's my opinion. I am not sure of the facts I alluded to in my text and I certainly would appreciate corrections. Next time, i want to make a better schedule for myself so I can see more of the things I wish to see.
At times NTRAK has been considered a Special Interest Group of the NMRA but it is really an independent organization with few ties with the NMRA. Many times in the past NTRAK National Conventions have been held in conjuction with the NMRA National Convention but coordinated separately. There have also been times of a lot of friction between the two. I don't belive the NMRA had much to do with the DCE.
I believe there were about 1000 paid attendees to the N scale convention. Wonder how many total attendees will go to the NMRA convention? I just went through these photos. The next convention, I will just follow John Sing!
Following John is a great idea. I think he should be some kind of an official ambassador for the hobby. He is doing us a great service with his photos. Thank you and Danke schön, John
Just splitting hairs a bit: The show was World's Greatest Hobby on Tour. It is put on by Dave Swanson and his crew. It is not the same as GATS(in any incarnation), GTE or Greenberg. WGH spends about $50,000 advertising each show and the attendance proves it.
As A KSONS member, I would like to say that we hoped that you all had some fun at DCE. We worked hard for it. Paul is still hanging in there, and the rest of us are still unwinding. This convention was a PARTNERSHIP between KSONS, NSC and almost every N-Scale NTRAK club around. There was NO single group that called all the shots! KSONS got the ball rolling back in 2005 when we voted to have the convention and we were off and running. Paul, Steve, Mike, Ken, John, Mike and others worked their collective a**es off. NTRAK and the NMRA have NO direct ties PERIOD. Just the fact that many N-Scalers are also NMRA members. N-Scale is coming up big in the NMRA, we are going give the boys that play with those BIG(HO) trains a run for their money! I have been an NMRA member since the early 70's and into N-Scale since about 1975. NTRAK, the NMRA and Electronics(think DCC) have done more for our hobby than anything. I digress, we at KSONS realize that there were a few mistakes made, but can anybody name me a convention that had NO problems? It is not the facts that mistakes happen, and things go GNORW. It is how one reacts to fix a problem and go on! A d*** big layout, WGH show, great people, tours, riverboat rides, clinics(hot outside COLD inside), contests and a ALL ROUND GOOD TIME!!! What more can you ask for?!?
I came in Saturday morning and left Sunday afternoon. Drove down from Cleveland with 3 friends and my son. I wouldn't have been able to afford the whole week. The NTrak layout was great. I loved looking at all of the modules. I enjoyed the WGHT was great and being able to visit with the manufacturers was a bonus. I was absolutely THRILLED to see the Clinchfield. I can remember reading those articles when I was a kid. I think that was when I officially fell in love with N scale. I wish the clinics would have been offered alacart. I wasn't going to pay $85 to see the few clinics for which I had time. Won't make it to Oregon, but if it comes by my neck of the woods again, I'll certainly consider attending.
Flash, I haven't been able to find any info yet on Portland '09. I think as of now it is only a N-Scale Collector Convention. Our N-Trak club (Mt Rainier N-Scale) has been approached about attending, and we have committed to some level of support, but have not officially voted on attending as a club layout. A few of us that have just come back from the DCE are excited about what we saw, and the fun that can be had putting together a layout from several different groups. Of course we aren't in any position to repeat the DCE layout, but a few of us might be interested in organizing a bigger n-trak layout if we can gather enough interest and have the space. I'm sure everyone is settling back in and resting up and we should see some information on Portland up soon. I know I will be keeping an eye on this event, and I will pass on any information as it becomes available. I don't think we will see anything like DCE for several years.
I should probably know more about the convention in Portland, but I don't. Just that you mentioned it now has brought to mind that I have very little clue about what is going on. My NTrak club recently elected me President, so maybe I should take the initiative and figure this out. Adam
It seems what would be very helpful is a outline of events with links cross indexed by subject, time and location. That said I am sure such a system would be difficult to program. Maybe a scaled down outline with highlights would be helpful to first time attendees. Oh, and if John Sing could list his schedule that would be helpful as well.
I will ask around and see if I can get something more detailed. I am hooked into at least some of the N scale grapevine around here.
That wasn't on their what's new page yesterday. If it was, I couldn't see it. Note that there is no other info yet. We need to keep in touch as our club is talking about maybe getting together with you guys and maybe a few others to set up a nice sized layout and have some fun. I think that Lowell Smith is to some degree in charge of this convention. PM me with any further info and I'll do the same.
Portland 2009 N Scale Convention To give you a preview of what is coming next year in Portland, the web site is N Scale Convention 2009. This is a work-in-progress at this time, and the detailed agenda, etc is not yet set. In fact, anticipate it being around Thanksgiving when we have the full schedule confirmed. However meanwhile we are planning this as an N Scale Collector convention, with participation from several local NTrak clubs, but no attempt to create a super-large layout. We are not linked with WGH, or any other show organizer, but will have a certain amount of public show time on Saturday. We are also planning several N Scale layout tours; there are some good layouts in the Portland area, and we aslo plan several 1:1 scale activities. As we have more details I will be updating the website, or please feel free to ask your questions directly, Bill Chown, Publicity Chair, N Scale Convention 2009
Like Mark, I am a member of the KSONS. I publish the club's newsletter. Thanks to all who attended. Sorry it was not perfect, but we tried to make it as perfect as we can make it. We had the world's largest NTrak layout and possibly the world's largest T-Trak layout. Everyone I talked to enjoyed themselves and that was our mission. I doubt we will see anything like this again for a while since it took us three years to plan it. The people planning it wanted to make sure it was an enjoyable outing. Mission accomplished. Joe Martin, DCE Company Store Guru.
Bill, Thanks for the info and the link. I see that it is being called an N-Scale Convention not just an NSC convention. I wonder if any of the N-Trak groups in the Portland area would like to put together a "Small' ( by DCE Standards) layout with a few other groups???? PM Me and I will make get some more information on the space. Joe, you guys did a fantastic job.
But, it is being planned as an N Scale Collector Convention according to Bill's post above. Additional N scale clubs would be very welcome, I am sure.
