Coast Rails 2014 logo

Pacific Coast Region NMRA / SLO RR Museum
Coast Rails 2014 PCR Convention
Trains to Hadley Jct.
 April 30 - May 4, 2014
San Luis Obispo, California

NEWS & UPDATES

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Check back here frequently for News and Updates. New clinics, layout tours, prototype tours, and any cancellations, as well as other changes to the convention will appear here.

  • April 26, 2014 @ 9:15 AM
    - CHANGED – Layout Tour: Paul Deis, D&P Mountain Railroad (Fn3) will be closed, Friday, 1:00 - 5:00 PM. Paul's Los Osos Valley Railroad (HO) will be open for display.
    - UPDATED – Home & Club Layout Tour Schedule, ver. 2.3 (PDF).
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.18 (PDF).

  • April 25, 2014 @ 12:30 PM
    - ADDED – NEW Clinic: Jim Betz, "Layout Tricks and Solutions", Thursday, 1:00 PM, Owl Room.
    - UPDATED – Clinic: Bruce Morden, "Going North Over Cuesta", Friday, 1:00 PM, Owl Room. Additional clinic time.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.17 (PDF).

  • April 24, 2014 @ 8:30 PM
    - CANCELLED – Over The Cuesta Tour. Refunds will be issued.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.16 (PDF).

  • April 24, 2014 @ 11:55 AM
    - ADDED – NEW Clinic: Tim Warris, "Build a Turnout in an Hour", Saturday, 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, Owl Room.
    - CHANGED – Clinic: Jack Burgess, "SketchUp and Rapid Prototyping", Saturday, 10:30 AM, moved to Lark Room (upstairs), was in Owl Room.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.15 (PDF).

  • April 23, 2014
    - ADDED – Clinic: Dennis Drury, "Rail Detector Cars, Theory and Operations", Saturday, 2:30 PM, Starlight Room.
    - CHANGED – Clinic: Terry Taylor, "Santa Fe Ops in the Central Valley: Ops Nightmare - Wrecks", Saturday, 4:00 PM, Lark Room (upstairs), was 2:30 PM in Starlight Room.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.14 (PDF).

  • April 21, 2014
    - ADDED – Banquet Program Announced: Vic Neves, Winterail producer, will be presenting "SURF and the SOUTHERN PACIFIC" by John Roskoski and "OLIVER BROTHERS SALT" by Vic Neves & Wayne Monger. Both shows are 30 minutes in length. See the "Banquet" page for more information.
    - ADDED – Banquet Menu Announced: We're having a Santa Maria Style Barbeque, with Tri-Tip, chicken and more! See the "Banquet" page for the full menu and a bit of history.

  • April 18, 2014
    - UPDATED – PCR Bingo Night has been renamed Non-Rail Bingo, planned only for Non-Rail attendees this year. See "Non-Rails" page for activities schedule.
    - UPDATED – Non-Rails are not hosting refreshments in the Hospitality Room this year. See "Non-Rails" page for room schedule.
    - UPDATED – Clinic: Tommy Johnson, "Hostling Redondo Jct. Roundhouse" renamed to "Hostling the ATSF LA Roundhouse", Friday, 4:00 PM
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Andy Reichert, "The Golden Soldering Ceremony, Utah, 1869 Or Whatever happened to hand-laid track?", Wednesday, 1:00 PM.
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Andy Reichert, "Building Jig-less, "Fast and Easy” Plastic Turnouts", Thursday, 1:00 PM.
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Andy Reichert, "Building Stunning “Working Scale Model” HO (and/or Proto:87) Track and Turnouts", Friday, 1:00 PM.
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Andy Reichert, "P87: New Technology", Saturday, 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM.
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Andy Reichert, "Modeling Realistic Street Running in HO – Trains or Trolleys", Saturday, 1:00 PM.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.13 (PDF).

