It is our pleasure to announce an incredible opportunity to experience a joint meeting of three railroad history organizations next year in Reno/Sparks, Nevada. The Southern Pacific Railroad History Center, in partnership with the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, has planned a conference and is pleased to invite its membership and the public to attend. Joining us in the event is the national membership of both the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society and the National Railway Historical Society. This event will serve as the annual meeting of the R&LHS and as a business conference for the NRHS. The conference will be held at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada between May 16 and May 21, 2023.
During the recent past, the Nugget has undergone a $75 million renovation and, as a result, its meeting and guest rooms are in excellent condition. More than 200 rooms adjacent to the former Southern Pacific yard at Sparks are available. These rooms are in the Resort Tower, which provides direct access to our meeting rooms by elevator. Reservations can be made by clicking on the following link: http://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=3617296&hotelID=96145 or by phoning the Nugget at 1.800.648.1177 and requesting group code: GSPRHC. For best room locations, it is suggested that reservations be made early.
The History Center is sponsoring a three day focus of Southern Pacific’s last twenty-five years and this overview will be provided by panels and presentations. Confirmed speakers include Rob Krebs, Mike Mohan, Rollin Bredenberg, Mike Ongerth, and Ron Batory. All of the speakers have unique observations will help to fill in many portions of the story of this era of Southern Pacific that have yet to be told.
In addition, the Pacific Coast Chapter has arranged for an array of outside events and we invite you to purchase your tickets now for the tours to Carson City, Nevada and Portola, Quincy, and Truckee, California as seats are limited. The Southern Pacific Railroad History Center is also hosting two events at the Nugget: the Southern Pacific Employee Reunion and Meet Former Southern Pacific Officers Up Close and Personal, and tickets for the latter event are limited.
On Friday, May 20, 2023 and Saturday, May 21, the History Center will host a vendor room and railroad prototype modeler's meeting.
Men's and women's event shirts are available for purchase for the event and if they are ordered by April 3, they are guaranteed for pick-up at the registration desk between 3:00 pm on May 16, 2023 and 5:00 pm on May 20, 2023. For photos of the shirts, caps, and other items available for purchase, click on the following link: https://www.splives.org/merchandise (note: you cannot purchase these items from the History Center's website).
To access the event schedule and speakers' list, purchase tickets, download paper registration forms, and to review important vendor instructions, click on the following link and then click on the appropriate tabs under the Events tab for each: https://www.splives.org/sprhc-rlhs-joint-meet-may-2023. Please note that one needs to purchase a registration prior to obtaining tickets for the tours and events.
Should you have any questions, send an email to Bill Fowler at wefowler@pm.me.