2020 NMRA LSR Navigation
The 2020 LSR NMRA Convention
Lone Star Region NMRA
San Jacinto Model Rails
Texas Gulf Division LSR NMRA
National Model Railroad Association

Sunset Limited Operating Sessions


Houston, Texas     February 13-15, 2020


THE CONVENTION IS OVER!

WE HOPE EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED HAD A GOOD TIME.

THANKS TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE!


Like to operate? We have you covered!

Plan now to join in opereating sessions on 12 of the Houston area's most operator-friendly layouts. While the 2020 convention does not officially open until Thursday, Feb. 13, we'll kick off the operating sessions a day earlier to fit in all 12 layouts.

We're looking forward to some great sessions, with room for about 25 to 30 operators. The convention will feature five operating sessions. The first will take place Wednesday evening starting at 7:30 pm. The later-than-usual start will help avoid Houston's rush hour traffic and give folks from out of town a little extra time to get to their destinations. The full operating schedule is:

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Thursday, Feb. 13, 9 am to noon
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2 pm to 5 pm
Friday, Feb. 14, 9 am to noon
Friday, Feb. 14, 2 pm to 5 pm

To participate in the operating sessions you need to sign up as soon as possible with your top 5 layout selections.
Scroll down for a description of each of the participating layouts.

To get on the list, send an email to LSR Operations Co-Chairman Tom Bailey at tfbailey@sbcglobal.net
with your top five preferred layout selections in order of your preference.

Please email as soon as possible so we can coordinate layout operating schedules. We will schedule on a first-come, first served basis. While we cannot give everyone all of their layout preferences, we will do our best to accommodate your choices.  If you have any questions, email Tom Bailey at 
tfbailey@sbcglobal.net.


Robert Ashcraft
Raton & Western Railroad


Raton & Western Railroad

2 sessions/7 operators
Scale: HO
Era: 1962 standard gauge
Size: 20' x 20'
Layout: 100%
Scenery: 90%
Controls: DCC - EasyDCC

Fictitious layout over Raton Pass; the Raton & Western is a bridge route for the AT&SF and D&RGW. Layout has mountains, five towns and two yards. A modified double decked layout, this railroad is built for operations requiring two yard operators and four road engineers with a hostler helping both yard operators. RailOp generated switch lists are used to move traffic across the system.


Eddie Aycock
Union Pacific - Town Creek Division

Union Pacific - Town Creek Subdivision

1 session/4 operators
Scale: N
Era: 1960s - 1980s
Size: 10' x 16' + 12' x 12'
Layout:100%
Scenery: 60 %
Controls: DCC - Digitrax

The Union Pacific - Town Creek Subdivision layout occupies two rooms with three levels in one room and two levels in the adjoining room. The route is Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Pocatello, Idaho, with many elevation changes through the mountains. The railroad has sixteen signal blocks with Digitrax equipment. Atlas code 55 track is used for everything outside of the staging area. There are many industries with laser kit buildings. Ops sessions run with JMRI printed manifests.


Bob Barnett
River City Union Terminal

River City Union Terminal

2 sessions/4 operators
Scale: HO
Era: Early 1950s steam and diesel
Size: 11' x 17'
Layout: 90%
Scenery: 90%
Controls: DCC - Digitrax

The RCUT models the Missouri Pacific mainline from St. Louis to Little Rock with Texarkana as south staging. Designed for operation featuring passenger, mail and milk train operations. Equipment is MP, T&P and MKT featuring the Texas
Eagle and Texas Special.


Gordon Bliss
Santa Fe - All the Way

Santa Fe - All the Way

2 sessions/10 operators
Scale: N
Era: 1953/1954
Size: 20' x 30' +
Layout: 100%
Scenery: 50%
Controls: DCC - Digitrax

The Santa Fe - All the Way is a large double deck layout representing Santa Fe's Chicago to Los Angeles mainline. The layout features a 464' mainline, two double-track helixes and a high scenery to train ratio. Kansas City Union Station and Argentine Yard are modeled. Operates 30 trains in a four hour session with nine operators. PBX phone system used for communications.


Craig Brantley
D&RGW - Spring Division

D&RGW - Spring Division

1 session/4 operators
Scale: O/On3
Era: 40s-50s narrow/standard gauge steam
Size: 21' x 32'
Layout: 100%
Scenery: 70%
Controls: DCC - EasyDCC and Phoenix sound

The D&RGW - Spring Division is a freelance Colorado narrow gauge railroad with standard gauge interchange. Features Colorado mountains, dual gauge track, scratchbuilt trestles, stud wall bench work, lighting valence, custom control panels. Designed for operation using RailOP generated switch lists.


