Animas Rails 2017

Animas Rails 2017 RMR Convention Registration

DURANGO, COLORADO - June 8-11, 2017

Convention Chair – Gary Myers

Convention website: www.rmr-nmra.org 

(available on the Region home page!)

Hello Everyone! Time to start thinking of this spring already!

This year the Rocky Mountain Region will be hosting our annual convention in Durango, Colorado, from June 8-11, 2017.  For 2017, the convention will be hosted by the Region instead of a Division.

This year’s convention will be a “mini-convention”,  we will feature a train ride, clinics, layout tours, shop & yard tours, door prizes, the annual model contest, a Sunday photo–op, awards ceremony and the spring Board of Directors meeting (on Friday evening).  We decided to take advantage of Durango’s fine restaurants and venues in lieu of a catered banquet.  Also, since most hotels offer free breakfast, a Hobo breakfast did not make sense and may be obsolete for most future conventions.  A Train Show with vendors was also impractical, without having a regular “annual” vendor forum and location, scheduling a show in the remote areas of the Region for a small select group has proven uneconomical.

This will be a non-traditional convention, with more time and activities available in Durango for you, your spouse and family.  We will be having our registration, clinics, contest and BOD meeting in the Durango DoubleTree hotel, but people are free to stay at their choice.  We do not have a discount available at the DoubleTree.  However, you may wish to enjoy other activities while visiting Durango and extend your stay!  Check the “Attractions“ section on the convention website, to get info on Mine Tours, Zip Lines, Theatre, Dining, Jeep Tours, Horse-back riding, Fly-Fishing, Museums, Activity Centers, and River rafting to name just a few!  In fact, there is so much to do, an extra day or two to just enjoy what Durango has to offer is highly recommended.

Train Ride (Saturday, June 10th)

Maybe you haven’t rode the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train before or for a long time, so join us for a fantastic ride along the historic route along the Animas River!

We have reserved a coach and open gondola for us to enjoy and ride together!  Please register as soon as you are able, because seating will be limited!  The Railroad will begin taking reservations very soon, and the train will be sold-out by the convention.  We will be booking the first train in the morning, so that we will be first in line for lunch in Silverton upon arrival, and first into Durango for the evening of the 3 daily trains.  If return by bus-coach to Durango is preferred for an earlier arrival, bus-coach seats are available on the registration form on the convention website.  Note that bus-coach service will sell out and not be available during the convention, so early registration is strongly recommended.

2017 Annual Model Contest (June 8-10)

We will be taking contest entries as early as Thursday evening, and take the popular vote during the Friday evening BOD meeting. Saturday evening after the train ride and dinner, we will close the contest room for NMRA judging.  The model contest is further detailed in another article under the Contest Chair.

Train Photo-OP Model Contest Awards (Sunday, June 11)

Sunday morning, we will gather at Rotary Park a few blocks north of the Depot, to take photos of the train from the trail footbridge which parallels the train track on the trestle crossing the Animas River.  Between trains, we will gather at the edge of the Park to present the model contest awards.  

The proposed Time-Table and more details are available on the convention website, right on the Region Home page!  Check back often as we finalize details and make updates.  

Hope to see you at Animas Rails, in Durango in June 2017!

2017 Convention Registration