  • April 15, 2014
    - ADDED – The Bitter Creek Western Railroad, a privately-owned 7½" gauge railroad, will be open Sunday, May 4, Noon to 4:00 PM. No sign-ups or tickets needed, just show up and enjoy the trains and have fun! Arroyo Grande, CA. (MAP)
    - ADDED – Clinic: Jack Burgess - MMR, "SketchUp and Rapid Prototyping", Friday, 2:30 PM, Lark Room (upstairs).
    - ADDED – Clinic: Tommy Johnson, "Railroading During the Transition Era", Friday, 10:30 AM, Lark Room (upstairs).
    - ADDED – Clinic: Terry Taylor, "Santa Fe Ops in the Central Valley: Ops Nightmare - Wrecks", Saturday, 2:30 PM, Starlight Room.
    - ADDED – Clinic Handout: Jack Burgess - MMR, "SketchUp and Rapid Prototyping", Friday, 2:30 PM, Lark Room (upstairs).
    - CHANGED – Clinic: Chuck Harmon - MMR, "How Operating Sessions Can Get You AP Certificates", Friday, 4:00 PM, Lark Room (upstairs), was Friday, 10:30 AM.
    - CHANGED – Clinic: Tony Thompson, "Transition-era Tank Car Modeling", Friday, 2:30 PM, Owl Room, was Saturday, 2:30 PM.
    - CHANGED – Clinic: Tom Zehnder, "Oil and the Railroads of the Central Coast", Saturday, 2:30 PM, Lark Room (upstairs), was in Starlight Room.
    - NEWS – Registered attendees may request that the layout tours booklet be e-mailed to them before arriving at the convention by contacting Paul Deis at Curlyp2@gmail.com.
    - NEWS – The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum (SLORRM) is located at 1940 Santa Barbara Ave, SLO. They will have an Open House on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Click here for details.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.12 (PDF).

  • April 13, 2014
    - UPDATED – The cut-off date to sign up for Modeling With The Masters clinics has changed again to this MONDAY, April 14, for all clinics. Anyone signing up after this date will be placed on a waiting list with no guarantee of having materials for the clinics.
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Robert Clark, "Passenger Terminals and Servicing Facilities: Prototype Examples", Friday, 2:30 PM.
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Robert Clark, "Layout design with a passenger train emphasis", Friday, 4:00 PM.
    - NEWS – The Bitter Creek Western Railroad may be open Sunday, May 4, but the times are not yet known. The times will be posted on this page when we get them.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.11 (PDF).

  • April 10, 2014
    - CANCELLED – Hearst Castle Tour
    - CANCELLED – Bitter Creek Western RR with Winery Tour
    - CANCELLED – Pacific Coast Railway Tour
    - CANCELLED – Fillmore & Western Tour
    - If you purchased any of the above tours, you can change to either of the remaining tours by contacting Doug Wagner, Coast Rails 2014 Registrar. See "Outside Activities" page for more information. Refunds will be issued either via PayPal or check, depending on how the original payment was submitted.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.10 (PDF).

  • April 7, 2014
    - ADDED – Operating session sign-up information added to "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" webpage.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.9 (PDF).

  • April 3, 2014
    - CANCELLED – Clinic: Roger Rasmussen, "Building Evergreen Trees", Friday, 2:30 PM.
    - UPDATED – The deadline to sign up for Modeling With The Masters clinics has been extended to Wednesday, April 23, for all clinics.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.8 (PDF).

  • March 25, 2014
    - ADDED – Clinic: Ed Hall, MMR, "Basic Airbrush Techniques", Thursday, 8:30 PM, Lark Room.
    - ADDED – Clinic: Tony Thompson, "Transition-era Tank Car Modeling", Saturday, 2:30 PM, Lark Room.
    - ADDED – Layout Tour: Paul Deis, HO & Fn3, Paso Robles, Friday, 1:00 to 5:00 PM.
    - ADDED – Layout Tour: Gary Siegel, HO & G, Santa Barbara, Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 PM.
    - CANCELLED – Layout Tour: Santa Maria Valley Railway, HO & Lionel, Santa Maria.
    - UPDATED – Home & Club Layout Tour Schedule (PDF).
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.7 (PDF).

  • March 23, 2014
    - CANCELLED – Layout Tour: Andrew Merriam, HO, San Luis Obispo, Friday and Sunday.
    - UPDATED – Home & Club Layout Tour Schedule (PDF).
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule, ver. 2.6 (PDF).

  • March 19, 2014
    - ADDED – Clinic: Chuck Catania, "A Case for C/MRI on Arduino", Thursday, 7:00 PM, Lark Room. See "Clinics" webpage for description. Look for the NEW flag.
    - ADDED – Clinic: Andy Reichert, "P87: New Technology", Saturday, 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Lark Room. See "Clinics" webpage for description. Look for the NEW flag.
    - ADDED – Clinic: Bill Schaumburg, "The Sierra RR’s Jamestown Shops, a Walking Tour", Wednesday, 8:30 PM, Lark Room. See "Clinics" webpage for description. Look for the NEW flag.
    - ADDED – Clinic: Tom Zehnder, "Oil and the Railroads of the Central Coast", Saturday, 1:00 PM, Lark Room. See "Clinics" webpage for description. Look for the NEW flag.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule matrix (PDF) updated with new clinics. See the "Schedules" webpage for the downloadable and printable schedule of each day's events and a "QwikLook" Master Schedule.

