Sacramento Convention 2011
Last Updated June 10, 2011
The 2011 NMRA and LDSIG Conventions will be held in Sacramento July 3-9, 2011.
Information on the NMRA Convention is available at the official site http://www.x2011west.org/
The LDSIG page is now officially on the convention website at http://www.x2011west.org/ldsig.html
Note: Watch this site for updates on clinics, forums, layout tour information and other convention activities.
Table of contents
- Advance Section LDSIG Tours, Friday, July 1 to Sunday, July 3
- SIG Room, All Week
- Meet 'n Greet, Sunday
- Layout Design Clinics, Monday
- Layout Design Clinics, Tuesday
- LDSIG Annual Business Meeting, Wednesday, July 6, 8:00AM
- Sacramento Layout Tour, Wednesday, July 6
- Layout Design Clinics and Forums, Thursday
- Friday Train Show, and Layout Design Clinics
- Friday SIG Banquet
Advance Section LDSIG Tours, Friday, July 1 to Sunday, July 3
The LDSIG does not have any special events for the Advance Section but many of the layouts have special interest. These layouts are available via both bus tours and self-drive tours. The self-drive tours have no additional charge beyond the registration for the Advance Section. The tours are organized geographically on separate days starting July 1.
The Advance Section Self-Drive Tours (and bus tours) are posted at http://www.x2011west.org/advsecTable.php
Here is a listing of the Self-drive tours:
SAL01 -- Santa Cruz Friday afternoon
SAL02 -- On the way Friday afternoon (Gilroy, Morgan HIll, San Jose)
SAL03 -- Southeast Bay Friday evening (San Jose over to Pleasanton)
SAL11 -- Southwest Bay Saturday morning (San Jose up to Palo Alto)
SAL14 -- Northeast Bay Saturday afternoon (around Oakland and Walnut Creek)
SAL21 -- Northeaast Bay Sunday morning (SF peninsula)
SAL22 -- On the way Sunday afternoon (nominally out the I-80 corridor)
While the "Design Oriented" layouts are not broken out separately, many Bay Area layouts are available on a self-guided basis including most of the regulars on the Bay Area SIG meet tour. Here are a few of the layouts on the list. For a full list click here.
Dave Adams D&RGW Durlin Branch On3
Charlie Bedard Agassiz Baisin Railway HO
Robert Bowidige SP HO
Jack Burgess Yosemite Valley HO
Cal Central Club California Central Lines HO & HOn3
Jim Dias Western Pacific 3rd Sub
HO Rick Fortin Santa Fe Valley Division 4th District HO
Howard Lloyd Claremont Docks HO
Ed Loizeaux New York Central System S
Frank Markovich On3 Nov/Dec 2010 NG & SL Gazette
Seth Neumann UP Niles Canyon HO
Bob Osborn Chicago & Mackinac RR HO
David Parks Cumberland, MD (WM/B&O) HO
Kermit Paul Lone Pine & Tonopah HO
Silicon Valley Lines Silicon Valley Lines HO
Andy Schnur C&O Alleghany Sub HO
Ted Stephens Ohio & Little Kanawah RR HO
Jim Vail Glenwood and Black Creek Narrow Gauge RR HOn3
Most of these layouts have descriptions and photos posted on the BayRails site:
http://www.bayrails.com/layouts.php
SIG Room, All Week
LDSIG Exhibit Room, Sunday, July 3 through Saturday, July 9
All week long you can make the SIG room the place to be. We are sharing the room with the Operations Special Interest Group which is planning a full round of operations during the convention. Make the SIG Room your convention headquarters networking opportunities, meeting others for planning, designing, building, and operating considerations intended for your dream layout.
