The 2021 National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from August 23 thru August 28.
Online and Mail-in Registration for convention events are now closed.
A very limited number of tickets will be available for sale in the registration room when the convention opens on August 23rd. There are four tickets available for events 2410/2420/2430, Green Bay Museum, lunch included. There is one ticket available for event 2510, East Troy Museum Coach trains, meal not included. There are four tickets available for event 2610, Illinois Railway Museum Event. There is one ticket available for events 2555/2565/2575, Banquet. There are four tickets available for events 2710/2720, Christopher Farm & Gardens Tour, lunch included. There are six tickets available for events 2810/2820/2830, Metra Commuter Special Excursion, lunch included.
The Convention Booklet is available for downloading. Please click on the link to access the file:
2021 Convention Booklet, version 6. This will open a new window. You will have the option to print or download the file.
The host hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Milwaukee Downtown, 611 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203. The telephone number to use for our event is: 1-414-273-2950.
The NRHS room rate has expired and is no longer available. Regular room rates are now in effect. There are a very limited number of ADA Accessible rooms available.
The link to the reservation web page for the hotel is:
Link to the NRHS reservation page for the DoubleTree Hotel. It will open in a new window.
The hotel is located in downtown Milwaukee and is just three blocks away from the Amtrak station. It is also a ten-minute drive from the General Mitchell International Airport (MKE). Please note, there is no hotel shuttle.
We are pleased to offer you a very special “behind the scenes” tour at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, as part of the Tuesday, August 24 event at the 2021 NRHS Convention.
A description of this tour is:
“What happens before you see a museum exhibit? Where does the information come from? How are exhibited objects restored and prepared? You may have explored the public spaces of a railroad museum, but now it’s time to join the staff for a look behind the scenes. In this one-hour program, we’ll go beyond the public portion of the National Railroad Museum and look into the spaces where the railroad stories come from. Come along as we visit the archives, object storage area, and shop to learn what happens before you see an exhibit.”
Tours will be given at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. There are 15 spaces available on each tour tour, which will be sold for $20 on a first-come-first-served basis in the registration room.
The NRHS News will have updates on the 2021 Convention when information becomes available.
Thank you for your continued support of the NRHS.
NRHS Convention Committe
Of course the last one in Milwalkie ended up in the shutdown of MLks last rapid transit system due to a horrific acedent https://radiomilwaukee.org/story/arts-culture/milwaukee-rapid-transit-history/ that happened at the hands of a Kalmbach person in 1950 something during a conventiion.
During his presentation Sakar told a story about an attractive young female nurse who ran out to catch an interurban that was pulling out of its station. Remarkably, the motor man stopped the train and actually began backing up for the nurse. Unfortunately he failed to notice an express train pulling in and the two trains collided.
Luckily no one was hurt that afternoon, but in 1950 there was a major accident that killed 10 riders and injured 47.
I presume they would report on what happens at the convention, after the convention. I'm going so I will let you know if Trains doesn't.
Thanks!
This used to be the cheapest hotel in Milwaukee and the Milwaukee MEPS would use it for inductees into the Armed Forces. It's in a fairly crappy location as well. None of the events are in Milwaukee, so why the need for a downtown hotel? Folks taking Amtrak can be shuttled to the hotel but this hotel provides no shuttle. The $119 nightly rate is fairly cheap but the hotel is basically a flop house as far as standards go. I could have done so much better if I planned this for them. Nightly rate would have been higher but so would hotel amneties, event quality, etc.
The other ironic item is they drive past most of the historic railroad sites in Milwaukee to reach railfan attractions. Whats wrong for example with riding the trolley in Racine vs. East Troy? Why not a bicycle tour of a TMERL line? Not sure I would bus all the way up to Green Bay as an event. Illinois Railway Museum is the only event I agree is worth the trip and time. Also, no mention of the HOP or Street car service from Amtrak Station in Milwaukee to other Milwaukee Hotels.............only cab is mentioned? WTH?
NRHS could do a lot better planning events, especially the hotel. Lets say I am a railfan but my wife and kids would like alternatives? Why not book in a resort hotel so the kids can get a waterpark and the wife a spa (very selfish not to include non-railfan interests)? What is up with the flop house??? Heck if I wrote for Kalmbach I would skip this as well. Badly setup and could trully me more historically focused.