Gene Mangum
Mystic Branch

Mystic Branch

2 sessions/3 operators
Scale: HO
Era: Late 1970s Standard Gauge
Size: 8' x 21'
Layout: 100%
Scenery: 100%
Controls: Digitrax

The Mystic Branch is a standard gauge SP branchline set in the Texas Hill Country based on the actual branch from San Antonio to Kerrville. Features two fictional towns, Mystic and Val Verde with a small yard representing Kerrville. Off layout staging via removable cassettes. Typical branch line operation with urban and rural environments, featuring benched rock cuts; trestle, truss and deck girder bridges; scratchbuilt and kit structures.


Al Partlow
Texas & New Orleans Hearne Sub

Texas & New Orleans Hearne Sub

2 sessions/7 operators
Scale: HO
Era: Early 1950s
Size: 20' x 38'
Layout: 100%
Scenery: 50%
Controls: DCC - CVP Products Easy DCC

The Texas & New Orleans Hearne Sub is a 20' x 38' HO scale model railroad that depicts operations on the T&NO Dallas and Austin Divisions in the early 1950s. The railroad includes the major terminal at Houston, including Houston Grand Central Station, as well as the towns of Hockley, Hempstead, Navasota and Hearne.  A major classification yard is featured at Hearne. The Austin Sub leaves the mainline at Hempstead for Austin and the Texas Hill Country.  Equipment includes both steam and first generation diesels, typical passenger consists, and era specific freight cars and cabooses. Signature structures include the unique Hearne Passenger Depot, the Hempstead Depot and the large rice dryer at Hockley. 


Steve Sandifer
Santa Fe - Howard Branch

Santa Fe - Howard Branch

2 sessions/2 operators
Scale: HO
Era: 1952
Size: 14' x 20'
Layout: 50%
Scenery: 95% Upper
Controls: DCC - NCE, some sound

The Santa Fe - Howard Branch is in an expanded bedroom and models Emporia and the Howard Branch of the ATSF in Kansas in the early 50s on two decks. The upper deck (Howard Branch) is fully operational with car card routing. Instead of a helix, an around-the-room behind-the-scenes ramp connects the two decks. 50 turnouts and two diamonds are hand laid with most on Central Valley tie blocks using code 70 rail. Lower deck under construction with 17 staging tracks, 2 helixes and the town of Emporia.


Dave Shafer
Culpeper Ridge Railways

Culpeper Ridge Railways

1 session/6 operators
Scale: HO
Era: Steam
Size: 20’ x 25’ double decked with helix
Layout: 100%
Scenery: 30%
Controls: Digitrax

The Culpeper Ridge Railways consist of four railroads in the Appalachian Mountains and foothills.  This is a large layout in the late-construction phase, with all trackwork completed.  The Greenbrier and Cherry River Railroad is a Class 1 mainline operation with freight and passenger service to all major points.  In addition, a large division-point yard serves the G&CR.  The Jefferson and Greenbrier Electric Railway is an electric interurban which handles both passengers and freight.  The interurban railway features a separate yard, and freight is interchanged between the G&CR and JAGER.  The highlight of the interurban railway is a 15 foot long trestle.  A logging and mining branch line is completed which interchanges with the G&CR, and an HOn30 narrow gauge logging and mining line is also completed.  G&CR, branchline, and narrow gauge motive power is 100% steam, and many locos have sound.  JAGER motive power features freight motors, boxcabs, steeplecabs, and interurbans.  Car forwarding uses RailOp/Excel. Trains run sequentially (no fast clock) with a focus on fun.


Randall Wilson
Southern Pacific Rabbit Line

Southern Pacific Rabbit Line

2 sessions/7 operators
Scale: HO
Era: 1990s
Size: 22' x 36'
Layout: 99%
Scenery: 10%
Controls: DCC - NCE

Southern Pacific's "Rabbit Line" from Houston to Shreveport in the early 1990s is recreated here. The layout features Southern Pacific trains and three shortline railroads in the East Texas piney woods.


Bill Wright
Green Bay Southern Railroad

Green Bay Southern Railroad

1 session/9 operators
Scale: HO
Era: 1956
Size: 22' x 43'
Layout: 100%
Scenery: 60%
Controls: DCC - NCE

The Green Bay Southern Railroad represents the Green Bay & Western Railroad in Wisconsin from the car ferry on Lake Michigan. Track plan for Norwood Yard in Green Bay based on the prototype yard plan.


Frank Wyatt
Union Pacific Illinois Terminal Rail Road

Union Pacific Illinois Terminal Rail Road

1 session/4 operators
Scale: HO
Era: 1960s
Size: 10' x 20'
Layout: 90%
Scenery: 90%
Controls: DCC - Digitrax

UPIT is a two-bedroom switching railroad on one level with remote (in hallway) dispatcher position using JMRI. Normally in addition to the dispatcher, we have four operators handling 19 short trains: two road engineers and one operator for the town of Springfield and one operator for the main Federal Yard.



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