Welcome to
Rails to Raleigh

The CAROLINA PIEDMONT DIVISION invites you to come to the Heart of Carolina for the Fall 2005 MER Convention to be held the last weekend in October (27–30) 2005. We have scheduled four days of model railroading activities: clinics, contests, modular layouts, a live auction, layout tours, prototype tours, a banquet with featured speaker, awards presentation, non rail activities and a train show. There will be much to see, learn, do and enjoy.

This will be the first MER Convention in this area of North Carolina, a major high-tech part of the country with a long tradition of railroading. The Research Triangle area of North Carolina has been consistently rated by Money magazine as one of the best places to live in the country.

Many clinics and several prototype tours are being lined up, along with an extensive self-guided tour of home layouts in the area. Operating sessions are being planned, including operations on the layouts at the Train Show. The usual NMRA contests will be held. Festivities include a banquet with a featured after dinner speaker, Steve Barry, editor of Railfan & Railroad magazine, followed by the usual auction.

Activities will center around the Embassy Suites Hotel in Cary, North Carolina. The hotel is located just off Interstate 40 just west of Raleigh. Our confirmed convention rate of $89.00 per night includes a full cooked-to-order breakfast to start your day. Up to two people can stay at that rate. Nearby are many eating establishments and regional shopping centers to accommodate other needs.

Make your plans now to join us this Fall from October 27 – 30, 2005 at Rails to Raleigh.

Include the convention as part of your family's vacation plans!

Function

Name

Contact Information

Convention Chairman

John Wallis

jwallis@nc.rr.com

Convention Manager

David Lynam

lynam1937@msn.com

Auction

Tom Buckingham
Bob Charles

tombuckingham@juno.com
RCharles@aol.com

Clinics

Joseph Rugarbar
Gene Sing

— —
G249SING@hotmail.com

Company Store

Jim Babcock

jfbabcock@netscape.net

Contests

Ray Bilodeau

RaymondBilodeau@aol.com

Home Layout Tours

Dick Genthner, MMR
Vic Bitleris
John Janosko

argent1@att.net
vbitleris@nc.rr.com
johnajan@earthlink.net

Hotel Liaison

John Drye
John Wallis

jdrye52@aol.com
jwallis@nc.rr.com

Prototype Tours

Tom Cook

tcook1@nc.rr.com

Non-Rail Activities

Don Bullock

rrmygame@aol.com

Program Book

Brenda Lynam

lynam1937@nc.rr.com

Publicity

Grif Bond

grifbond@earthlink.net

Registrar/Treasurer

P.J. Mattson
David Derway

pjmattson@comcast.net
dsd@pinehurst.net

Train Show

Dick Buchan
John Janosko

trolley400@nc.rr.com
johnajan@earthlink.net

Webmaster

John Wallis

jwallis@nc.rr.com

Advisor

Clint Hyde

chyde@cox.net

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This page and all contents are Copyright 2004–2005 by the Carolina Piedmont Division 13, NMRA MER.
(CPD13 is a Not-For-Profit Corporation incorporated in North Carolina.)
The various logos and heralds shown here are the property of their respective organizations.