Email sent to registered attendees:

   
Welcome to the 2018 NGRC! We thank you for sending-in your registration early and we look forward to meeting you in less than 3 weeks! 

We have some information that you might find helpful as you prepare for this convention. There will be 20+ pre- and post-convention Garden Layout Tours (see attachments below) on Sunday, Jun 3rd and Sunday, Jun 10th!

Please note that our Registration Desk will be open in the lobby of the Sheraton Galleria Suites (our Convention hotel) on Sunday, Jun 3rd from 5P until 10P, for early arrivals, specially for those who are going to the Cruise/Rail event on Monday June 4th.

Beginning Monday Jun 4th, our Registration Desk moves to Rm 101 at the Cobb Galleria Convention Centre (across from Exhibition Hall D) and it will be open from 7A-9A & 3P-8P.  The same schedule will be true for Tuesday & Wednesday.

For those going to the Monday Riverboat Cruise & Rail trip, the official loading time is 9A.  For those going to the Tuesday Hiwassee River diesel train scenic ride, the loading time is at 7:30A.

Please note that you may find these trip starting times listed differently elsewhere, but these are the official starting times for the Monday and Tuesday trips.

The 2018 NGRC committee members and the Georgia Garden Railway Society members are excited about hosting the convention. We think we have prepared a convention that you all  will enjoy!

We look forward to having you as our honored guests.

Dan C Alvero
NGRC2018 Chairman

Convention Attendees,
Our Convention Chairman has tried a different email procedure to deliver the pre/post convention layout tour info. He had tried earlier but most emails were bounced back for some reason. You should have gotten an email today (Sunday, May 13). If you have not gotten the email today, or by tomorrow, please email me (email on convention web site) and I will forward the info direct to you. We are only a couple weeks away and are really excited about the convention. See y'all soon!
Happy Rails To You,
Ted Yarbrough
Georgia Garden Railway Society

 Friends,
Our chairman stated lots of emails are bouncing back as he attempts to send out the pre/post tour info. If you have not gotten the information in the next few days, feel free to email me (address on convention contact page) and I will be glad to send it to you ASAP
Also note that there is no official live steam track at the convention center, but two layouts are operating live steam (one on Wednesday NOT ON BUS TOUR, and one on Friday that is on at least one of the buses scheduled stops. The Friday layout will be open on Sunday, June 10 for those that want to bring small live steamers to run -tight curves prevent large locos).
__________________
Happy Rails To You,
Ted
Georgia Garden Railroad Society

tinibert,
Neither of these products are Bachmann. However, to answer your questions:
1. They are not the same. They are two different companies.
2. PIKO will generally have less detail than LGB. Both have less detail than Bachmann.

Both of these companies make generally good products.
Bachmann makes good products as well.

Happy Rails To You,
Ted

Maybe an updated outside frame 2-8-0 Connie (metal gears, etc)

 Friends,
The convention banquet has officially 'Sold Out'. Thanks for the response.

Monday & Tuesday train rides only have a few more seats and will sell out VERY soon. Reserve your seat today!

Hotel rooms are going quickly as well.
__________________
Happy Rails To You,
Ted
Georgia Garden Railroad Society

Friends,
The 2018 National Garden Railway Convention's early registration discount ends March 1 and that is only a few days away. Take advantage of this. Please note that there are only 40 seats left for the Monday Cruise/Steam Train Ride and 37 seats for the Tuesday 47 mile scenic diesel train ride over the former L & N mainline. Not advertised, but there will be a few locomotive rides given as a door prize on the Monday steam train trip. These rides will sell out soon, so register today!
Happy Rails To You,
Ted Yarbrough
Georgia Garden Railway Society

Friends,
I just posted some layout pre-tour photos for the Sunday, June 3 layouts on the Georgia Garden Railway Society's Facebook page. Complete schedule and registration info on the web at www.NGRC2018.com Hope to see and meet many of you there!
Happy Rails To You,
Ted Yarbrough
Georgia Garden Railway Society

Friends,
The revised calendar has been posted to the web. See http://ngrc2018.com/?page_id=721 for the calendar & web page. There are approximately 50 layouts open for viewing from Sunday, June 3 through Sunday, June 10. (about 20 pre/post tour and 30 during the convention tour days Wednesday-Saturday). Steam train ride on Monday, diesel Tuesday and Thursday and static steam 4-4-0 on Wednesday. 4 club layouts operating in the vendor hall. Clinics in the afternoons. Great fun for all!
Ted Yarbrough
Georgia Garden Railway Society

NEWS FLASH! Tennessee Valley Railroad has released their 2018 schedule. They have a double header steam trip on Saturday, June 2 (Saturday before the NGRC starts). There are a few tickets left and it will sell out, so come to the convention early, ride the steam train on Saturday, layout pretour (and/or Atlanta Braves baseball game that day)on Sunday, then the train rides (different from the Saturday ride) Monday & Tuesday! Lots of trains and lots of fun! Order Saturday tickets direct from the railroad. http://www.tvrail.com/events-ex.../.../summerville-steam-special

Friends,
Just an update on the 2018 convention in Atlanta this June. See ad on page 59 in the February Garden Railways magazine. Pre-tours on June 3, with layouts in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina for those driving down the major interstate highways and some in Georgia for those coming into town early. The Monday & Tuesday special train rides are about 1/3 sold out as of January 1 (we expect registrations to pick up over the next month or so) so don't be left out, reserve your seats on the train soon. Dealer hall is about 60% full at this time as well. Approximately 30 garden railroads will be open for tours Wednesday through Saturday (self drive or you can ride a bus to many of these) and about 20 more open for pre/post tours on Sunday before and after the event. Atlanta Braves have a home game on Sunday, June 3 and they play just across the interstate (with pedestrian bridge) from the convention center. There are only a few of the special Hartland 'General' show locomotives left, so get one of those in the next few days if you want one. June will be a good time to be in Atlanta if you enjoy the hobby of garden railroading! See www.NGRC2018.com for full registration information.
Happy Rails To You,
Ted Yarbrough
Georgia Garden Railway Society

Bill,
I'll gladly take correct Rio Grande (or even better, multiple Rio Grande) factory paint schemes on any Bachmann loco!
Happy Rails To You,
Ted

Zubi,
I have done a few repaints in the past, but I prefer factory paint. Why Bachmann has never done the Flying Grande or the Moffit Tunnel/Scenic Line heralds I can't understand.
Happy Rails To You,
Ted

Mr. Bachmann,
See http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,339976 for photo of what might make a good paint scheme for the 'Annie'. This is sister locomotive to #168 that is currently being restored to operation by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Either of these road numbers, or both, would be a welcome addition, especially since the #168 is coming back into service and could prove a popular model.
Happy Rails To You,
Ted
P.S.-still waiting and eagerly anticipating 'Annie' repaints with the 'Flying Grande' and 'Moffit Tunnel' heralds!

Michael,
Purchase an LGB knuckle couple for the first car behind your locomotive(not the tender). LGB knuckle couplers will mate with the C-19's Bachmann coupler. You can leave hook & loop on the remaining cars.
Happy Rails To You,
Ted
Georgia Garden Railway Society