About The Event

This convention will be held from September 9-13, 2026, at the Doubletree Hotel, 7450 Hazard Center Drive, Mission Valley, San Diego.  92108.  Located close to many San Diego attractions and transportation, the Doubletree by Hilton is a four-star hotel.  Clinics, Celebration of Models room, and the banquet will be held at the hotel.  See the San Diego Division web page (www.sandiegodivision.org) for reservations and amenities.

Please read the following instructions before proceeding.

FIRST TIME REGISTRATIONS

If you are an NMRA member, enter your number, or your Region and Division name in the space provided. This will hide the non-member registration and show the member information. Skip the "Add Extra Fare" button (you will see it later in the registration process).  Chose your registration. You may also chose banquet and Company Store Items at the same time. 

PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED

1.  To add Extra Fare items, select the "Add Extra Fare Items" button.  This will allow you to skip the basic registration info.  If you wish multiple of the same item (e.g., pins) simply click the "Add" button once for each item you want.  The system will accumulate the items and show the appropriate billing total.  

2.  Once you have chosen all the items you wish, complete the billing information.  You can see the updated registration, if you've created an account using the link on your original confirmation. 

TO VIEW YOUR UPDATED REGISTRATION:

1.  Locate your original registration confirmation email.

2.  Click on the “View Receipt” button.  Your receipt will open in your web browser.

3.  Click on the “Go to My Account” button, found.

4.  Click on the “Send Magic Link” button.


CANCELLATION POLICY:  After July 1, 2026, 50% refunds. No refund on merchandise or tours. September 1, 2026 no refunds for anything, no exceptions.



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  • Use this option to add Extra Fare items without creating a new registration.

  • This option provides the most advantageous available registration rate for a single non-NMRA registrant. The banquet is an extra fare.

  • This option provides the most advantageous available registration rate for a non-NMRA registrant companion. The banquet is an extra fare.

  • This option is for youths, aged 10-17, accompanied by a paid adult.

  • This option is for registrants electing to attend for a single day. A maximum three days available, each at this rate.

  • This option is for registrants electing to attend for a single day. A maximum three days available, each at this rate.

  • This option is for registrants electing to attend for a single day. A maximum three days available, each at this rate.

  • The banquet speaker will be Jeff Cauthen, noted author on topics relating to the Southern Pacific Railroad.


Company Store

A lineup of engaging presentations, workshops, and discussions to fuel your creative spark and expand your artistic horizons. Each session is designed to explore new techniques, share innovative ideas, and connect you with fellow creatives. Browse the list to find sessions that resonate with your interests and aspirations, and get ready for a journey of creative exploration and growth.


Hands-on Clinics

  • Modeling with the PSR - HO [Sold Out]

    This will be a two session hands-on clinic where you will build a laser kit, Tom's General Store, in HO scale, guided by two or more Master Model Railroaders from the PSR. Participants should bring their own tools or purchase a tool kit (below) in advance. Limited registrations and tool kits are available.

    Price $25.00

  • Modeling with the PSR - N [Sold Out]

    This will be a two session hands-on clinic where you will build a laser kit, Tom's General Store, in N scale, guided by two or more Master Model Railroaders from the PSR. Participants should bring their own tools or purchase a tool kit (below) in advance. Limited registrations and tool kits are available.

    Price $25.00

  • Tool Kit

    This is a kit containing the tools and materials you will need for the "Modeling with the PSR" clinics above, should you not wish to bring your own.

    Price $25.00

  • Make and Take Backdrop Clinic Session 1 [Sold Out]

    This hands-on Make and Take clinic will show an easy method of painting a backdrop featuring tree-covered rolling hills, typical of many areas in the US. Space may be available for observers, who will not get a backdrop to take. Limited registrations are available.

    Price $10.00

  • Make and Take Backdrop Clinic Session 2

    This hands-on Make and Take clinic will show an easy method of painting a backdrop featuring tree-covered rolling hills, typical of many areas in the US. Space may be available for observers, who will not get a backdrop to take. Limited registrations are available. This is the same as Session 1, but is presented to provide more seats. Only sign up for one session.

    Price $10.00

  • Non-Rail Hands-on Clinic

    Design and paint your own clay seed pot while learning simple techniques for working with acrylics, sealing surfaces, and preparing a pot for planting. Each person will leave with a personalized, garden‑ready pot and a packet of seeds to start your very own growing journey. No experience needed, just curiosity and a love for making something beautiful and useful.

    Price $10.00

  • Hobo Breakfast

    Optional meeting of all Hobos, held at the convention hotel.

    Price $25.00

  • Convention Shirts

    Shirts are Port Authority, with the convention logo and pocket. Shirt cost is $40, which will be charged when you select your size.

