Welcome to Sparks, where the motto is “It’s Happening Here!”
The city is at an elevation of over 4,400 feet (1,340 meters). Drink lots of water, be prepared for the need to breathe harder when walking, and wear layers of clothing outside as the weather may be chilly.
Dates:
October 16-19, 2024
Location:
Nugget Casino Resort
1100 Nugget Avenue
Sparks, NV 89431
Resort telephone: (800) 843-2427
Room reservations: (800) 648-1177
All events will take place in the on the second floor in the five Sierra Rooms. The rooms may be accessed from the Resort Tower Elevators (west tower), the escalator from the hotel lobby, and from the second floor of the parking garage via the pedestrian bridge.
Hotel Rooms:
A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for Wednesday October 16 through Saturday October 19. The basic room rate is $69 Sunday-Thursday, and $129 Saturday-Sunday. Please add a $25 resort fee and a room tax of 13.5% (subject to change). With the fees, the room nights are about $106.69 and $174.79 per night. The four night total would be about $562.96 or an average of $140.74 per night. Each additional person in the room is $10 per person with a maximum of 4 guests per room.
The block of hotel rooms is now open. To make a reservation, please click on the following link:
https://nuggetcasinoresort.book.pegsbe.com/promo?propertyCode=NCR&offerCode=GSPHTS4
You may also call the hotel reservation line at 800-648-1177 and use code GSPHTS4
Update of August 16, 2024 – The room block sold out, but we have arranged for more rooms. Please check the link or call the hotel.
Presentations:
Presentations will be held in Sierra Room 5 on the following days:
- Thursday, October 17th
9:00am to 11:30am, 1:00pm to 5:00pm, and 7:00pm to 10:00pm - Friday, October 18th
9:00am to 11:30am, 1:00pm to 5:00pm, and 7:00pm to 10:00pm - Saturday, October 19th
9:00am to 11:30am, and 1:00pm to 3:30pm
All presentations will only be given once. Check your registration timetable for speakers, subjects, and times.
Model Contest:
On Friday and Saturday, we will hold our railroad model contest of Southern Pacific equipment.
Railroad Prototype Meet:
For the second year, SPH&TS is proud to host a Railroad Prototype Meet (RPM) as part of our annual meeting. The RPM offers modelers of all scales and all prototypes, not just Southern Pacific, an opportunity to display their works. Items may be finished or in progress. You do not need to be a member of the Society to attend. The event will be held in the Vendor Room on Saturday October 20 from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Please pay the admission fee of $30 at Registration. This includes access to the four presentations on Saturday and the vendor room.
Vendors:
The vendors will be in Sierra Rooms 2, 3 and 4. Tables are 8-feet long and are $40 each. There is a limit of 4 tables per vendor. If you would like to be a vendor, please and download the Printable Vendor Registration Form (pdf). You do not have to be a member of the Society to be a vendor.
Vendor Setup Hours:
- Wednesday October 16 from 4 pm to 7 pm, and Thursday October 17 from 8 am to 8:30 am.
Vendor Sales Hours:
- Thursday October 17
8:30am to 11:30am, and 12:30pm to 5:00pm - Friday October 18
8:30am to 11:30am, and 12:30pm to 5:00pm - Saturday October 19
8:30am to 1:00pm
At 1:00pm on Saturday, vendors must begin removing their items; the room must be cleared by 3:00pm to allow time for setup for the banquet that evening.
Model Manufacturers:
Please contact us if you would like one or two display tables.
Models, Dioramas & Photographs
Models and diagrams of Southern Pacific and subsidiaries accepted are in all scales.
- All scale models of equipment operated by Southern Pacific and its subsidiaries may be registered on Friday October 18 from 9 am to 5 pm at the model contest area in the vendor room.
- Contest models may be entered if you did the modeling.
- Display models may be entered if you did not do the modeling.
- Photographs must be a minimum of 8 inches x 10 inches.
- Contest photographs may be entered if the you were the photographer.
- Display photographs may be displayed if you were not the photographer.
- Voting will be on Saturday, October 19, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please see the ballot in your registration packet.
- All items must be retrieved Saturday, October 19 between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.
Extra Fare:
Sunday October 20 • Trip on the Virginia & Truckee Railway
Departing in the morning, we will travel for one hour via motor coach to Eastgate station. From there we will spend
the day riding up the hill to Virginia City. A steam locomotive is scheduled to be on the train (no guarantee). Lunch is on
your own. We will return via train to Eastgate and then to the hotel about 5:30 pm. The price is $100 per person.
Monday October 21 • Trip to the Nevada State Railroad Museum
Departing in the morning, we will travel for one hour via motor coach to the museum. We will visit for about four
hours including a ride on the restored McKeen car (no guarantee). Please bring snacks and water. Lunch is on your own.
We will return to the hotel about 3 pm. The price is $45 per person.