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SIG Room Hours |
Open |
Close |
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Sunday |
7 PM |
10:30 PM |
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Monday - Tuesday |
7:30 AM |
10:30 PM |
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Wednesday |
7:30 AM |
12:00 Noon |
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Thursday |
7:30 AM |
10:30 PM |
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Friday |
7:30 AM |
5:00 PM |
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Saturday |
8:00 AM |
12:00 Noon |
Displays & LDSIG Desk – in the SIG Room. Check here in coming months for guidance on ways to improve your displays and instructions for shipping them to
Layout Design Consultation Services – LDSIG volunteers will be available at several times during the week to provide free sit-down guidance if you are in the process of designing your layout. To get the most value from these opportunities, do some homework before asking for help: prepare a dimensioned drawing of your layout space, identify your "Givens", "Druthers", and constraints, and bring a map or route schematic of your proposed territory. Also bring forecasts of the traffic mix and jobs you'd like to feature during your eventual operating sessions
Meet 'n Greet, Sunday
Begin your convention by meeting other attendees who are especially interested in layout design. Hear informal LDSIG-member introductions about their layout design and construction status, plus timely event announcements and networking opportunities. Meet published authors and respected contributors to various email lists. Sunday, 7:00p, in the SIG room. Don't worry about arriving late if you're enjoying tours and op sessions on the way up from Advanced Section, we'll be there until at least 10:00PM!
Layout Design Clinics, Monday
Layout Design Clinics – On Monday, July 4, X2011 West and the LDSIG and the OpSIG will be presenting an all day series of clinics focusing on layout design. The clinics will provide real examples of design challenges and solutions to assist you in designing your dream layout. All these clinics are open to all convention attendees.
Special Layout Design “Bootcamp”
Layout Design Journal editor and custom layout designer Byron Henderson and other members of the NMRA's Layout Design SIG are leading a Layout Design Bootcamp at the X2011 Unconventional Convention in Sacramento.
This four-hour clinic begins at 8 am Monday, July 3, 2011, and will be an intensive session on track planning and layout design. Discover how to refine vision, concept, and purpose; select layout footprints and schematics; draw accurate and useful plans; create efficient and engaging yards and industrial areas; make best use of staging tracks; maintain space for people; and avoid common track planning errors. Step-by-step examples from a variety of layout designs will be discussed.
Whether your dream layout is strongly prototype-based, a creative freelanced theme, or somewhere in between, this practical session will give you the tools and best practices to design a great layout!
Among the topics to be covered:
Layout design phases: Conceptual, Structural, and Detail
Developing vision, theme, and purpose
The impact of givens and 'druthers considering space, resources, and skills
Prototype research techniques and tools
The user and viewer experience
Layout footprint techniques
Drawing and rendering tools and best practices
Planning for people
Multi-deck considerations
Yard planning
Staging design
Signature elements vs. typicality
LDEs: Possibilities and pitfalls
Tricky traps of layout design (common errors to avoid)
… and much, much more!
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Time |
Presenter |
Title |
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8:00 AM |
Byron Henderson |
Designing with the Designers “Super Clinic” [This is a three session clinic ending at noon. Come and stay as long as you wish!] |
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9:30 AM |
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Lunch |
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2:30 PM |
Robert Clark |
Layout Design for Passenger Operations |
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4:00 PM |
Panel |
What Would You Do Differently? |
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Dinner |
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7:00 PM |
Bob Jacobsen |
Open LCB Note: Bob’s clinic is repeated Friday evening at 7PM. |
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7:00 PM |
Jim Betz |
Layout Design Tricks |
Layout Design Clinics, Tuesday
Layout Design Clinics – On Tuesday, July 5, X2011 West and the LDSIG and the OpSIG will be presenting more clinics focusing on layout design. All these clinics are open to all convention attendees.