Easy to fix, provide shuttle or transfers from Amtrak station to another hotel or have folks use the Street Car from Amtrak station. Very few cabs meet the trains there anyway. Setup some Milwaukee area events. TMERL lines, spot where North Shore Line station used to be located (which is very near to the current hotel......but not even pointed out). Tour of WSOR facilities possibly?
Milwaukee Road Depot restaurant in Oconomowoc, Milwaukee Road Depot restaurant in Waukesha? Train layout in downtown Milwaukee in former Milwaukee Road suburban station? Walthers visit? TMERL line tour via bus, Waukesha Beach visit? Milwaukee County Zoo visit and railroad? Milwaukee Road archives at the Milwaukee Public Library? Milwaukee Road Menominee Valley Shops location. CP Muskego Yard tour?
Why would you charter a METRA train? What is the history connected with that?
Thank u but how much is this going to cost u? I like lots of people don't have 2,000 to blow on one railfan convention...including hotels.prefer to spread that money around to various clubs and small gatherings
CMStPnPWhy not a bicycle tour of a TMERL line?
I would guess that you have not been to a NRHS convention young fella.
MidlandMikeI would guess that you have not been to a NRHS convention young fella.
Um, not exactly young. However as a general rule I steer clear of NRHS and group them with the ineffective bunch aka like NARP. Yes they talk a lot but there are local chapters and local organizations that have done far more rail preservation than NRHS will do in a lifetime. So not one of my favorites and I'll never contribute any money to them.
OK let's get straight you get to stay at a seedy hotel that is known for waking up next to departed lady's of the night and have to endure a 4 hour bus ride to Green Bay.Some Vacation..If I ran the NRHS Conention in MLK I would have a tour of the Hop Streetcar barn.,A Tour of the Lake Ferry,Boat ride on the River explaining the railroad bridges and a one on one dinner with the Trains Mag editors a tour of the Milller Brewery...and a side trip to the KENOSHA streetcar...seems we are missing a opportunity to Show off the revival of Beer City!
ronrunnerOK let's get straight you get to stay at a seedy hotel that is known for waking up next to departed lady's of the night
Stayed there on two different occassions when it was a Holiday Inn at Uncle Sugar's expense. The location back then was not exactly safe and the breakfest was somewhat on the same level as Waffle House. A little better than Waffle House but primarily greesy food in the morning.
After that and when I was in the Army on burial detail, significant hotel upgrade to Courtyard or Wyndham Garden Inn. Never stated at a Doubletree or Holiday Inn again......thank goodness. LT got to pick the Hotel and thank goodness he had higher standards.
PS: On a serious note, I don't care where NRHS picks to stay. Just that when I see a convention in or around my hometown would like to see it done right.
BTW, Marriott Milwaukee West in Pewaukee, has railroad pictures on the wall of the hotel guest rooms of the former C&NW lakefront terminal, TMERL terminal, and Milwaukee Road Everett Street station. No idea who picked those for the guest rooms and why but it is a pleasant surprise when I stayed there. Click on the accomodations link below and you can kind of see a few of them.....
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mkemw-milwaukee-marriott-west/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2&y_source=1_NjQ3NTk0LTcxNS1sb2NhdGlvbi5nb29nbGVfd2Vic2l0ZV9vdmVycmlkZQ%3D%3D
I LOVE WAFFLE HOUSE! and their surly waitresses with there painted on eyebrows and unsweetened ice tea.BEST HASHBROWNS IN THE UNIVERSE
CMStPnP MidlandMike I would guess that you have not been to a NRHS convention young fella. Um, not exactly young. However as a general rule I steer clear of NRHS and group them with the ineffective bunch aka like NARP. Yes they talk a lot but there are local chapters and local organizations that have done far more rail preservation than NRHS will do in a lifetime. So not one of my favorites and I'll never contribute any money to them.
MidlandMike I would guess that you have not been to a NRHS convention young fella.