  • March 18, 2014
    - ADDED – Clinic: Bill Kaufman, "The State Belt". Friday, 8:30 PM, Starlight Room. See "Clinics" webpage for description. Look for the NEW flag.
    - ADDED – Clinics: Bob Blake, "Introduction to EduTRAIN" and "Creating an EduTRAIN Clinic/Lab", Wednesday, 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, Lark Room. See "Clinics" webpage for description. Look for the NEW flag.
    - ADDED – Outside Activity: San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum Open House, Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. See "Outside Activities" webpage for full schedule of events. Look for the NEW flag. NOTE: There will not be any speeder rides or lunch served at the Museum.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule matrix (PDF) updated with new clinics. See the "Schedules" webpage for the downloadable and printable schedule of each day's events and a "QwikLook" Master Schedule.

  • March 12, 2014
    - ADDED – Clinic: Pete Steinmetz, Wednesday, 8:30 PM, Owl Room. See "Clinics" webpage for description. Look for the NEW flag.
    - CHANGED – LDSIG and OPSIG Meet & Greets will be moderated by Bill Kaufman, with an appropriate "foil".
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule matrix (PDF) updated with new clinic. See the "Schedules" webpage for the downloadable and printable schedule of each day's events and a "QwikLook" Master Schedule.

  • March 10, 2014
    - ADDED – Layout Tour Times: Bill Obermeyer, Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
    - ADDED – Layout Tour Times: Robin White, Sunday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule matrix (PDF) updated with new layout tour times. See the "Schedules" webpage for the downloadable and printable schedule of each day's events and a "QwikLook" Master Schedule.
    - UPDATED – Home & Club Layout Tour Schedule Matrix (PDF), with new layout tour times. See "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" webpage.

  • March 7, 2014
    - ADDED – Clinic: Pat LaTorres, "Railfanning Made Easy: Basic Ferroequinology", Wednesday, 7:00 PM, Lark Room.
    - CHANGED – "Wine Tasting Tour" renamed "Bitter Creek Western RR with Wine Tasting Tour". See "Outside Activities" webpage for more information and to sign-up.

  • March 6, 2014
    - CANCELLED – Layout Tours: Darrell Nash (Sn3) and Hilding Larson (HO).

  • March 4, 2014
    - ADDED – Clinic descriptions and schedule days and times. See "Clinics" webpage for day, time and room assignments. This webpage is "printer-friendly" and may be printed without the borders and menus.
    - ADDED – Make and Take clinics: Lehrer, "Background Furnace Filter Trees" and "Sagebrush Armature Trees". See "Clinics" webpage for required materials fee of $5.00 per clinic.
    - ADDED – Layout tour dates and times for: Cementina, Gibson, Merriam, Newman, and Parker. See "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" webpage for days and times.
    - ADDED – Central Valley Model Works shop tour dates and times. See "Outside Activities" webpage for schedule.
    - UPDATED – Daily Schedule matrix (PDF) updated with clinics, layout tours, and more! See the "Schedules" webpage for the downloadable and printable schedule of each day's events and a "QwikLook" Master Schedule.
    - UPDATED – Home & Club Layout Tour Schedule Matrix (PDF), a printer-friendly file. See "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" webpage.
    - No update on sign-ups for Operating Session has been received. Sign-ups are not expected to be open until mid-March to mid-April. Keep checking this page for updates.

  • February 27, 2014
    - ADDED – Home & Club Layout Tour Schedule Matrix (PDF), a printer-friendly file. See "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" webpage.

  • February 26, 2014
    - ADDED – Eight new club, museum, and shop layout tours. See "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" webpage. Look for the NEW flag.
    - ADDED – "The Coast Line: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara", a brochure describing points of interest along the way. See "Outside Activities" webpage.
    - CHANGED – "Santa Barbara Tour" renamed "Amtrak South & Back Tour".

  • February 25, 2014
    - ADDED – Central Valley Model Works Shop Tour. See "Outside Activities" webpage for more information.
    - ADDED – Layout tour dates and times added for: Clinton, Goodman, Morden, Morse, and Taylor. See "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" webpage.
    - CANCELLED – Layout Tour: Art Sylvester, G scale.

  • February 24, 2014
    - ADDED – Door Prize Donors & Sponsors section on the "Links" webpage.

