36th National Garden Railway Convention

PIKO will be offering a specially decorated four-bay hopper convention car, a photo of which is shown on page 28 in the current Spring issue of Garden Railways and also in the PIKO ad on the back cover of the same issue.

Sounds like fun.  If you can, take some photos and post them here.  I think there are a fair number of O gauge fans who enjoy large scale trains and layouts, myself included.  Thanks.

I was one of the early registrants and am planning to go.

ALLAN: GLAD you will join us and I hope more Forum members will! ☺

FYI: The PIKO produced convention hopper will be decorated with high resolution graphics, including our beloved NC&StL 576, currently undergoing  full restoration to service.

FYI: For those wanting to attend just one or a couple of events, it is possible to register for a day pass. Due to my limited mobility (cane or walker), I will only be attending the exhibit hall event on Thursday, June 4 from 2-6 PM. The major manufacturers and vendors will be present for conventioneers only on that day. The public will later be invited on Friday and Saturday,  June 5 and 6.

Nashville, my home for some fifty-years now, has a vibrant night life with many live music venues in the downtown area, and is considered a major foodie destination. Several major celebrities call it home including Dolly Parton, Keith Urban and his lovely talented wife, Nicole Kidman. The late great Robert Altman once shot his classic film, Nashville, here in the early 1970's. All major recording artists such as Elvis, the Beetles, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash have recorded here. One of our nation's premier universities, Vanderbilt, calls it home. Nashville will not disappoint! Come see us!

LGB and PIKO, two of the well known German large scale makers, will be represented in the exhibit hall starting Thursday, June 4th from 2-6 PM.

I just registered for a one-day pass and the whole process could not have been easier. There are a number of fine events and tours available, but it would be prudent to sign up early so as not to miss out.

The train show with many prominent venders will take place in a 44,000 square foot exhibit hall and there will be many operating layouts including live steam.

Hope some more of our large scale folks on the OGR Forum will consider attending this exciting convention! Y'all come, y'hear!  ☺

One outdoor layout on the tour worth seeing will be that built by Dr. Jack Fisher. His indoor O gauge layout is a legend in its own right!

Dr. Fisher is a reknowned plastic surgeon and his manual dexterity skills are quite evident in the many modifications to both his detailed layout and the passenger rolling stock which have been realistically lowered on their trucks and have close coupled diaphragms. 

I have it from an informed source that manufacturers other than G and large scale will be represented at the exhibit hall.

Firms like Lionel, MTH, and Atlas should be represented.

Our NC&StL 4-8-4 Dixie Class 576 is currently under restoration at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, which is well worth visiting while attending the convention.

There will also be a number of operating layouts in the exhibit halls, including live steam.

The exhibit halls will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday but ONLY to registered conventioneers on Thursday, June 4 from 2-6 PM.

The Gaylord hotel and convention complex is almost a city unto itself, and the perfect place for our convention!

The Grand Old Opry House is located next door to the Gaylord Hotel complex and is a major attraction for many Nashville visitors.

Unfortunately, I have decided it would be prudent healthwise not to attend this international event under the current circumstances.

The latest e-mail I received confirmed that the Garden Railway Convention is still ON as of this date. Updates will be posted as I receive them.

There may also be additional health advisories issued by the TN authorities between now and then. Stay tuned! ☺

Last evening, our Nashville mayor has issued a directive for ALL bars to close in the next 48 hours and ALL restaurants to reduce capacity by 50% or less than 100 patrons. Social distancing is now being officially enforced here.