Rails By The Bay 2021 logo

NMRA 2021 Virtual National Convention
RAILS BY THE BAY
July 6 – 10, 2021
Santa Clara, California

NEWS & UPDATES

  • August 16, 2021
    • Clinic recordings removed from YouTube today, as of 12:30 PM PDT. We hope you enjoyed the additional 9 days of viewing.

  • July 19, 2021
    • Added handouts for Clifton Linton's Ethanol by Rail and Butane by Rail clinics on the Clinics page.

  • July 17, 2021
    • Removed Clinic Recordings registration from Home and Registration pages at end of sale period. Clinic recordings will remain available online until midnight, Saturday, August 17, 2021.

  • July 12, 2021
    • Updated clinic recording access instructions on Home page.
    • Removed links for two layout tour videos, Chuck Oraftik's NYC: Boston &Albany and Dick & Niles' SP Donner Pass from the Layout Tours page. These videos were made available to convention attendees during the convention by special arrangement. They will again be available to the public on August 14 and September 11, respectively, at the TSG Multimedia YouTube Channel.
    • Made numerous edits to change future tense on planned events and activities to past tense on several webpages.

  • July 11, 2021
    • Restored link to clinic recordings on the Home page.
    • Added Saturday, July 17th, 2021, as the deadline to register for access to clinic recordings on the Home page.

  • July 10, 2021
    • Posted Media Production Team Credits on the Committee page. Thanks so much for a great job!
    • The convention ended at Midnight! Thanks to everyone that attended and all the volunteers that helped to make this a great convention!

  • July 9, 2021
    • Recordings of previous clinics are temporarily unavailable due to technical limitations of the platform we were using. We are moving the content to another platform and and will have it back online no later than Sunday, July 11. Check back here for access to the recorded clinics. Thanks for your patience.

  • July 6, 2021
    • Please do not contact NMRA Headquarters for Rails by the Bay convention registration questions. For problems accessing the online virtual convention, email greathall@nmra2021.com.

    • Updated Home page graphic with important notice to registered NMRA 2021 RBTB attendees: During the convention, all new registrations received BEFORE 5:00 PM PDT, will be processed by 6:00 AM the following morning.

    Please check your email and junk/bulk mail folders for emails from NMRA 2021 Rails by The Bay and the email address greathall@nmra2021.com.

    If you have registered for RBTB and have not received any emails from us, please send an email to greathall@nmra2021.com.

  • July 5, 2021
    • REMINDER: The live moderated Layout Owner Panels, Dispatcher's Fireside Chat, breakout rooms, and "Clinic Goes On" sessions will NOT be recorded. Only the clinics have been recorded and will be available online until midnight August 7th. Please keep that in mind when deciding what you will view during the virtual convention hours this week.

    • Updated Home page graphic with important notice to registered NMRA 2021 RBTB attendees: "All registrations from before noon today, July 5, have been sent both a welcome and a login email. Please check your email and junk/bulk mail folders for emails from NMRA 2021 Rails by The Bay and the email address greathall@nmra2021.com. If you have registered for RBTB and have not received any emails from us, please send an email to greathall@nmra2021.com."

  • July 3, 2021
    • Added instructions on how to check for Zoom updates on the Zoom Tips page.

  • July 1, 2021
    • Updated Home page graphic with important notice to registered NMRA 2021 RBTB attendees to reflect the updated information in the next bullet.

    • Updated information on the "Thank you for your payment" page and Registration pages to read: Registration login and instructions emails will be sent out on July 2nd, 4th, and 5th. After 5:00 PM PDT on July 5th, login emails will be sent out on a daily basis in the early AM. If you register before 5:00 PM PDT, you will receive an email from greathall@nmra2021.com by 8:00 AM the following morning with your registration password and information.

    If you register after 5:00 PM PDT, you will not receive an email from us until the second morning. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience, but processing registrations is a multi-step process.

    • Uploaded final version of Official Timetable No. 85 for the Rails by the Bay NMRA 2021 National Convention on Home page.

    • Added link for a FREE 45-minute layout consultation offered by members of the Layout Design SIG on the Layout Design SIG page.