  • February 23, 2014
    - The sign-up deadline for Modeling With The Masters clinics has changed. The new deadline to sign-up is Monday, March 31, for all clinics EXCEPT for Building a Turnout Using Fast Tracks, which is Saturday, March 22. See the "Modeling With The Masters" page to sign-up for these limited-attendance clinics.

  • February 18, 2014
    - The Daily Schedule is now available! See the "Schedules" page for a downloadable PDF of each day's events and a "QwikLook" Master Schedule.
    - Clinics and Layout Tours dates and times are expected in about a week.
    - Sign-ups for Operating Session are not expected to be open until mid-March to mid-April. Keep checking this page for updates.

  • February 17, 2014
    - Six outside tours and excursions are NOW on sale! See the "Outside Activities" page for all the details. You must be registered for the convention to buy tours. If not registered, please do so on the "Registration" page. You may pay for your tours when you register.

  • February 15, 2014
    - Added Jeff Parker layout tour on "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" page.
    - Added Terry Taylor clinic on "Clinics" page.

  • February 13, 2014
    - Added status update and tentative dates and times for some of the activities being planned on the "Outside Activities" page.

  • February 11, 2014
    - Added Ed Morse and Bill Obermeyer layout tours on "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" page.
    - Added new page "What's Hadley Jct? to website.
    - Added 3 new presenters and clinics on "Clinics" page.

  • February 6, 2014
    - The Sands Inn & Suites has SOLD OUT! See the "Hotel" page for a list of alternate hotels.
    - We are not yet accepting sign-ups for operating sessions. See "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" page for more information.
    - Outside Tours information and ordering are in the final stages and will open for online sales within one day of the Webmaster receiving it.

  • February 4, 2014
    - Added 10 "SIG Track Clinics" on "Layout Design / Operations SIGs" page.

  • February 3, 2014
    - Added 17 new presenters and clinics on "Clinics" page.

  • February 2, 2014
    - Added new "SLO Sights" page with local attractions that may be of interest to Coast Rails attendees and their families.

  • February 1, 2014
    - "Early Bird" registration fare expired. See "Registration" page to register.
    - Updated "Layout Tours & Operating Sessions" page with layout descriptions and photos. Be sure to click the photos for a close-up view.

  • January 14, 2014
    - Added eleven new layout tours on the "Layout Tours" page.
    - Added new clinician, Ed Hall, MMR, on the "Clinics" page.
    - Outside Activities ordering information is coming soon! Keep checking this page for updates.

  • December 24, 2013
    - Updated Non-Rails activities information on the "Non-Rails" page.

  • December 21, 2013
    - Tool lists required for the Modeling With The Masters clinics are now available on the "Modeling With The Masters" page. MWTM clinics may now be purchased on the same page.

  • December 15, 2013
    - Contest room schedule updated on "Contests" page.

  • November 10, 2013
    - GREAT NEWS! The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum (SLORRM) is now a co-host for the Coast Rails 2014 PCR Convention. Members of the SLORRM may register for the convention without joining the NMRA.

  • November 6, 2013
    - More clinicians added to "Clinics" page.

  • July 25, 2013
    - Deadline to register for Modeling With The Masters clinic extended to March 30, 2014..

  • July 21, 2013
    - Added online ordering of Modeling With The Masters "Building a Turnout Using Fast Tracks" clinic to the "Company Store" page.

  • July 15, 2013
    - Added "Building a Turnout Using Fast Tracks" clinic information to "Modeling With The Masters" page. Online ordering of this clinic not yet available. Check back here for updates.
    - Updated "Mail-in Registration Form" for Modeling With The Masters clinics.
    - "Scratch Build a Puddle-Jumper Bridge" MWTM clinic rescheduled from Friday evening to Saturday, 9:00-11:30 AM.

  • July 14, 2013
    - Website updated to remove references to "Day at the Ranch" activities.
    - Cancelled MWTM Scratch Build a Bridge clinic.
    - Added Rick Fulkerson as Publicity Chair.

  • April 22, 2013
    - The convention hotel is not accepting on-line reservations until after May 1, 2013. Reservations may be made by calling the hotel directly at (805) 544-0500 or toll-free (866‎) 539-0036. Use Group Code "PCR2014".
    - Karen Keifer joined the committee as Volunteer Coordinator. See the "Committee" page for her contact information.

  • April 2, 2013
    - The Coast Rails 2014 Company Store is open for business!

  • January 22, 2013
    - The Coast Rails 2014 website makes its first appearance on the Internet. Check back frequently for news and information about the 2014 PCR Convention in San Luis Obispo, California, April 30 to May 4, 2014.
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