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Early Registration Ends July 31

Greetings!,

The early registration period for the Eyes on the NER convention ends on July 31st. So register for the convention today and save $10.00! Once you register for the convention, be sure to book a room at the convention hotel.

Convention Hotel

The Eyes on the NER convention is being held at the Wellsworth Hotel and Conference Center in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Space is limited and we expect to sell out very soon, so if you have not booked a room, please take a minute to do that today.

We have also secured a small block of rooms at the nearby Publick House in neighboring Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Read the details below on how to book a room at our low convention rate.

Schedule is Posted

All clinic, layout tours, operating session schedules, and special events are posted on the convention website, so you can plan how you want to spend your time at the convention.

Visit the convention website to learn more!

Time is running out! This is the final week to save on early registration for the next NER Convention in Southbridge, Massachusetts, October 15th through 18th! Prices will increase on August 1st, so register today!

Our combo packages allow you to get the full convention experience while saving money. Enjoy the Thursday Welcome Reception / Tailgate Party, the Saturday Evening Banquet, the Sunday Morning Awards Breakfast, and full Convention Registration priced at $195 for NMRA members.

The registration price without meals is $95 for NMRA members and food options can be added based on your needs and interest.

Register online by credit card via the Convention Website by clicking here or you can pay by mailing in a check (see the registration page for more details). Register today!

There is very limited availability at the convention hotel, especially on Friday night. The Wellsworth Hotel and Conference Center offers complimentary parking, an on-site fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub, and a business center. The hotel restaurant, Shades Lounge, is a full service restaurant and bar that is open in the evenings. We have a room waiting for you at the convention hotel so be sure to reserve your room today!

We have secured a small block of double rooms at the Publick House, 4 miles from the convention hotel in the neighboring town of Sturbridge, Massachusetts. They are offering us a rate of $129 per night for each of the nights of your stay. Book today as availability is very limited. On the Group side of the form, enter your dates and the code 1026EY.

Layout Tours are always a key feature of our NER Conventions. This year is no different, featuring over 25 layouts from Live Steam to N Scale. There is certainly something for you to enjoy.

Keep reading for a sampling of layouts that will be open for this year's convention layout tour and be sure to check out the layout tour page.

The Corkscrew and Vineyard Railroad established in 2005. It’s a transition era railroad. It focuses on switching. There are nine separate towns (a saw mill complex, coal mine, etc. ) and three levels. Bottom level is for hidden staging. Second level is the main railroad and the third level is for the saw mill complex. It has NCE DCC.

The Boston and Maine/Maine Central Mountain Division is designed for operation. It is loosely based on the B&M’s Conway branch and the MEC’s climb through Crawford Notch, both in New Hampshire, during the post WW II era when railroads were transitioning from steam power to diesel. It is a single track railroad 400 feet in length with passing sidings in each town, serving 30 industries. Portions are double-decked. North Conway provides an interchange between the two railroads. Bartlett is the base for helpers needed to assist trains through Crawford Notch. Scott Paper Company is the major industry, requiring its own switcher. NCE DCC powers the railroad. Operation uses seven people, train cards, four-part waybills and radios but without a dispatcher. Staging loops at each end allow rapid turning of entire trains.

Are you into operations? We have some great operating layouts to test your skills and challenge you. Are you new to operations and want to give it a try? We have plenty of opportunities for you to learn and grow in this exciting part of our hobby. Give it a try!

Keep reading for a sampling of layouts that will be open for operations this year and be sure to check out the operations page for the complete list.

Gary Munsey's Cheat River Railway is a fictional railroad, created in the mid 1980s, to compete with the newly formed CSX. Cheat River trackage is comprised of former Western Maryland trackage, extending between Port Covington, MD and Durbin, WV. The line includes a branch to Harrisburg. Traffic is mainly mixed freight and coal. There are 5 coal loading operations on the line. There are no passenger trains. The layout is DCC controlled, using the NCE system.

The Albany & Susquehanna RR is set in upstate New York in the 1990s. It operates as the D&H did after Conrail was formed. Since it is a bridge line, there are numerous through freights making it an excellent layout for new operators. There are also a number of fictional industrial areas to keep experienced operators challenged. The railroad is dispatched using CTC with signals used to control train movements. It is a double deck layout in a 30′ by 15′ room. The main-line is a scale 13 miles long. A through freight takes about 20 minutes to go from staging to staging if it does not have to stop in any yards, and does not meet opposing traffic. On a busy night it takes considerably longer.