Choo Choo Cityrails Southeastern Region Convention

SER Convention 2019

The 2019 convention of the Southeastern Region National Model Railroad Association was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee in late May at the downtown DoubleTree Hotel. About 280 people attended the convention sponsored by the Region’s Cherokee Division.

As usual there were many clinics on model railroading including this one presented by Pelle Seeborg from Denmark on building realistically authentic scenes for your layout. Pelle, a Contributing Editor for Model Railroader magazine, who came all the way from Denmark was sponsored by Scale Trains from nearby Benton, Tennessee. Scale Trains also sponsored a Bar-B-Q and trip on the former L&N Hiwassee River Rail loop train (the old Hook & Eye) the day before the start of the convention.

Other well known clinicians were: Henry Freeeman, here talking about the Baltimore & Ohio around Cumberland, Maryland: Cody Grivno of Model Railroader Magazine and Lance Mindheim custom builder from Shelf Layouts Company.

There was a “consignment room” where they say it was possible to find someone else’s former treasure! This was a money maker for the convention committee and the sellers plus it was possible to find that long sought item that had eluded you when it was first offered for sale years ago.

What is a convention without a contest room? There were 36 model entries and 19 photograph entries, perhaps the most in recent years for the Southeastern Region.

And what is a convention without going out to eat with friends and swapping lies and railroad stories? That is one of the great attractions for those of us who have attended many a convention.

Convention goers got to visit some very nice Chattanooga area layouts including the HO scale Soddy Daisy Southern. Here the builder in the ball cap, Willie Clounts, is updating Dr. Joe Nichols on what it took to build this 16X40 foot railroad.

Of course no convention is complete without a business meeting to discuss finances and future projects for the Region.

All conventions have a concluding banquet where awards are presented for service to the hobby and for expert modeling skills. Plus this is one last time to enjoy the company of fellow train people until you see them again at the next convention. If you have never been to one you owe it to yourself to go.

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2 Responses to “Choo Choo Cityrails Southeastern Region Convention”

  1. Dewey Harrelson Jr.

    Great info Thanks !!!

  2. robert g. rankin

    Maybe your group is too sophisticated for me. I attended a show in Timonium MD and when I asked where the Lionel things were I was told, "This is not a toy train show, we are model railroaders." So here I am with 1933 and 1946 Lionel trains and almost every accessory made by Lionel. I have a five by eight layout in my basement that the grandkids love. Do I really belong in such a prestigious group? Oh yes, we lived in Choo Choo City for eight years.