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Time |
Presenter |
Title |
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8:00 AM |
Steve Gust |
Introduction to Dispatching |
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9:30 AM |
Tony Koester |
Multi-deck Layout Design |
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9:30 AM |
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Introduction to Timetable Train Order Dispatching |
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Lunch |
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1:00 PM |
Steve Gust |
Modern Verbal Authority (Track Warrants and Direct Traffic Control) |
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Dinner |
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7:00 PM |
Gust, Flynn, Zinnecker, Atkins |
CTC Panel with Dispatchers and Signalmen |
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8:00 PM |
Tommy Johnson |
Workin’ on the Railroad: Random Thoughts on Prototype Operations |
LDSIG Annual Business Meeting, Wednesday, July 6, 8:00AM
Sacramento Layout Tour, Wednesday, July 6
The Annual meeting will be followed by the traditional Wednesday LD SIG self-guided layout tour. Dave Bayless has planned a tour that includes 18 layouts in the Greater Sacrameto area. Each of these layouts is a quality example of design, construction or operation. We have gathered information on each layout which is posted on a special layout tour page which will will make it easier for you to decide which ones you want to visit. Click here to see the whole list or click on any individual owner or railroad in the table below to jump directly to information about that layout. There is also a map available on the special layout tour page
Here is a table of the layouts and some information about each to help you with your convention planning. Note: The color in the third column generally shows when the layout is open - morning (peach), afternoon (green), late afternoon (violet), evening (blue). We have also added zipcodes and city locations for pre-planning purposes.
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#
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Name
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RR Name
Direction from Sacramento & Hours Layout Open
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Scale
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Size
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Scenery
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Times of travel from Convention Center/ City/ Zip
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Comments and Interesting Design Points
worth visiting.
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1
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North
Morning only 9a-12pm
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HO
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33 X 10
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20%
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Travel Time: (33 miles) / 39” minutes/
Plumas Lake (Olivehurst), 95961 |
Mid 80’s HO California Oregon & Western Shortline on SP Modoc Line.
Ops in and around Klamath Falls. Uses JMRI operations with a CTC panel, Novel helix construction, Lower level staging and walk-around design. Track/Bench stag.
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|
2
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Northwest
Morning
10a-3pm
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HO
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24 X 42 +
1208 Sq Ft
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20%
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Travel Time: (68 miles) / 76” minutes/
Colusa, 95932 |
SP Dunsmuir Route mostly built full scale to SP drawings, in an upstairs bonus room, innovative multi-tier, most level 2
to 3 track in place, walk-around design, scenery well along, |
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3
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Pacific Northwest around Portland
Northeast
Morning and Afternoon 9:30a-4pm
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N
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20 X 20
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90% +
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Travel Time: (65 miles) / 80” minutes/
Nevada City, 95959
|
A very long distance but worth it. Innovative N-Scale Northwest railroad with signaling, electronics and staging “beyond the basement” concept. JMRI & Panel Pro, signaled, can use internet to dispatch, walk-in multi tier design, fully scenicked.
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4
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Northeast
Morning and Afternoon
10a-3pm
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HO
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20 X 20
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None
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Travel Time: (35 miles) / 43” minutes/
Auburn, 95603
|
Non-Operating, only ½ lower Staging yard built, but benchwork footprint in and extensive multi-level design. Built lean-to at back of train room to hold part of helix. Planned 6 tiers, walk-in design, models Mtn grade in NorWst. Working Signal/CTC display.
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5
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Northeast
Morning
9am-2pm
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HO
|
Over 500 sq ft
|
70%
|
Travel Time: (38 miles) / 46” minutes/
Auburn, 95603 |
Impressive purpose-built building, Large Layout, Good Quality, Step-Down walkway under layout, Multi-Tier walk-around design, Helix room w/dispatcher, central hidden branch. Union Pacific in the Wasatch Range in Utah including coal operations.
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6
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Northeast
Morning
9a-12pm
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HO
|
15 X 20
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20%
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Travel Time: (17 miles) / 24” minutes/
Citrus Heights, 95610 |
Again, Dave Clemens recommended this attic layout. Proto-Freelanced 1960’s in Sac Valley, including Sacramento Northern and Western Pacific
Stacked Staging, Helix in Dormer, walk-in with center peninsula, built 6’h hallway to access.
