Model Railroading > Gateway 2020 NMRA Convention Officially Cancelled

Received official word this morning.  

http://www.gateway2020.org

Mike Peters
Brentwood, MO

Also received word on this, this morning.  My modular group was planning on displaying at the show but, alas, it is yet another show that was cancelled.

Darin Umlauft
A WC, SOO and GBW fan in Slinger, WI

We had a friend's layout on the tours. Since he passed away a few years ago it was going to be the last showing of it before the inevitable tear down.  Alas, it will now go quietly.

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Couple more pics...

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Beautiful layout.

Just as I said weeks ago and everyone was ignoring me and discounting my opinion.  I know several key people in the NMRA.  This was a decision pretty much made in their minds weeks ago.  Glad they finally announced it formally as to not worsen the plans of companies and modelers alike.

CSN

Whose layout is that?

Carl Winkler's in Belleville, IL.  He passed away about five years ago and willed the layout to three of us.  We have been selling off rolling stock at local shows (a really slow process) but there is a lot left.  Unfortunately, the time to cut it up is fast approaching.  The layout itself is not salvagable due to it's construction but we'll sell whatever we can salvage in buildings, etc.

Here's a post I did back in 2012.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,2659488,2659488#msg-2659488



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/20 14:06 by MILW16.

CaliforniaSteamin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just as I said weeks ago and everyone was ignoring
> me and discounting my opinion.  I know several
> key people in the NMRA.  This was a decision
> pretty much made in their minds weeks ago.  Glad
> they finally announced it formally as to not
> worsen the plans of companies and modelers alike.
>
> CSN

If I recall your original post was concerning the National Train Show.  While that event goes hand in hand with the NMRA Convention, they are two individual entities, different facilities, separate contracts.  They schedule themselves together at the same time because it's mutually beneficial to both events.  I don't doubt there has been previous discussions on whether or not to cancel, but up to this point there has been an optimism that the convention could proceed.  What killed it are the layout owners, clinicians, and other facility tours that are withdrawing their participation.  Those recent revelations are what sealed the deal and forced the cancellation.

Mike Peters
Brentwood, MO

Probably only a matter of time before the Narrow Gauge convention (also St Louis ) do likewise.Most unfortunate,I was looking forward to it a great deal.
Regards,dK

4thDistrict Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> map Wrote
>
> > What
> > killed it are the layout owners, clinicians,
> and
> > other facility tours that are withdrawing their
> > participation.  Those recent revelations are
> what
> > sealed the deal and forced the cancellation.
> >
> > Mike Peters
> > Brentwood, MO
>
> As well as all the people who knew better and
> already cancelled their registration. Anyone who
> has been paying attention to the real news from
> the health experts knew this summer won't be the
> best time to be in large groups, or confined
> spaces with other people. July is just too soon to
> have confidence that the pandemic is behind us.
> With almost 6,300 deaths in the US alone, and over
> 16,000 worldwide, and much more predicted, this is
> not the time to go to events such as the
> convention OR train show. Taking care of our
> health is much more important than a hobby
> convention. 

Actually, there have been 16,679 deaths in the U.S. alone.

I served on the commitee for both Philadelphia NMRA conventions and it is allot of work and time. I feel bad for all the voluteer work they have done to get this convention ready.  Sorry guys and gals that it did not happen. The conventions are a great time.  Bruce

"What killed it are the layout owners, clinicians, and other facility tours that are withdrawing their participation.  Those recent revelations are what sealed the deal and forced the cancellation."

Only partially the story and it looks like you are taking a shot at those folks about caring about their health and safety. In poor taste.