  • June 30, 2021
    • Added link to Official Timetable No. 85 for the Rails by the Bay NMRA 2021 National Convention on Home page.
    • Added LDSIG Suggested Clinic on the Clinics page to clinics thought to be of special interest to members of the Layout Design SIG.
    • Added layout tour #49, Dick & Niles' Southern Pacific Donner Route on the Layout Tours page. Look for the New!
    • Added the following on the "Thank you for your payment" page and Registration pages; If you register before 5:00 PM PDT, you should receive an email from greathall@nmra2021.com later the same evening. If you register after 5:00 PM PDT, you will not receive an email from us until the next day. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

  • June 29, 2021
    • Added new webpage Virtual Operations for signing up for a virtual remote operating session on the extensive Silicon Valley Lines (SVL) club layout in San Jose, CA. Only 30 engineer positions available! Don't delay in signing up for this unique opportunity.
    • Added handouts for Frank Schneider's Surface Mounted LEDs and Make Your Own Decals clinics on the Clinics page.
    • Added handout for Bill Decker's So You Want to Build a Dream Model Railroad? clinic on the Clinics page.

  • June 28, 2021
    • Added new Breakout Room Schedule on Schedules page.
    • Added new Vendor Focus Schedule on Schedules page. Added Vendor Focus sessions to the Breakout Room Schedule.
    • Added resources handout for Clifton Linton's Dispatcher's Fireside Chat on the Clinics page.

  • June 26, 2021
    • Updated Birds of a Feather Breakout Rooms page with new breakout rooms, as well as dates and times for the sessions. Also added numerous other great breakout rooms for you to visit to talk about whatever your interests are in the hobby.
    • Added new vendor, Inter-Action Hobbies, to list of Vendor Focus Sessions on the Home page.
    • Added Layout Owner Panel dates and times to the layout listings on the Layout Tours page.
    • Added Tip #6: Tell us where you're from! on the Zoom Tips page.

  • June 25, 2021
    • Added handout link for Byron Henderson's clinic, Make Only New Mistakes on the Clinics page and Layout Design SIG Program page.
    • Changed link for B&O Railroad Historical Society on the Birds of a Feather Breakout Rooms page.
    • Added link to full Clinic Schedule on the LDSIG Program page.
    • Added linked list of LDSIG Recommended Layouts on the LDSIG Program page.

  • June 24, 2021
    • Added new webpage, Zoom Tips with a link to the "How to Get Around" the Rails by the Bay 2021 NMRA Convention video, plus several other tips to enhance your virtual experience.
    • Added new webpage, Layout Design SIG (LDSIG) with their parallel convention's schedule. All Rails by the Bay 2021 attendees are welcome to participate in all LDSIG activities. The LDSIG program starts on Monday, July 5.
    • Added Personal Recording Policy on the new Policies page, renamed from "Privacy Policy." The Privacy Policy remains on the same page HERE.
    • Added statement, "The convention has begun sending important technical information and connection details to all registered participants!" on the Thank you for your payment! page sent by PayPal during the registration process. See Tip #2 on the new ZOOM TIPS page for more details.

  • June 23, 2021
    • Added schedule for Layout Owner Panels on the Layout Tours page.

  • June 22, 2021
    • Added information and sign-up link on the Home page for a remote operating session at Silicon Valley Lines, San Jose, on Friday, July 9th, at 7:00 PM.
    • Added information and names of vendors on Home page that are hosting vendor focus breakout rooms.
    • Updated video for Carquinez Model Railroad Society on Layout Tours page.

  • June 21, 2021
    • Updated dates and times of hosted breakout rooms on the Birds of a Feather Breakout Rooms page.

  • June 19, 2021
    • Added 4 new breakout rooms on the Birds of a Feather Breakout Rooms page.
    • Updated Clinic Schedule with participants in the Jim Vail Tribute on Wednesday, July 7, at 7:00 PM in the Zephyr Clinic Track.
    • Added big button on the Clinics page to access the new Clinic Schedule on the Schedules page in response to feedback received today by the Webmaster. Thanks for the feedback.
    • Merged Byron Henderson's "Make Only New Mistakes" clinic entries on the Clinic Schedule to correctly show his clinic as one 2-hour clinic instead of two 1-hour clinics, also in response to feedback received today.
    • Repaired corrupted code of the Clinics page by rebuilding the file, all 1,937 lines of it!

