Fall in New England. A rail fan photographers dream – colorful vistas with trains steaming along, even if the trains are 1:87 or 1:48 or some ratio other than 1:1. Time to head to the Northeastern Region Annual Convention and network with the region’s best modelers. Time to touch base with friends old and new and to expand your knowledge and pick up some new skills regarding model railroading.
This year’s convention is being held at the Wellsworth Hotel and Convention Center in Southbridge, MA, home of the original American Optical Corporation. For the first time, three divisions will serve as your hosts for the convention: Little Rhody, Hub, and Nutmeg divisions are working jointly to make this an absolutely fantastic convention. In the Southbridge area one will find a 15-minute ride will take one to the famous Sturbridge Village. Other longer rides will take one to the Eastern Connecticut Railroad Museum, the Connecticut Trolley Museum and The Essex Steam Train.
Clinics will be offered in a variety of topics, from the secrets of good photography (either for railfanning or your own layout), to DCC and LCC to AI. Or maybe you are looking for something to help you in your modeling. We have clinics on scenery, weathering and a full range of traditional topics. We will also offer several hands-on clinics. One of the hands-on clinics will be one where participants create their own T-Trak N-scale module over the course of two days in Southbridge and finish up during two days at the spring 2027 convention in Burlington, VT. At the end of this, participants will have the beginnings of their own division’s N-scale T-Trak modular layout. The working layout will be displayed for convention goers to view.
Southern New England is home to some of the best layouts for both general viewing and for operating and they are not too far from the convention hotel. Come prepared to Oooh and Aaah over the beautiful scenery on these layouts and to dip your toes into the operating of model railroads.
Bring your best work – models of structures, motive power, rolling stock, photographs – to the Celebration Room. Just display your work for convention goers to view or ask for them to be evaluated for prizes. Even if you don’t have anything to display or enter, stop in just to enjoy the efforts of those who do.
The Raffle Room will have many, many opportunities for you to win prizes – structure kits, kits for motive power and rolling stock, gift certificates – donated by the various model railroad vendors every year. Something for everyone!
There will be ample opportunities for you to meet and greet your model railroad colleagues, from the Welcome Reception on Thursday evening, to the Banquet Dinner on Saturday night to the Awards Breakfast Sunday morning. Our keynote speaker for the banquet is John Mrazik. John is a retired Teacher-Coach-Athletic Director.
He is a member of the Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts and the Railroad Museum of New England. He is also a former member of NHRHTA who has contributed a number of articles over the years to the Shoreliner magazine. He has lectured many times to various groups throughout MA and CT on the topic of railroads.
The Wellsworth Hotel Conference Center is located west and a bit south of Worcester, MA, not too far from either the Connecticut or Rhode Island border. There is easy access to the Mass Pike (route 90), route 84 and route 395. Staying at Wellsworth will not “break the bank”. The site has ample parking, a well-stocked fitness center, swimming pool, comfortable clinic rooms and guest rooms and suites, restaurant and lounge and outdoor dining for meals. There are a number of off-site restaurants available a short ride away. Bring your camera because the marble staircase is just asking to be photographed.