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7
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Northeast
Morning
930a-1230pm plus
Afternoon 2p-5p
|
HO
|
270 Sq Ft
bedroom
|
90% +
|
Travel Time: (24 miles) / 30” minutes/
Rocklin, 95677 |
UP RR in and out of Spokane, noteworthy double tier, doormino type construction with hidden loop staging under and stub-end staging behind low backdrop.
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8
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Northeast
Morning and Afternoon
10a-4pm
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HO (WP,SP), HOn3 (Proto-lanced)
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2800 sq ft
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75%
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Travel Time: (10 miles) / 14” minutes/
Sacramento, 95838 |
Main Layout is walk-around double tier and narrow gauge is also walk-around. Location is WP Feather River Canyoun with SP Cal-P line and freelanced HOn3 in a separate room. Interesting peninsula treatment at the end, using CMRI for signaling, Club is building their own searchlight signals, have old authentic WP CTC machine, semi-proto model.
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9
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Northeast
Morning and Afternoon 1:00pm-6pm
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HO
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45 X 35
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20%
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Travel Time: (25 miles) / 41” minutes/
Granite Bay, 95746
|
1950 SP Sierra Donner Pass layout utilizes a novel computer controlled signaling system with touch screens to operate turnouts. RR & Co software used for controlling turnouts, routes, signals, & accessories and to detect occupancy. NCE DCC for train control with 70 individual blocks. Dual track 550' mainline with 18 track main yard and 10 track hidden yard. Track elevation ranges between 50" and 77" with a 1.5% max grade and 48" min radius. L girder construction with spline roadbed. Layout in operation for over 1 year using timetable and car card system. Dedicated building houses layout.
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10
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Northeast
Morning and Evening
12p-8pm
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HO
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12 X 55
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90% +
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Travel Time: (26 miles) / 36” minutes/
Rocklin, 95765 |
Large 2-tier Layout with backdrops, staging and plenty of online switching, innovative walk-under layout entance to step up elevated platform, Loop staging, DCC
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11
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South Placer Lines
Northeast Afternoon and Evening 11a-6pm
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HO
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~ 400 sq ft
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40%
|
Travel Time: (22 miles) / 28” minutes/
Rocklin, 95677 |
Freelance 1940’s shortline to Placerville, Point to point with staging yards each end, 192 foot mainline run, 3 lines of track crosses doorway with creative lift-out access, fascias. Shelf bracket tier construction.
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12
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Northeast
Evening
4p-10pm
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HO
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25 X 35
|
100%
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Travel Time: (12 miles) / 21” minutes/
Rancho Cordova, 95670 |
Large walkaround but somewhat dated, freelanced. Built in an SP looking RR station. Some double decking, makes use of small staging yards. Nice workshop area and lounge also.
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13
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Northeast
Afternoon and Evening
3p-10pm
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HO
|
15 X 37
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50%
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Travel Time: (23 miles) / 36” minutes/
Folsom, 95630 |
UP Railroad Portland to Pocatello Walk-In around the room double tier with memorable scenes on a shelf-like layout featuring a helix and staging. Prototype modeling, DCC.
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14
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Northeast
Evening
6pm-9pm
|
HO
|
Open basement
15 X 30
|
None
Note: This layout is still in the design stage.
|
Travel Time: (21 miles) / 28” minutes/
Roseville, 95661 |
Dave Clemens agreed to be there to help visitors understand the track plan as Dave has designed it for George’s large vacant railroad room.
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|
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15
|
Northeast
Evening
6pm-9pm
|
N
|
11 X 26
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50%
|
Travel Time: (21 miles) / 29” minutes/
Rocklin, 95677 |
Flowing Walk-around layout with deep fascia, under layout fascia panels, valence, backdrops, high quality scenery, open staging area, lighting.
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16
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South
Evening
6p-10pm
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HO
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22 X 18
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30%
|
Travel Time: (15 miles) / 21” minutes/
Elk Grove, 95758
|
Modern ATSF through the Dessert, 1983, Clovis, New Mexico to Amarillo, Texas.
