Where?
This year the SMRF convention will be in Lynchburg the weekend of September 15, 16, 17, 2000. The location will be the Ramada Inn on Odd Fellows Road, located just off the Lynchburg Expressway (Rt. 29) and overlooking Norfolk Southern's Kinney Yard (the former N&W Yard). Room rates are $65 per night, and a full breakfast is included in this rate. The Model Display will be in the Ramada's Virginian room, which is 1800 square feet plus a lobby area. The charge will be $20.00 per person, and includes all layout tours (we'll car pool), the display room and clinics Saturday, and the luncheon Saturday. This registration fee must be received by September 1st, 2000. Late comers and walk ins will be accommodated with a $10.00 admission which will not include the lunch. Larry Puckett will bring the Krispy Kreme doughnuts in from Charlottesville as Lynchburg's KK bit the dust a few years back. The Ramada Inn will cater the luncheon, and barbecue, while not on their menu, is possible.
Since we are in a hotel, sales will be allowed and we will have a White Elephant table so bring your extra kits and locos, plus we have invited the southeastern railroad historical societies and the hobby magazines to attend. The model display and clinics will be from 9am - 4pm Saturday.
Lynchburg is accessible by air (US Airways, Delta, United), rail (Amtrak's Crescent), and of course car. Major highways are Routes 29, 460 and 501. The nearest Interstates are I81(50 miles west near Roanoke), and I64 (70 miles north at Charlottesville). You'll find all of the major hotels in town, but the Ramada Inn will be our official hotel, and we hope you'll stay there since all layout car pools will depart from there.
For those wishing to sell personal items, there will be a white elephant table. Here's the info:
Models may be checked in beginning at 8:00am Saturday Morning, September 16. Please have one form with each sale item. Try to have the form filled out ahead of time and attached to the model if possible. Item numbers will be assigned at the show. You should keep a list of your items and note the numbers they are assigned. Your asking price is the only price we can sell your item for. Personal checks and cash will be accepted. The money will be put with your slip for pick up. Money and models may be picked up beginning at 1pm, and must be picked up by 4:30pm Saturday, September 16. Any money or models not picked up by 4:30pm will become SMRF Fest 2000 property.
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Clinics
We have already lined up a number of clinicians for Saturday. Clinics will run during the day concurrent with the model displays. Already agreeing to do clinics are: Larry Puckett, Bob Harpe, Bill Mosteller, George Riley and Kevin Goodman from SMRF. The subjects of their clinics can be seen on the clinic and layout tour schedule page.
Layout tours
Layout tours will be Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday on your way home. We will have many O, HO and N scale layouts with a southeastern theme available in the region for tours. See the clinic and layout tour schedule page for details.
What's There To See?
You'll find Norfolk Southern's former Southern main line intersecting the former N&W main in Lynchburg, plus CSX's river line runs along the James River in our Lower Basin. There are three rail yards, numerous trestles and bridges, and plenty of traffic on all the lines. There is also a lot of rail history in Lynchburg. Perhaps I'm prejudiced, but we have a great model railroad hobby shop in Lynchburg. It's Trains Unlimited, and we'll make sure it's open when you need it to be, even if it's not supposed to be!
Lynchburg is only 50 miles from Roanoke, and the Virginia Transportation Museum where you will find N&W's famous J class 611, the only CofG SD7 no. 201, and many more treasures. A constant parade of NS trains pass the museum site all day. The Museum would make a great Sunday destination as you leave the convention.
For those of you who would like to bring the family, there are many attractions nearby that they can see while you're doing trains. This is Thomas Jefferson country with his home Monticello in Charlottesville 70 miles to the north, and his smaller more private estate, Poplar Forest just outside Lynchburg in Forest. Both are a must if you've never seen them. In addition the Walton's Museum (from the TV show) is in Earl Hamner's hometown of Schuyler, VA, about 50 miles north of Lynchburg. In Lynchburg, you'll find a great local Museum and Point of Honor, a beautifully restored historic home overlooking the James River. 20 miles east of Lynchburg is Historic Appomattox Court House, where the Civil War ended. 30 miles west, is Natural Bridge, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Naturally there are plenty of places to shop, including River Ridge Mall, just one exit away from our hotel.