Bruce


map Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CaliforniaSteamin Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just as I said weeks ago and everyone was
> ignoring
> > me and discounting my opinion.  I know several
> > key people in the NMRA.  This was a decision
> > pretty much made in their minds weeks ago. 
> Glad
> > they finally announced it formally as to not
> > worsen the plans of companies and modelers
> alike.
> >
> > CSN
>
> If I recall your original post was concerning the
> National Train Show.  While that event goes hand
> in hand with the NMRA Convention, they are two
> individual entities, different facilities,
> separate contracts.  They schedule themselves
> together at the same time because it's mutually
> beneficial to both events.  I don't doubt there
> has been previous discussions on whether or not to
> cancel, but up to this point there has been an
> optimism that the convention could proceed.  What
> killed it are the layout owners, clinicians, and
> other facility tours that are withdrawing their
> participation.  Those recent revelations are what
> sealed the deal and forced the cancellation.
>
> Mike Peters
> Brentwood, MO

Both the Norfolk & Western Historical Society and Southern Railway Historical Association conventions have been postponed to next year.

Yes, there is a lot of work involved in setting up these get-togethers.

Bruce,

I wasn't taking a shot at anyone, I was merely pointing out that without the participation of businesses and private layout owners, the event really couldn't go forward.  I do care about their health and safety because I know just about all of them.

Mike Peters
Brentwood, MO


brfriedm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "What killed it are the layout owners, clinicians,
> and other facility tours that are withdrawing
> their participation.  Those recent revelations
> are what sealed the deal and forced the
> cancellation."
>
> Only partially the story and it looks like you are
> taking a shot at those folks about caring about
> their health and safety. In poor taste.
>
> Bruce
 

It's quite sad, but I think it was a good idea.  I think that just about every convention and big model show between now and late fall either is, or should be, cancelled.  There isn't going to be a clean "end" to the health problem.  This isn't a movie where everything is suddenly OK.  It is going to be a while to let the quarantine fade away.  We still have a huge amount of people who just won't take basic precautions and they will cause this mess to drag on.  I was amazed that St. Louis held out as long as they did, but I understand that nobody wanted to see a;; their hard work go down the drain.  I feel sorry for the planning committee.

Gary B.
Waverly, NE

Mike:
I didn't interpret your comment as anything but a simple "statement of reality'..that being that the event can't go on without the support of the owners, manufacturers, etc..  Considering current conditions, I don't know how anyone could fault anybody for not wanting to participate.  I feel badly for you and the committee for having to put in a tremendous amount of work, and then to see it all have to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond their control.

Bruce:
Not to start a flame war, but I've known Mike for many years, and I can assure you that he IS concerned about the health and safety of everyone who might have participated...not sure what your intent was, but it sure seems like an apology to Mike and the committee is due here.
   Doug

"What killed it are the layout owners, clinicians, and other facility tours that are withdrawing their participation.  Those recent revelations are what sealed the deal and forced the cancellation."

What killed it was the Virus which has killed almost 100,000 folks globally. Poor choice of words.  Thanks and be safe. Bruce 


lajrwc1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mike:
> I didn't interpret your comment as anything but a
> simple "statement of reality'..that being that the
> event can't go on without the support of the
> owners, manufacturers, etc..  Considering current
> conditions, I don't know how anyone could fault
> anybody for not wanting to participate.  I feel
> badly for you and the committee for having to put
> in a tremendous amount of work, and then to see it
> all have to be cancelled due to circumstances
> beyond their control.
>
> Bruce:
> Not to start a flame war, but I've known Mike for
> many years, and I can assure you that he IS
> concerned about the health and safety of everyone
> who might have participated...not sure what your
> intent was, but it sure seems like an apology to
> Mike and the committee is due here.
>    Doug

4thDistrict Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Plainsman Wrote:
> >
> > Actually, there have been 16,679 deaths in the
> > U.S. alone.
>
> Thanks for the correction. I accidentally looked
> up an old report. 6,000 is a horrible statistic,
> but 16,000+ is staggering. 

Some will try to equate this with traffic fatalities, which average 100 per day. Aside from the apples/oranges nonsense, the best counterargument was posted by a columnist a couple of weeks ago. Don't remember who wrote it, but the gist of his argument was: I was hit by a car and injured last Fall. During my recovery I came into contact with many people. As far as  know, not one of them has been hit by a car as a result of that contact.

Tom M.