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17
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South
Afternoon and Evening
3p-10pm
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HO
|
20 X 20
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50%
|
Travel Time: (42 miles) / 46” minutes/
Mirada (Stockton),
95212 |
Freelanced but large mountain RR with his favorite scenes from his long RR career, walk-in & around, multi-level, RR themed building
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18
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South
Morning to Evening
10a-8pm
|
HO
|
Over 500 sq ft
|
70%
|
Travel Time: (71 miles) / 75” minutes/
Tracy, 95376 |
Well worth visiting. Innovative Mushroom and multi-tier layout, good model work, fabulous design ideas, railroad engulfs viewer, nice fascia and valance.
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Everyone on the LDSIG Layout Tour will receive a polo shirt with a special logo.
This event will be extra fare. This year the tour will be unlimited and open to anyone registered for convention. This is a self-drive tour and we encourage carpooling for enjoyable discussions of the layouts visited as you travel from one layout to the next. As private transportation will be used, insurance is to be provided by the participants in the Tour. Neither the LDSIG, Inc. nor the NMRA will provide insurance coverage for private or rental transportation.
There will be no picnic this year. Food stops may be taken at your convenience and your choice of cuisine.
We are continuing our use of GPS from last year's convention rather than maps for navigation. So if you own a portable GPS. please bring it to the convention. Every Car will need One!
Layout Design Clinics and Forums, Thursday
Layout Design Clinics – On Thursday, July 7, X2011 and the LDSIG and the OpSIG will be presenting an all day series of clinics focusing on Signaling. All these clinics are open to all convention attendees.
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Time |
Presenter |
Title |
|
8:00 AM to Noon |
Signal Maintainers Museum Musem signal maintainers will be a great introduction to the afternoon's clinics. We will see and understand the operation of prototype signals. Includes a train ride. |
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Lunch |
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1:00 PM |
Seth Neumann Introduction to Signals for your Model Railroad |
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2:30 PM |
David Metal Making Your Own Signals and Controllers |
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4:00 PM |
Dick Bronson JMRI: Loconet Signaling |
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Dinner |
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7:00PM |
Bruce Chubb Signaling Your Model Railroad Part I |
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8:30 PM |
Bruce Chubb Signaling Your Model Railroad Part II |
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10:00 PM |
Steve Moore Track Planning and Layout Design Bruce Chubb Signaling Your Model Railroad Part III Note: Bruce Chubb’s three clinics will be repeated Saturday afternoon starting at 1PM. |
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Friday Train Show, and Layout Design Clinics
Layout Design Clinics – On Friday, July 8, we encourage you to attend the National Train Show at the Convention center and then return to some additional clinics before you join us for the SIG Banquet. All these clinics are open to all convention attendees.
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Time |
Presenter |
Title |
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9:00 AM |
Train Show starting at 9 AM for all those registered for the convention. Public admitted after Noon |
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Lunch |
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1:00 PM |
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2:00 PM |
Rodney Black |
CATS - A Modern Dispatching Console based on JMRI |
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4:00 PM |
Joe Melhorn & Dave Megeath |
Trackside Signaling System at the |
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Dinner |
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7:00 PM |
Bob Jacobsen |
Open LCB |
Friday SIG Banquet
Friday SIG Banquet (All are welcome!)
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM No-host Bar from 6:00 PM
Enjoy a catered dinner in the roundhouse display area of the California State Railroad Museum with fellow SIG members. Sig membership is not required, all convention attendees with an interest in layout design are welcome! There will be an after-dinner presentation by a Don Mitchell, prominent layout designer. There will also be a brief presentation by Bruce Chubb about the 2012 Grand Rapids NMRA Convention and talk about his Sunset Valley Oregon System A great opportunity to discuss everything you've seen during X2011 West and reflect on how to apply your learnings to your layout!
Price: $62 (limit 125)
[Proof reading assistance from Bruce Notman and Travers Stavac greatfully acknowledged]
