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Station No.VI 2025 NMRA National Convention

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CONTACT HOST
Primary Contact:
Byrne Blumenstein - Chief Registrar
Event Coordinators:
Paul Anderson
Marshall Stull
 
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Overview
Agenda
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Operating Sessions
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Station No.VI 2025 NMRA National Convention
Station No.VI 2025 NMRA National Convention
Mon, July 14, 2025 @ 01:00 PM — Sat, July 19, 2025 @ 06:00 PM (EDT)
Event Banner
THIS EVENT IS 100% FREE!

Welcome to the National Model Railroad Association's 2025 Station NoVI convention located in Novi, MI near Detroit, MI.


Current Status!


Descriptions and photos (and some videos) for the Layout Tours are now available. The Agenda contains an event for each layout on the tour, so you can start adding them to your Itinerary.


The following items are not yet finalized; you'll be able to register for them at a later date:

  • Operating Sessions
  • Make & Take clinics


We do have preliminary information on the available Clinics but their scheduled dates/times are yet to be determined.


If you have questions, please visit our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page.


If you are looking for your Itinerary, it's only available on the mobile site.


Registration: Open
Event Dates
JUL
14
MONDAY
to
JUL
19
SATURDAY
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM (EDT)
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Registration Closes
July 19, 2025 @ 5:00 pm
Food & Beverage
- Seated Restaurant
General
- AV Available
- Wi-Fi
Recreation
- Swimming
- Gym
Location
Address
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel
21111 Haggerty Road
Novi, MI  USA
Selection Options
US Dollar
 
Registration Options
Standard Registration
Standard Registration
$ 125.00 

This registration level applies to attendees regardless of NMRA membership. It includes admission to National Train Show on Saturday and Sunday with special early entrance Saturday morning.

 
Companion / Spouse Registration
Companion / Spouse Registration
$ 62.00 

An adult attending with principle attendee already registered using Standard Registration. Must register principle attendee first. It includes admission to National Train Show on Saturday and Sunday with special early entrance Saturday morning.

 
Youth Registration (ages 12-17)
Youth Registration (ages 12-17)
$ 20.00 

Must be accompanied by a person registered under a Standard Registration. This registration level includes admission to National Train Show on Saturday and Sunday with special early entrance Saturday morning.

 
Youth Registration (under 12)
Youth Registration (under 12)
FREE! 

Must be accompanied by a person registered under a Standard Registration. This registration level includes admission to National Train Show on Saturday and Sunday with special early entrance Saturday morning.

 
Saturday Pass (includes National Train Show)
Saturday Pass (includes National Train Show)
$ 40.00 

Includes admission to convention activities on Saturday, July 19th, plus a ticket to the National Train Show on Saturday, July 19th. Pick up your ticket Saturday morning.

 
Friday & Saturday Pass (includes National Train Show)
Friday & Saturday Pass (includes National Train Show)
$ 60.00 

Includes admission to convention activities on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th, plus a ticket to the National Train Show on Saturday, July 19th. Pick up your ticket Friday morning.

 
 
Prototype Tours
Ford River Rouge Factory Tour
Ford River Rouge Factory Tour
83/150 LEFT $ 62.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Lobby
Monday Jul 14, 2025 @  10:00:AM  —  04:00:PM EDT

Visit the Dearborn Truck Plant at Ford Motor Company's historic River Rouge facility. Cost includes bus transportation to/from the venue.

 
The Henry Ford Museum
The Henry Ford Museum
0/51 LEFT $ 70.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Lobby
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025 @  10:00:AM  —  04:00:PM EDT

Spend a day at the The Henry Ford, an internationally recognized cultural destination that immerses visitors in the stories of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation that helped shape America. A National Historic Landmark with an unparalleled collection of artifacts from 300 years of American history. Cost includes bus transportation to/from the venue.

 
Detroit River Cruise (Gordie Howe Bridge)
Detroit River Cruise (Gordie Howe Bridge)
64/140 LEFT $ 85.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Lobby
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025 @  10:00:AM  —  04:00:PM EDT

Experience Detroit's rich history and impressive skyline with a sightseeing tour, narrated by a local guide knowledgeable of the riverside railroad and industrial facilities past and present. The cruise starts near the Renaissance Center and travels downriver under the Ambassador and Gordie Howe bridges and continues to the area where the Rouge River meets the Detroit River. Depending on conditions it may proceed up the Rouge to the Ford facilities. Cost includes lunch and bus transportation to/from the venue.

 
Greenfield Village with Steam Train Ride
Greenfield Village with Steam Train Ride
16/51 LEFT $ 80.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Lobby
Thursday Jul 17, 2025 @  10:00:AM  —  04:00:PM EDT

Experience firsthand the sights, sounds and sensations of America’s fascinating formation, where over 80 acres brim with resourcefulness and ingenuity. Here, 300 years of American perseverance serve as a living reminder that anything is possible. Step foot in the lab where Thomas Edison had his lightbulb moment or the workshop where the Wright brothers taught us to reach for the sky. Take a ride in a real Model T, or a walk through four working farms. Rub shoulders with world-class artisans, and explore the place where America’s can-do spirit inspires you to go out and get it done. Cost includes bus transportation to/from the venue and a ticket to ride the train pulled by a working steam engine.