NRHS is an umbrella organization, that has many local chapters that maintain their own equipment and trackage. They also give grants to many of those other groups you mention.
ronrunner OK let's get straight you get to stay at a seedy hotel that is known for waking up next to departed lady's of the night and have to endure a 4 hour bus ride to Green Bay.Some Vacation..If I ran the NRHS Conention in MLK I would have a tour of the Hop Streetcar barn.,A Tour of the Lake Ferry,Boat ride on the River explaining the railroad bridges and a one on one dinner with the Trains Mag editors a tour of the Milller Brewery...and a side trip to the KENOSHA streetcar...seems we are missing a opportunity to Show off the revival of Beer City!
Most raters give the hotel a 4 star rating. The 4 hours is the bus round trip time. They are going to East Troy for a more historic trolley tour. By lake ferry boat I presume you are talking about the SS Badger, however, it is at Manitowoc turn-around only long enough to reload. (I'm taking the boat after the convention.) If you want to tour a historic carferry you need to go to Manistee, Michigan. I would liked to go on a boat tour of the river, is there one running? Trains is usually a sponser or is represented at the convention, and I often see Mr Wrinn there. It's a 5 day convention and there is an all day event every day. You can always skip events you don't want, and explore the town on your own. Past conventions often have had alternative events on the same day, but their first convention after the lockdown seems to be somewhat subdued.
I was looking for the UP yard in Milwaukee on Google satellite view. I see a yard near Jackson Park, but it is empty. Is that it?
MidlandMike I was looking for the UP yard in Milwaukee on Google satellite view. I see a yard near Jackson Park, but it is empty. Is that it?
Their main yard is in Butler, WI on the NW corner part of their Milwaukee Beltline. Thats the reason for the three legged WYE at the top. If you enter "Butler, WI" in Google Earth it should appear. Though they have several smaller yards around Milwaukee as did the Milwaukee Road.
The yard at Jackson Park might be their interchange to CP (transfer yard) because if you follow the tracks North they lead right into the CP's Muskego Yard. Right where the line curves East towards Muskego Yard......the ROW to the West was the original Milwaukee Road line leaving Milwaukee via West Allis and joining the newest mainline at Elm Grove. The so called "airline" as the Milwaukee referred to it. It is a bike trail now.
Also note that north of the yard at Jackson park is a large surface parking area and an idle smoke stack that was never torn down which tells me there use to be a very large industrial plant there. Not only that but there used to be a huge AMC Body plant in North Milwaukee (formerly NASH Automotive), in addition to the Beer Line with all the Breweries on it that fed in part into the huge yard Complex at Muskego yard and my guess is the C&NW part of that traffic was transferred over via this yard. Muskego Yard is only 25-30% of the Milwaukee Road yard trackage that used to be there. Milwaukee Shops and yard trackage used to fill most of the Menonominee River Valley from the Stadium complex all the way to the Amtrak Intermodal depot.
Two more massive manufacturing plants in Milwaukee's I believe are now or mostly gone. Allis-Chalmers and Briggs and Stratton. I seem to remember both were rail served. Allis-Chalmers was in West Allis and is redeveloped into a shopping retail area now. I forget where Briggs and Stratton is or was but they are famous for their lawn mower engines and designs. You can Google both and they might return you a picture of the old plants.
Thanks, I see the Butler yard now.
I remember driving I-94 overlookong the Menomonee Valley in 1978, and seeing MILW shops and yards. Hardly recognize the place now.
I was hoping to reply to this thread evenings during the convention, however, they changed the format. They used to have a day of meetings and seminars, but they now schedule the seminars during the evenings. It did free up a day, that my wife and I used to take the Hiawatha to Chicago. We also had part of the annual meeting day free to take a tour on the HOP and downtown Milwaukee.
Convention registrationed was 175 members, and with spouses and family I would guess about 300+ total, which seems good for a pandemic year. Mike Yuhas, a recent Kalmback retiree, said Jim Wrinn was covering an event at the Cumbres & Toltec, I believe part of their 50th anniversary.
At the annual meeting they discussed the member survey they did this year. Over 90% wanted the society to continue advocating for Amtrak and local passenger rail. A few survry responses thought their lobbying was illegal, but of course it's legal and is what public interest groups do. Some respondents asked for more rare mileage trips, but they kind of brushed it off. I think the new board wanted to avoid liability when an earlier excursion hit a car, and they were sued. They did say they were making some progress with getting Amtrak to make charter trips more reasonably available.
