|
The S Gaugers of the St. Louis Area invite all S Gaugers to St. Louis for the National Association of S Gaugers 2009 Convention.
Why St. Louis? St. Louis was the destination for many railroads in the 1800s. Trains brought people and goods to East St. Louis where they were ferried across the Mississippi River to St. Louis. From there other railroads carried the people and goods westward or boarded a steamboat to go up river or up the Missouri River westward.
Which railroads came to St. Louis? The Southern Railway, Louisville & Nashville Railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central Railroad, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the Wabash Railroad, Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, the Missouri Pacific Railway, the Alton Railroad, and the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad were some of the railroads which came to East St. Louis and some even crossed the Mississippi. When James B. Eads proposed and then built the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi in 1874, rail traffic started flowing across the bridge instead of being ferried across the river.
In 1889 financier Jay Gould, who controlled six proprietary railroad in the St. Louis, orchestrated the formation of the Terminal Railroad Association. The original railroads were the Missouri Pacific Railway, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, the Wabash Railroad, the Ohio and Mississippi Railway, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway companies. Subsequentally other railway companies joined the Terminal.
Today St. Louis is still a hub of rail activity though consolidation has changed the composition of the Terminal. Terminal operates two bridges across the Mississippi and a switching yard in Madison, IL with 80 tracks to hold up to 2200 cars at one time. Burlington Northern-Santa Fe operates a large yard along side I-44 stretching from Kingshighway to the city limits. Union Pacific operates a smaller yard on the southern edge of downtown as well as a larger yard in Dupo, IL south of East St. Louis.
Activities PlannedFor the convention we are offering some unique opportunities to see the area. We are including as a part of your registration, an opportunity to visit the Museum of Transport in St. Louis County. Also on Friday, we will have a tour of the Union Pacific Car Repair Shops in DeSoto, MO with a luncheon at the Hotel Arlington. The Arlington is now a B&B but has a railroad motif room where we will eat. It was a railroad oriented hotel. We will have a live steam (12" gauge) ride along the Meramec River on a three mile route behind one of the 11 steam locomotives of the Wabash, Frisco & Pacific Railroad in Glencoe, MO. For diversion, we will travel out along the Katy (Missouri, Kansas & Texas RR right-of-way) Trail to the oldest wine producing region of Missouri. We will stop at 3 wineries and sample the goods, and have lunch at one of the wineries.
For the ladies we will offer a trip back in time to the village of Kimmswick along the Mississippi with luncheon at the Blue Owl restaurant and an opportunity to shop at the various antique and craft shops in the village.
Of course, no trips to St. Louis would be complete without a visit to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis. The tour of the brewery will be followed up with a tour of the facilities of the Manufacturers Railway, which is the rail transportation arm of A-B. Sampling will be optional.
|
 Walt Disney Studios schedule for the advertising train places the train in Union Station, St. Louis, from 31 July to 2 August.
28 June 2009 - Due to circumstances beyond our control Layout Tour 3 on Friday night will be cancelled. Those not signed up for Layout Tour 4 also can have their Tour 3 transferred to Tour 4. Those signed up for both Tours 3 and 4 will receive a refund.
29 May 2009 - Approximately 80% of each car has been sold.
 31 Oct 2008 - On the advice of SHS, we will have two car numbers on each of our cars.
Cancellation Policy
After July 22, 2009, refunds for cancellations cannot be guaranteed for Registration fees, Tour reservations, or Banquet tickets, Refunds for tours & the banquet will only be possible if your cancelled reservations can be re-sold prior to the event; we will make every effort to do so. As of July 15, 2009 Dealer Hall table resevations cannot be refunded.
Limited Availability
Sold Out Notifications
Silent Auction Planned
In addition to the popular live auction after the banquet, the 2009 Convention will also feature a silent auction -- be sure to bring your items! More detail coming...
Single Day Registrations
For the indicated day, provide access to vendor hall and clinics ONLY. Single Day Registration form available. More info on Registration page.
Additional Updates on the News/Contacts page.
|