    Price $0.00

  • Convention Pin

    The convention pin contains the convention logo.

    Price $10.00

  • Convention Car - HO scale

    The AeroFlo Coal Gondola, developed by Johnstown America in the mid-to-late 1980s, is an aluminum, lightweight (42,000 lbs. tare) car designed for high-capacity coal service.

    Price $40.00

  • Convention Car - N scale

    The AeroFlo Coal Gondola, developed by Johnstown America in the mid-to-late 1980s, is an aluminum, lightweight (42,000 lbs. tare) car designed for high-capacity coal service.

    Price $30.00

  • Swap Meet Tables - first table

    Tables for the Swap Meet on Saturday must be reserved, due to the limited number available. Fees are to guarantee attendance and the fee for the first table only will be refunded upon your arrival at the Swap Meet.

    Price $10.00

  • Swap Meet Tables - second table

    Select this item if you wish more than one table. (For more than two tables, contact the registrar.)

    Price $10.00

OPS Sessions

  • SoNap

    Friday, September 11, 9:30am to Noon. The SoNap is a fictitious railroad that has been servicing the Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley area for about 125 years. Ron's HO scale railroad supports the wine industry, agricultural, viticultural, general business, and tourism in Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. The layout is a point-to-point railroad from Sonoma Valley Yard in the Northwest to Napa Valley Yard in the Southeast. In the Napa Yard, an interchange track with Southern Pacific via Oakland connects the railroad to the rest of the world. Later a branch line will be built out of the Calistoga “Y” to connect with the town of Knights Valley. Motive power is steam and diesel. Operation is NCE DCC.


  • Coyote Pass [Sold Out]

    Friday, September 11, 10am to Noon. The freelanced HO scale Coyote Pass and Northern Railroad began in 1972 and was designed from the beginning for Operation Sessions. It has been upgraded and expanded since. The railroad features four train routes based loosely in the Southwest (in the USA) and has modeled towns such as Yuma and Tucson, Arizona, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The era includes steam engines and 1st & 2nd generation diesel locomotives. The railroad continues weekly operations today with some of his crew taking part in switching operations for over 20 years. This highly detailed railroad with many industry structures, tunnels, bridges, trees and more. He has some very interesting 3-D backdrops and scenes on his layout. Operation is NCE DCC.


  • Desert Highlands [Sold Out]

    Saturday, September 12, 9am to Noon. Tim's freelanced HO scale model railroad layout is based on California's High Desert rail line from Barstow, California to Kingman, Arizona during the transition era of the 1950s and 1960s. Even though Tim has a freelance railroad, the towns and location of cities are real such as the city of Barstow, the Ludlow Railroad Station, buildings in Needles, mountains in Arizona, a Kingman water front, Mineral Park and the small town of Borate. The layout has the Barstow railroad yard, many spurs, a staging railroad yard, several freight depots, a machinery industry, a Borax mill, several mines, a high voltage transformer substation, mountains in Arizona, a body of water with a tug boat and more. Operation is NCE DCC.


  • Gopher Canyon

    This outdoor G scale layout does not require reservations. Anyone interested in operating this layout should attend the layout tour (see the Time Table you'll receive at the convention). An Ad Hoc ops session may be held if interest dictates.


  • La Mesa Model Railroad Club

    The La Mesa Model Railroad Club will be offering operating slots on both Saturday and Sunday. Contact them directly at [email protected] to be added to the roster. There are four slots on Saturday, and two on Sunday. Allow at least four hours. Slots cost $20 each, payable directly to the La Mesa club.


  • Short Track Railroad

    Sunday, 10am to 4pm. This N scale museum-quality layout is housed in it's own building. There are two parts to the layout. A completed section is the Donner Pass Exhibit (DPE), modeling the line bewteen Roseville, CA, and Sparks, NV, with a two-track mainline. Major towns on the DPE include Colfax, CA, and Truckee, NV. All the locations on the DPE have been modeled to match the appearance of the railroad in about 1970. A section still under construction is the Feather River Route (FRR), which represents an east-west line farther north, through Portola, CA, and including the Keddie Wye and the Williams Loop. The FRR is a single track mainline with signaling, which is operable. The scenery on the FRR is in progress, but incomplete. Both the DPE and the FRR operate using Digitrax DCC. Both sections of the layout include buildings and bridges modeled and cut on our own laser cutter and 3D printers.


  • San Diego & Arizona Eatern

    Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13, 11am to 4pm both days. participate in an operating session time slot on either Saturday 9/12 or Sunday 9/13 on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern HO Layout. Your opportunity to sign up for an operating session time slot for either Saturday or Sunday will be available at the Opening Reception of the Convention, which will be held at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Wednesday at 6:30pm.


Prototype Tours


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