NSE Convention 2026 - Milwaukee

[NSEGeorge]

What would be the manufacturers' choices for convention locations?

Manufacturers prefer places where the public show can be the most successful and not where the NMRA show has been in the last couple of years. In order for them to justify the expense of going to a show they want to talk to as many customers as possible.

[Point353]

Manufacturers prefer places where the public show can be the most successful and not where the NMRA show has been in the last couple of years. In order for them to justify the expense of going to a show they want to talk to as many customers as possible.

That would account for the sizable presence of manufacturers at the Amherst show, even though it's held at West Springfield MA in late January.

[Mike Madonna]

The hotel in Sacramento has just been renovated, they are close to the California State RR Museum, and we are working on a tour of their newly acquired renovation shops. We are looking for a local contact to help us gather the right layouts and train rides for our tour schedule, but we are making great progress on the next event.

NSEGeorge

Hey George,
Good to see you in Milwaukee, we had an enjoyable time! I know you guys keep your cards "close to your chest" regarding upcoming convention location(s), tours/plans, etc. Regarding the above statement, the "newly acquired renovation shops", is this the facility in which the CSRRM has equipment stored for possible/future restoration OR is this part of the old SP Sacramento "shops"?
Thanks in advance!

[NSEGeorge]

Hey Mike-  it was good to see you too. I think we try to be as open as we can once we get all of the arrangements made, and the reason we play it close is we don't want to make any promises that we can't delver on. When working with Museums it is aways subject to change.

We are working with the California State Rail Museum's Director of Education and their Director of Outreach to determine which is the best tour that we can arrange. We do not have tour routing yet, but we are working on it.

We have been told that the CSRM was recently granted another building on the old CP/SP Shops property However, the city is still working on the Urban Upgrade program that covers a large part of the over 100 acre property. We have to wait for the Museum board to tell us how we will fit in, but they seem to be excited about the idea. I would really like to see the shops and the restoration operation, so I am pushing hard to make it happen.

George

[KSTXFLID]

George, thank you for that info.
I too would love to see that restoration effort, would love to just see the property up close really.