At the Convention Center Operating Sessions
Convention Center Operating Sessions
Two operations-oriented layouts will be open during the convention with many operator time slots available. If you like to participate in operating sessions or learn more about operations, you can operate on two layouts at the Convention Center.
The Reading Company Technical & Historical Society
A featured layout at the Amherst Society Railroad Hobby Show, this is the society’s first appearance at an NMRA National Convention.
Pre-registration is not required. Sign-up opens Monday afternoon, and operating sessions begin Tuesday morning.
The Reading Company Technical & Historical Society Modular Committee was formed in 1983, by former employees and supporters of the Reading Railroad celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. Since then, the layout has grown from its original 10 x 12 foot configuration to 18 x 160 feet at its fullest. Carefully crafted scenery highlights a range of rural scenes and small towns to heavy industrial companies like the Hershey Company and Bethlehem Steel (not on display), up until 1976 when the Reading was absorbed into Conrail. Currently utilizing Digital Command Control, our layout consists of a double-track mainline, yards, various industry supported spurs, and is operationally controlled by a dispatcher, remote controlled interlockings, and working signals.
We are excited to be participating in the 2026 Scenic City Express and can’t wait to share our layout with all of you, in spite of being able to bring only 116 of 160 feet of Railroad. While you’re with us, build a coal train of over 50 hopper cars pulled by a freight locomotive of your choice. Or perhaps you prefer passenger service; our famous stainless steel streamliner passenger train “the Crusader” is waiting at Wayne Junction. And don’t miss the Iron Horse Ramble that’s ready-to-roll with two RDG 4-8-4 T1 locomotives.
Operations Road Show
A regular at NMRA National Conventions, Operations Road show teaches people how to operate on a large layout in a friendly, low-pressure environment ORS is offering operating sessions throughout the week of the convention. The layout is a Free-moN layout constructed by members of the community and operated by Operations Road Show (ORS) a division of the N-scale Events Group (NEG).
You must be registered for the convention to participate in an operating session.
You can reserve your spot by pre-registering at https://operatingsessions.com/Event/ZMKSH9. To register, you need to create a logon/password in operatingsessions.com.
Half of the spots will be available on operatingsessions.com. Unclaimed spots and the other half of the spots will be available for on-site sign up.
Scheduled sessions are:
Tuesday July 28th 1:30 PM
Tuesday July 28th 6:30pm
Wednesday July 29th 8:30 AM
Wednesday July 29th 1:30 PM
Thursday July 30th 8:30 AM
Thursday July 30th 6:30pm
Friday July 31st 1:30 PM
Friday July 31st 6:30pm
Saturday August 1st 1:30 PM
New/Beginner Operators Welcome!