 
Michigan Central Station & Motown Museum
Michigan Central Station & Motown Museum
13/51 LEFT $ 60.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Lobby
Friday Jul 18, 2025 @  12:00:PM  —  04:00:PM EDT

The Michigan Central Station was the historic main intercity passenger rail station in Detroit from 1914 until the cessation of Amtrak service on January 6, 1988. It was the tallest rail station in the world at the time of its construction. After years of deterioration, Ford Motor Company purchased the station in 2018 for redevelopment. After years of extensive renovation the station reopened in June of 2024. Rounding out the day's tour is a visit to the Hitsville USA studio that launched the legendary Motown sound and made household names out of The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and many others. Cost includes bus transportation to/from the venues.

 
 
Modeling with the Masters
Making Realistic Foreground Trees
Making Realistic Foreground Trees
0/20 LEFT $ 60.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Monday Jul 14, 2025 @  02:30:PM  —  06:00:PM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR). Jim Gore, MMR leads the instruction, assisted by MMRs Peter Youngblood, Carl Smeigh, and Clark Kooning. Jim will take you through the creation of two foreground trees: one deciduous tree (like cottonwood or oak or elm) and one conifer tree (pine, fir, spruce, or larch). You will learn about simple techniques that help make the tree appear more realistic as a stand-alone scenery item. We will also talk about the size, shape and height of the trees. Participants are required to bring their own tools; failure to do so will hinder your ability to take part in these hands-on clinics. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
Signs and Lettering
Signs and Lettering
0/20 LEFT $ 30.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Monday Jul 14, 2025 @  07:30:PM  —  09:00:PM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR). Clark Kooning, MMR leads the instruction, assisted by MMRs Peter Youngblood, Carl Smeigh, and Jim Gore. Looking at trying to add life to your layout? Clark will show you how to add signs and lettering to structures. We will provide a couple DPM building fronts to practice with. We will show you how to make your own signs, application of paper signs, metal looking signs, a hanging sign and using stencils for signs. If you’re in another scale don’t pass on it because it's HO only, this clinic presents the techniques to apply to any scale. Participants are required to bring their own tools; failure to do so will hinder your ability to take part in these hands-on clinics. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
Making and Painting Rock Scenery
Making and Painting Rock Scenery
13/20 LEFT $ 60.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025 @  07:30:AM  —  11:30:AM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR). Carl Smeigh, MMR leads the instruction, assisted by Jim Gore, MMR, Peter Youngblood, MMR, and Clark Kooning, MMR. Carl will lead you through the process of building a rock wall and using various commercially available materials to color the rocks achieving a rock feature used in scenery. The session will include techniques for painting the rock feature to look like real rock. You will leave the session with your completed rock feature. Participants are required to bring their own tools; failure to do so will hinder your ability to take part in these hands-on clinics. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
Model a Branchline Livestock Pen
Model a Branchline Livestock Pen
14/20 LEFT $ 60.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025 @  01:30:PM  —  05:30:PM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR). Peter Youngblood, MMR leads the instruction, assisted by MMRs Jim Gore, Carl Smeigh, and Clark Kooning. At one time in rural America, branchline livestock pens were commonplace for smaller local ranches to facilitate shipping cattle, sheep, even pigs to market by rail. Today they're mostly relics, livestock shipping taken over by the trucking industry. Peter Youngblood, MMR, will teach you how to scratch build this small livestock pen from a supplied scale plan and pre-stained wood. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
Painting and Improving Figures
Painting and Improving Figures
0/20 LEFT $ 30.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025 @  07:00:PM  —  09:00:PM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR). Jim Gore, MMR leads the instruction, assisted by MMRs Peter Youngblood, Carl Smeigh, and Clark Kooning. Jim will discuss various ways to add some “life” to your layouts. Making your scenery look like it is actively populated is an important reminder to operators and modelers that your model railroad has a purpose. You will be provided with some primed HO figures to paint and detail as well as learning some tips on how to improve pre-painted or detailed figures. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
Building and Weathering Plaster Structures
Building and Weathering Plaster Structures
4/20 LEFT $ 60.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025 @  07:30:AM  —  11:30:AM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR).Clark Kooning, MMR leads the instruction, assisted by MMRs Peter Youngblood, Jim Gore MMR, and Carl Smeigh Clark will take you on an amazing journey into building a kit made from Hydrocal plaster, walking you through the steps to build a great starter kit called First Timer Bar. We will explore sealing plaster, basic assembly, learn to paint brick and other masonry items. There is no time like the first time for anything and that includes building your first hydrocal kit! Designed with rank beginners in mind, this kit features simple construction, but amazing detail. Try one, you’ll like it! 1 1/2? x 4? in HO scale. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
Laying and Detailing Track
Laying and Detailing Track
15/20 LEFT $ 30.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025 @  01:30:PM  —  03:00:PM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR). Carl Smeigh MMR leads the instruction, assisted by MMRs Jim Gore, Peter Youngblood, and Clark Kooning. Participants will hand-lay 12” of track, staining ties, tie plates, spiking rail, adding ballast, painting rail and adding track side details. In addition, participants also take a 12” piece of flex track, add ballast, paint the ties, paint the rail and adding track-side details. The object is to try both and see which “looks” better in the eye of the beholder. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
Better Telephone Pole Realism
Better Telephone Pole Realism
12/20 LEFT $ 30.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Manitou
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025 @  07:00:PM  —  09:00:PM EDT