I went on both the Nat'l Railway Museum (Green Bay) and East Troy Electric trips. Both museums gave special access to the members and had lots of their people available for museum/shop tours. On the bus ride to the museums NRHS guides pointed out historical points like the TMERL HQ, Beer Line, MILW Shops, any rail lines crossed, etc. Will post some photos when I get them uploaded.
CMStPnPThe location back then was not exactly safe...
Apparently the area has gentrified in the last 20 years. The Wisconsin (Convention) Center is kitty corner, which in turn is surrounded by other hotels. Across the street from the DoubleTree is the art-deco Wisconsin Tower (with its supposed blimp mooring on top) which has been converted to condos. I talked to a couple who lived at the condo, and they said the area used to be sketchy, but is now very livable. We walked the area and down to the Amtrak station, and also took the HOP to downtown Milwaukee and walked back to the hotel the length of Wisconsin Ave. Lots of pedestrian traffic.
I finally got some of my convention photos uploaded. My first excursion was to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. Son after the buses left the Doubletree we passed the former HQ of TMER&L and the Amtrak intermodal station. Heading north on I-43 we passed over the former Beer Line. I believe the building next to the overpass was (former?) Pabst. Near Sheboygan we passed over the UP line and in the distance along the Lake Michigan shore we could see the power plant that was the main traffic source of the branch. After the two hour bus ride we arrived at the museum.
Here is part of our group getting an orientation tour of the Museum. We are overlooking the main hall. Between the group and the engines are the tables for our luncheon:
Above is the nose of their Pennsylvania GG1. Below is the control stand.
Above is the engineer's view, if he were driving thru the museum. Below is his view, thru the the main body of the motor, if he were to back up.
Photo coverage of the East Troy Electric trip and others are on a seperate thread under the "Steam and Preservation" topic.
MidlandMikeI finally got some of my convention photos uploaded. My first excursion was to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. Son after the buses left the Doubletree we passed the former HQ of TMER&L and the Amtrak intermodal station. Heading north on I-43 we passed over the former Beer Line. I believe the building next to the overpass was (former?) Pabst. Near Sheboygan we passed over the UP line and in the distance along the Lake Michigan shore we could see the power plant that was the main traffic source of the branch. After the two hour bus ride we arrived at the museum. Here is part of our group getting an orientation tour of the Museum. We are overlooking the main hall. Between the group and the engines are the tables for our luncheon: Above is the nose of their Pennsylvania GG1. Below is the control stand. Above is the engineer's view, if he were driving thru the museum. Below is his view, thru the the main body of the motor, if he were to back up. Photo coverage of the East Troy Electric trip and others are on a seperate thread under the "Steam and Preservation" topic.
While the exterior of the GG-1 may be artistic and stylish - from the operators location it has the appearance of a middle ages torture chamber.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Walter Zulig's Convention Report is on the East Troy thread, Steam and Preservation Forum.
CMStPnPAllis-Chalmers was in West Allis and is redeveloped into a shopping retail area now.
Also a very nice office complex called Summit Place where I maintain a local presence on behalf of my German employer. Lot's of nice memorabilia from the AC days - photos, artifacts, overhead crane repurposed as a skywalk, etc. If anyone is in the neighborhood and wants the $2.00 tour, PM me and I'll try to accommodate.
Most of the equipment at the National Railroad Museum is kept in their covered pavilion.
They had a nice 2-8-2 which at one time belonged to the Sumter & Choctaw, an Alabama shortline that operated steam until 1962.
Below is the running gear of an AT&SF 2-10-4.
This one is for the home boys. It's a FM H-10-44
Here is a Lake Superior & Ispheming combine preserved undercover. LS&I was an Upper Michigan ore hauler.
Inside of a Railway Post Office car. I believe it was CB&Q.
At both of the NRHS trips I went on, the National Railroad Nuseum and the East Troy RR Museum, the museums turned out many of their volunteers on these weekdays, to give tours and answer questions which made very successful visits. We appreciated their hospitality.
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