  • June 18, 2021
    • Updated Schedules page with updated Clinics Schedule.
    • Added presenters for the Modeler's Showcase on Home page and Clinics page.
    • Added new webpage, Prototype Tours with descriptions and videos for 4 popular venues in the Pacific Coast Region: Niles Canyon Railway, Roaring Camp Á Big Tree Narrow Gauge Railroad, Sturgeon's Mill, Bitter Creek Western Railroad.
    • Added links to handouts for Phil Edholm's clinics and for Robert Pethoud's clinic on the Clinics page.

  • June 17, 2021
    • Updated Birds of a Feather Breakout Rooms with several newly-announced breakout rooms, with dates/times to be determined. More to come...

  • June 16, 2021
    • Added hyperlink to Clinic Schedules on Clinics and Schedules pages. (NOTE: The link opens a file on our Google Drive in a new browser tab.)

  • June 15, 2021
    • Added new layout tour video for Chuck Oraftik on the Layout Tours page, for a total of 48 layout tours at Rails by the Bay.

  • June 14, 2021
    • Updated 1st paragraph of Birds of a Feather Breakout Rooms page with a longer explanation of "What is Birds of a Feather?"

    • Updated Clinics page to identify clinics having an emphasis on Layout Design or Operations. Look for the LD-OPS SIG Track notation beneath the clinic's title.

    • Updated Layout Tours page to indicate layout tours recommended by the Layout Design Special Interest Group (LDSIG) to view before the convention. Look for the LDSIG Recommended Layout notation beneath the layout name and video link.

  • June 12, 2021

    • Updated Clinics page with the clinics schedule.
    • Added new moderated discussion, "Dispatcher's Fireside Chat — What it was really like" on the Clinics page. If you have an advance question — drop us a line at clinics@nmra2021.com. Please put "Fireside Chat" in the subject line.

  • June 10, 2021
    • Two clinics were cancelled and removed from the Clinics page: Mark Juett, "Planning and Wiring for DCC" and Bill Kaufman, "State Belt Railroad." Total clinics: 73.

  • June 8, 2021
    • Added 2 new layout tours on the Layout Tours page:
    Ted Stephens, MMR® (HO)
    Paul Patterson (HO)
    • Updated "What We Need" paragraph on the Volunteers page to add, "Volunteers will get access to the shifts they work but will need to register to gain access to the full convention."

  • June 7, 2021
    • Added convention promo graphic at top of Home page.

  • June 5, 2021
    • Added Technical Team and Recording Engineers to the Committee page in appreciation for their dedication and hard work on the Rails by the Bay NMRA 2021 Virtual Convention. We could not have done it without their support. Thank you, all!

  • June 3, 2021
    • Added 1 new layout tour for Richard Eberli on the Layout Tours page, for a total of 45 layout tours!

  • June 2, 2021
    • Updated clinic descriptions as needed on the Clinics page, in accordance with presenters' requests.

  • May 31, 2021
    • Added 12 new layout tours on the Layout Tours page, for a total of 44 layout tours at Rails by the Bay, with still more expected! Look for these layouts:
    BAZ BoyZ (Z) Peninsula N-trak (N)
    Robert Bowdidge (HO) Jon Schmidt (HO)
    Free-mo (HO) Ernie Simard (HO)
    Bill Kaufman (HO) Tom Swearingen (HO)
    Howard Lloyd (HO) Tri-City Society of Model Engineers (N)
    Trevor Park (F) Nick Wright (F)

    • Howard Lloyd's Claremont Docks layout tour is a brand new video from TSG Multimedia!

    • Added 2 new clinics from Ray Persing, "3D Printing for Model Railroaders" and "Scratchbuilding in Wood" for a total of 75 clinics (as of 7:55 pm), on the Clinics page.