Modeling With The Masters® (MWTM) is a unique opportunity to participate in an immersive hands-on clinic where participants learn and use both basic and advanced modeling techniques taught by Master Model Railroaders® (MMR). Peter Youngblood MMR leads the instruction, assisted by MMRs Jim Gore, Carl Smeigh, and Clark Kooning. Better telephone pole realism on our model railroads is most often overlooked because they're so commonplace we don’t easily notice they aren't always the same. Applicable to any scale, Peter will teach you the basics of how and why they differ and how simple it is to make your plastic telephone poles (supplied with clinic) more realistic. Make sure to consult the general guidelines for Modeling With The Masters® clinics for details on tool requirements.

 
 
Transportation
Shuttle Bus to National Train Show
Shuttle Bus to National Train Show
$ 10.00 
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Lobby
Saturday Jul 19, 2025 @  09:00:AM  —  05:00:PM EDT

The National Train Show (at the Suburban Showplace) is not within walking distance of the Convention venue (Sheraton Novi). If you have no transportation, then select this item for a ticket that allows unlimited rides on the shuttle bus. If you are staying at one of the other hotels, you will need to get to the Sheraton to use the shuttle bus. The shuttle only runs on Saturday, July 19th.

 
 
Meals
Farewell Pizza Party with Soft Drink
Farewell Pizza Party with Soft Drink
105/200 LEFT $ 18.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Assembly Area
Friday Jul 18, 2025 @  09:00:PM — Saturday Jul 19, 2025 @  01:00:AM EDT
 
Farewell Pizza Party with Beer
Farewell Pizza Party with Beer
150/200 LEFT $ 23.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Assembly Area
Friday Jul 18, 2025 @  09:00:PM — Saturday Jul 19, 2025 @  01:00:AM EDT
 
Farewell Pizza Party with Wine
Farewell Pizza Party with Wine
188/200 LEFT $ 31.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Assembly Area
Friday Jul 18, 2025 @  09:00:PM — Saturday Jul 19, 2025 @  01:00:AM EDT
 
Saturday Night Banquet
Saturday Night Banquet
33/250 LEFT $ 64.00 
Item photo
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel - Ballroom B
Saturday Jul 19, 2025 @  06:00:PM  —  10:00:PM EDT

Enjoy a dinner with your fellow convention attendees. Several delicious meals will be available for your selection at the event.

Social hour: 6-7pm

Banquet starts: 8pm

With the last Amtrak train departing Michigan Central Station in 1988, the historic structure stood abandoned for 30 years before Ford Motor Company purchased the building in 2018. Preservation architect Angela Wyrembelski will discuss the Station's extraordinary transformation process and how adaptive reuse of the historic station connects Detroit's past to its promising future.

 
 
Clothing
Station No.VI Shirt
Station No.VI Shirt
$ 35.00 
Item photo

A fashionable shirt to show off the attended the Station No.VI NMRA National Convention.

 
 
Layout Design SIG
Layout Design SIG Tour
Layout Design SIG Tour
$ 50.00 
Item photo

This year, the Layout Design Special Interest Group (LDSIG) tour (see details) will be spread over the six days of layout tours open to all registrants. A purchase of the LD SIG Layout Tour will provide you with:

After you check at the convention, visit Monday evening’s Meet ‘n Greet or the LDSIG Desk in the SIG room (Ballroom A) to pick up your 2025 LDSIG Tour Commemorative Shirt (included in the price). For admission to the exclusive LDSIG Tour layouts you'll need either your 2025 LDSIG Tour shirt, or the Bill of Lading on the back of your convention badge. Shirt monograms will be available to those purchasing the LDSIG Layout Tour by June 30th, 2025.

 
Layout Design SIG Annual Dinner
Layout Design SIG Annual Dinner
14/71 LEFT $ 50.00 
Item photo

Thursday, July 17th. Open to members of all SIGs. This year's dinner will be held at Rocky's Steakhouse, about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Sheraton Detroit Novi.

  • 6-7 PM Social Hour
  • 7-9 PM Dinner
 
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