May/June 2022
Before Covid-19 disrupted our lives, I described, on occasion, things to do at the upcoming National Narrow Gauge Convention, (NNGC). Last year, I did not do so because of the lingering uncertainty of Covid restrictions, but this year, barring last minute developments, things look positive for business as usual, or almost as usual. I am also happy to report that last year’s NNGC at Hickory went well albeit to a smaller than normal crowd.
This year, the 42nd NNGC will be held at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Washington, south of Seattle on Puget Sound. Located 22 miles south of Seattle’s SeaTac airport, Tacoma is roughly halfway between Olympia, the capitol of Washington to the South, and its famous big city neighbor to the North, Seattle. The Seattle area is not only famous for beautiful lush green scenery, but also for rain and poor traffic. From past NNGC’s in the Seattle area, I can attest that Seattle’s freeways can rival Los Angeles or Houston for rush hour delays. The Committee has wisely altered the convention schedule in recognition of that reality and even promises warm dry days. Held from Thursday, September 1, through Sunday, September 4, Labor Day weekend, the first thing to note is a shift in the normal schedule of days. Past narrow gauge conventions have begun on a Wednesday, ending Saturday night. This one begins Thursday, ending Sunday night to take advantage of the Labor Day weekend making Monday a travel day. Thus, the award ceremony/business meeting will be held on Sunday night.
In addition, the operating hours are altered for traffic reasons and layout tours are scheduled by areas/days to minimize cross-city travel. The Committee also highly recommends that you carpool with your buddies to gain access to the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and to share any bridge or ferry tolls. On-site events start each day at 8AM to 10:30AM with layout/prototype tours from 11AM to 4PM, and the on-site evening session from 6PM to 10PM. The forum is the Hotel Murano, described by the Committee as a chic hotel in the center of downtown Tacoma that just happens to have a large, attached convention center, clinic rooms, bars, and a nice restaurant. Although sold-out, there is a back-up hotel nearby, the Marriott Tacoma Downtown Hotel. Both offer a $139.00/night rate with the Murano charging for parking, but at 50 percent off. A third hotel, the Courtyard Tacoma Downtown is also nearby, but not part of the convention rate.
Tacoma is served by a free (at press time) light rail service, the Tacoma Link, that circles the downtown, easing traffic and parking issues, for shopping and restaurant purposes. Besides SeaTac airport, Tacoma is directly served by Amtrak’s Coast Starlight or Cascades trains. Margaret and I have taken the Coast Starlight from the SF Bay Area to Seattle, and it is a great trip. We shared a Roomette, though for me, or the average model railroader, that lower berth is tight! Renting a car is easy whether you arrive by train or plane. You will need a car to visit layouts or attractions, or you will have to carpool. If you want a train ride into downtown Seattle, Tacoma is also served by Sound Transit’s Sounder South transit line. You can even take it to and from the SeaTac airport or most places in the greater Seattle area. A route map is available on their website.
Once in Tacoma, you will enjoy the usual components of a Narrow Gauge Convention. In the morning and evening, the Dealer/Manufacturers’ room will be open, and clinics will be offered. The list of dealers is impressive as are the number and quality of clinics. At press time, the clinic list had not yet been finalized, but I am sure, consistent with past Conventions, it will be outstanding. The Committee plans to have some outstanding modular layouts displayed in the entrance to the vendor room, to whet your appetite before exploring the vendor tables. The contest is always a great way to share your skills, and entry forms are available on the convention website. Awards will be presented at the closing reception on the Sunday evening as mentioned.
When Bob and I attended past NNGC’s in Seattle, we have been impressed by the quality and quantity of layouts in the area. Over 30 will be open for this convention and I assert this area is the center of quality S/Sn3 layouts! I was impressed with the number, especially some outstanding RGS layouts, my favorite narrow gauge. Many of them are old favorites that have appeared in magazines over the years, but there are new ones to explore, too. All scales are represented, but less common scales abound including Max Maginness’ Sn42 (set in New Zealand) and Greg Wright’s 1/32n20 mining operation. DiVoss’ HOn3 Everett & Monte Cristo, featured in the Gazette, models a little-known prototype. Mike O’Connell formerly of Chooch fame is building a massive O Proto48 layout in a specially built building that used to house Chooch Enterprises. As you can imagine, his exquisite struc-tures are a centerpiece of this new layout, and the photos are stunning. I could easily get myself in trouble by listing some of my favorite past-visited layouts, but the photos provided by the Convention Committee tell the tale. The scheduling of layouts grouped by area reduces traffic impacts but may lead to congestion at certain layouts. A little advance planning can help. A hint: try to visit the most remote layout first, working your way back to the hotel, as many do the opposite. If nothing else, you will astound the first layout’s owner!
Believe it or not, there are other things to do in the area besides trains, especially if you travel with non-rails. Apparently, this area is known for glass as Tacoma has the Glass Museum and the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, named after the famed glass artist, Dale Chihuly. There is a Chihuly Gardens and Glass attraction in Seattle as well. Seattle being the home of Boeing, the Museum of Flight is a world-class museum devoted to all things airplane and worth a visit. Also, the world-famous Pike Place Market is located in downtown Seattle and a must-stop if for no other reason than to watch the fish toss between dealers. This is also the location of blocks of wines, cheese, and everything culinary. The nearby waterfront is home to some excellent cafés and restaurants. Of course, Seattle is known for the Space Needle, a tall observatory and restaurant left from the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. In addition, there is also the Sky View Observatory which along with the Space Needle, offer stunning views of the area, albeit for a price.
Seattle’s Pioneer Square is home to some striking architecture and a walk-ing tour of Underground Seattle, like Underground Atlanta. There you will see byways from Seattle’s earliest era. This area is dicey, however, so watch your valuables and visit when busy during daylight. Margaret and I also enjoyed the nearby Union Station, a good example of the Terminal Stations I described over my last two columns. A Seattle Harbor Cruise is a popular excursion, as is a day trip to nearby Mt. Rainier which looms over the skyline. The 2022 Washington State Fair will be opening during the same weekend as the convention in nearby Puyallup, Washington. Even the Beach Boys will be performing on Labor Day!
In Tacoma, the downtown hosts bars, restaurants, and other attractions, literally just a few steps from the hotel. The old Tacoma Union Station is no longer served by passenger trains, but is now the Tacoma U.S. Courthouse. Its grandiose lobby is open to the public during weekday office hours. It includes some Chihuly glass installations and is just a couple of blocks from the convention venue. The Foss Waterway Seaport is a heritage museum that features hands-on displays, a wooden boat shop, as well as a functional dock. It is also a short walk from the convention venue. The Washington State History Museum features an enormous HO scale model railroad depicting local landmarks from Tacoma’s Asarco Tunnel to Stampede Pass in the Cascade Mountains, and includes trackage and equipment from the Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Union Pacific and Milwaukee Road. It is a huge layout and is just three blocks from the Hotel Murano. Car nuts will love the LeMay Museum—America’s Car Museum—just a few moments on the Tacoma Link. Art lovers will enjoy the world-class Tacoma Art Museum. Other sights include the Tacoma-Narrows bridge, Point Defiance Park and the Tacoma Dome, home to professional sports.
Old town Tacoma hosts some great restaurants, just a few blocks away. Try Over the Moon Café for up-market northwestern dishes, or El Gaucho for great steaks. For locally caught fish, try The Fish Peddler. The Tacoma water-front is home to some great, affordable restaurants with stunning views, just a short drive from the venue, such as Duke’s Seafood and Anthony’s at Point Defiance. There is even an In/Out Burger in downtown Seattle for those who have not tried this legendary hamburger place. Hint: order your burger “animal style” for extras at no extra charge.
Of course, I must add local hobby shops and train stores. Yes, in this internet age, they still exist and I always enjoy a visit, as you never know what treasures you may find. In this age of Google, I will not provide addresses or hours, but do check them out. In Burien, is the Electric Train Shop. Over in Kirkland, home of all Costco brands, is Eastside Trains, a shop Bob and I have visited which is comprehensive. Less known is Skyway Hobbies in Renton which is not a train store, but has plastic kits and hobby supplies. In Tacoma is On-Line Trains and Rob’s Trains + Hobbies, both located at the same address and both open only on Saturdays from 10-2. I’m curious as to what is there. Of course, the usual Hobby Lobby/Hobby Town shops are scattered throughout the area in case you need something for a repair or project.
You can register, and explore the layouts, clinics, schedule and more at the convention website at seattlenngc.com. I want to thank Chair, Robin Peel, and the Committee for some of the information and the pictures used in this column. Bob and I will not be able to make this one, but we hope it is as enjoyable as it sounds. Let us know what you did and how it went.
Well, that’s all for now; until next time—write, if the mood strikes.