MWR 2004 Spring Convention - Milwaukee Express

The NMRA's Midwest Region 2004 Spring Convention

May 14-16, 2004

Best Western Milwaukee Airport Hotel

Milwaukee, Wis.

Hosted by the
Wisconsin Southeastern Division of the NMRA

The Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) Division invites you to come "home again" for the first time this century for a convention in the city the NMRA was founded in back in 1935 - Milwaukee, Wis. We have hosted many great conventions over the years, including the NMRA's 50th Anniversary national convention, Going Home '85, and the Milwaukee Express promises to be no exception!

But register soon as there are only

Friday, May 14, 2004

9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. - ???
Registration
Facility Tours
Clinics
Non-Rail Clinics
Operating Sessions

Saturday, May 15, 2004

8:00 a.m. - 12 noon
8:00 a.m. - 12 noon
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
8:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
8:45 p.m. - ????? Registration
Clinics
Non-Rail Tour
Layout Tours
East Troy Dinner Train
MWR Annual Meeting
Auction

Sunday, May 16, 2004

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. MWR Board Meeting
Awards Breakfast
Layout Tours

All times subject to change.

NOTE: President Bush will be visiting Milwaukee on Friday, May 14 so traffic around the airport and on some freeways may be affected.

Friday, May 14, 2004
9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. - ???	Registration Facility Tours Clinics Non-Rail Clinics Operating Sessions
Saturday, May 15, 2004
8:00 a.m. - 12 noon 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. 8:45 p.m. - ?????	Registration Clinics Non-Rail Tour Layout Tours East Troy Dinner Train MWR Annual Meeting Auction
Sunday, May 16, 2004
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	MWR Board Meeting Awards Breakfast Layout Tours
All times subject to change.

Clinics:

With some of the most recognized names in the hobby located in our Division we have lined up clinicians from Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman, well as many other WISE and MWR members for this convention. Clinics will run Friday evening and Saturday morning.

The full schedule of rail and non-rail clinics is now available!

Non-rail activities:

Reiman Visitor's Center in Greendale, Wis.

For those family members who wish to do non-railroad activities at the
convention, there will be a number of clinics on Friday night
and a tour on Saturday. Check out the non-rail page with your spouse
for all of the information and the schedule for Saturday's tour.

Layout tours:

The WISE Division is also home to some great layouts, many of which have been
featured in magazines and TV series. Map-guided tours will be held during the
daylight hours to make travel more convienent (along with any railfanning one
may want to do along the way). More than 30 layouts will be on tour!!

Operating sessions:

Dispatching on the GN Kalispell Division

Aside from seeing the great layouts, you will also have a chance to operate on them Friday evening.
Operating sessions will be available on a number of home and club layouts, but space is limited
so register early. Layouts will be assigned at random.
Check out the list of operating layouts to see where you could operate.

Facility tours, dinner train, and railfanning:

Facility Tours:
There will be a number of on-your-own tours highlighting Milwaukee's contributions to model railroading and railroading on Friday afternoon to start the convention. Check the tour page for more information.

Saturday Night Dinner Train:
On Saturday evening enjoy a leisurely ride and fine food aboard the East Troy Electric Railway Museum's Ravenswood or Beverly Shores cars. The two-hour dinner and ride will be on the last remnant of the TMER&L line between East Troy and Mukwonago and feature an elegant gourmet dinner. Jacket and tie are recommended. Register early as seating is limited to 50 people. Transportation to museum is not included in this extra-fare event.

Of course there is still plenty to other railfan action to see. The links below highlight some of the railfanning in the Milwaukee area.

Duplainville Homepage
Information on one of the best railfan locations in the area.
Railfan Locations in Southeast Wisconsin and Elsewhere
A good site to find railfan hotspots around the Milwaukee area.
Milwaukee Area Railroad Restaurants
Looking for someplace to eat and watch trains while in Milwaukee? Check out this site!
Milwaukee Area Hobby Shops
Milwaukee is home to a number of great hobby shops. Check out their locations and visit them when you come to the Milwaukee Express.

Contests:

Milwaukee Express will have judging for NMRA merit points, so bring your models, photos and slides! Go to the Midwest Region's Achievement Program page for more information.

Fees and Registration Forms:

Registration fees for the Milwaukee Express will be reasonable. See the Registration Fee page for more information or print out a registration form from a .pdf file.

The registration form is in .PDF format that will require Adobe Reader.
Download Acrobat Reader

Lodging:

The convention will be held at the Best Western Milwaukee Airport Hotel at 5105 S. Howell Ave. across the street from Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wis. It is easily accessible from I-94 and just minutes from downtown Milwaukee and has plenty of free parking.

It features a giant enclosed atrium recreation area with pool, sauna, whirlpool, games, exercise room and lounge.

For other lodging options near the convention hotel visit the Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau .

Watch the Midwest Region Waybill or this web page for additional information.

Pages designed and hosted by Joe Russ, WISE Div., NMRA. All photos by Joe Russ unless noted.