‘Come Run Some Trains On Some Wonderful Layouts!’
By Al Oneto
An Excel spreadsheet is available with the assignment of operators to layouts as of June 24. Updates will be posted, please check back often.
Below you will find the names of layout owners and clubs who are offering operation sessions as part of HN2009, our 2009 NMRA national convention in Hartford, Connecticut. In order to participate in these you MUST be a member of OPSIG. If you are not currently a member through July 2009, you may submit your dues as part of the NMRA convention registration. Dues amounts are published on the OPSIG home page.
Registration for these operating sessions will be accepted only through the NMRA convention registration form. If you have preregistered for the convention, you will get your registration form in the mail. If you have not preregistered, your registration form will be published in Scale Rails in 2009.
Please note that a few sessions are labeled "Mon. LD". These are offered as part of a joint LDSIG and OPSIG drive yourself tour to the Albany area. You must be a member of both of those organizations in order to be assigned to any op sessions in that column. There are other Monday operating opportunities for people who are not going on that trip.
On the registration form we have given you the distance in miles and time you will have to travel to get to each layout. If you are going to a layout at commuter time, it may take about 15-20 minutes more than the time listed. Weekday sessions are scheduled from 7-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday sessions are from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., hopefully giving you enough travel time before and after these sessions.
There will be operating sessions going on during six days, and you may ask for as many as six sessions. You may prioritize up to 10 (of the 49 sessions available). When we receive your registration, you will be assigned immediately to your highest choice then remaining open. After April 30 we will begin to assign people to multiple sessions based on the date on your OPSIG registration and your registration number. All who ask for two or more sessions will get a second session, then all who want three or more will get a third session and so on until we run out of requests or run out of sessions.
It is VERY important for you to give us your e-mail address and your cell phone and/or house phone number in case we need to contact you about your choices or about any last minute changes. We will aim to post operating assignments on the OPSIG website (and maybe the HN2009 website as well) starting about May 15. Also on these web sites we will post information about each operating layout. You can link to that listing by clicking on the owner name below
Finally, maps and written directions will be sent to all people assigned to sessions on Sunday July 5. For the three evening sessions you will have to meet in the SIG room at 4:00 (Mon., Tue., & Thur.) to form car pools and get maps. For sessions on Sat (7/11) and Su. (7/12) we will give maps/directions to everyone who is assigned, because many people may be stopping at these sessions on their way home. Stop at the OPSIG desk in the SIG room during the day on Mon., Tues., or Wed. to request these maps. If you want to operate with someone, write those names on your OPSIG registration form at the bottom. We will accommodate you if space is available when the last one registered in your group comes up for assignment. So try to get the whole group to register at the same time and also list all names in the group. If you have questions you may contact the OPSIG Coordinator for this convention, Al Oneto: aloneto@optonline.net or 203-255-1331 (Our answering machine is always on and screening calls, so wait for the message to finish and then give your name and what you want. If we are home, we'll pick up the phone. If not, leave your number and we'll call back.) Thank you and come and have some FUN!
Click on a name to get to a page with information about the layout.
Some sessions have been cancelled due to insufficient numbers.
These sessions are shown with a line through the name.
Other sessions have filled to capacity - these are indicated with a green background.