  • May 30, 2021
    • Added Vendor Registration and Payment to Registration page.

  • May 28, 2021
    • You asked for it! We listened! Updated Home page to announce that clinic recordings will now be available online an additional two weeks until August 7th for a total of FOUR weeks!
    • Added 8 new clinics, for a total of 73 (as of 7:15 pm), on the Clinics page.
    • Added links to 7 handouts for Steve Redeker's clinic "Modeling the Hetch Hetchy Railroad in 1919: A B&W Approach to Scenery" on the Clinics page.
    • The CB&Q Zephyr and WP Zephyrette clinics by Mark Williams were cancelled and removed from the Clinics page.
    • Numerous miscellaneous edits on Home page to update content.

  • May 23, 2021
    • Added 2 new layout tours, Jim Vail, MMR® and Ed Merrin on Layout Tours page.

  • May 22, 2021
    • Added recommendation to use computer and not tablet, iPad, or phones to access and attend the convention on the Registration page.

  • May 18, 2021
    • Added "QwikLinks to Presenters" on the Clinics page for improved navigation and revised the layout in preparation to add schedule dates and times to clinic descriptions.

  • May 17, 2021
    • Added new Birds of a Feather Breakout Rooms page to website. Check it out!
    • Added new "Schedule at a Glance" daily schedule on the Schedules page.
    • Added invitation on the Home page to all NMRA Regions and Divisions to promote their upcoming events during the convention.

  • May 16, 2021
    • Added Modeler's Showcase announcement on the Home page.

  • May 15, 2021
    • Added 41 new clinics on the Clinics page.
    • Clinics by Bernhard Beck and Benita Jameson were cancelled and removed from the Clinics page.

  • May 12, 2021
    • Added 11 new video layout tours on the Layout Tours page.

  • May 8, 2021
    • Updated all volunteer position descriptions on the Volunteers page after reviewing lessons learned during the successful Sugar Pine Centennial 2021 PCR Virtual Convention April 24th.

  • May 1, 2021
    • Added new clinic, "Photoshop Elements as a Modeling Tool" by Jack Burgess, MMR® on the Clinics page.

  • April 24, 2021
    • Added announcement about actor Michael Gross offering a special video address during the convention week on the Home page.

  • April 6, 2021
    • Added secure online registration and payment with PayPal on the Registration page.

  • April 5, 2021
    • Added 28 clinics with descriptions on the Clinics page.

  • April 1, 2021
    • Updated Layout Tours page with note that clicking on the layout name link starts a video layout tour.
    • Updated Volunteers page with a link to help resolve questions or issues with volunteering.

  • March 31, 2021
    • Updated Layout Tours page with layout descriptions, photos, website links, and added QwikLinks to facilitate layout switching on the page.

  • March 17, 2021
    • Edited old website's Home page to add link to this new Rails by the Bay website.

  • March 6, 2021
    • Updated Volunteers page to clear up some confusion.

  • March 5, 2021
    • Updated Committee, Home, and Privacy Policy pages.
    • Added Page Visits Summary (Hits) page. Link at bottom of News & Updates page (this page).

  • March 4, 2021
    • Updated Layout Tours page with links to video layout tours.
    • Revised Committee page table colors and layout.
    • Added "Technology Requirements for Volunteers" to Volunteers page.

  • March 3, 2021
    • Removed superfluous webpages from website structure.
    • Updated the following pages with relevant information for attendees of the Rails by the Bay NMRA 2021 Virtual Convention: Committee; Registration; Volunteers; Privacy Policy; Schedules; Links; and Clinics.

  • March 2, 2021
    • Created and added Rails by the Bay favicon, the icon associated with the website that is displayed in a browser's address bar, tab, or next to the site name in a bookmark list.
    • Numerous miscellaneous edits...

  • March 1, 2021
    • Updated content on Home page.

  • February 23, 2021
    • Tweaked color scheme and font families.

  • February 19, 2021
    • Started work on the NEW Rails by the Bay NMRA 2021 National Convention website. Thank you for your patience.


Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict       Valid CSS!

Counter

Page Visits Summary


This page last updated: