For your enjoyment, we will have not one, but two on-site layouts at the convention.

Austin Model Railway Society

The Austin Model Railway Society will be setting up and running on their full 52′ x 24′ HO scale modular layout. The layout is focused on a recreation of downtown Austin from the first part of the 20th century, featuring the Missouri Pacific (T&P), Southern Pacific, and MKT railroads. The AMRS will also host operating sessions on the layout during the convention.

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The AMRS layout will be in the Lady Bird Lake Ballroom.

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South Plains

In addition, the Cen-Tex Division will be bringing their South Plains switching layout to the convention. Based on the original layout built by Austin’s own David Barrow and featured in Model Railroader in 1996, this small (10′ x 10′) modular layout is focused on switching, and is primarily used today as a public outreach at train shows and other events, especially as a way to introduce youth to the hobby. It will be open for self-serve operating sessions through the convention: Just walk up and make the next few moves on the switch list, or stay for a while and finish it off!

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