Are you ready for a NEW WORLD RECORD?
All Aboard the Chattanooga Choo Choo!
Fellow T-TRAKers, The NMRA has announced Chattanooga in 2026 for the NMRA Convention! (July 27-August 2, 2026) This announcement represents a unique opportunity for our community! In support of the NMRA Community Group | National Model Railroad Association and NRail, this is the perfect centralized location to bring T-TRAK Modular railroading to the Forefront! WE NEED TO KNOW IF YOU CAN COMMIT… To What?
Another attempt at a T-TRAK Record Breaker!!
The folks at the NMRA National Train Show, in conjunction with the National NMRA Convention in Chattanooga in 2026, have given The National T-TRAK Layout 10,000 square feet of space in their main exhibit hall to break and set a New World Record for T-TRAK layouts!
The current T-TRAK layout record holder is the National T-TRAK Layout at the NTS in Kansas City in 2018, which set a new record for T-TRAK modules and scale mileage. Over 61 participants contributed 340 modules of all sizes (732 equivalent single modules), and the uninterrupted red line route totaled 28.4 scale miles.
Chattanooga 2026 Preliminary Layout Design
We already have a preliminary layout designed to evolve as more particpants register and still be able to accommodate a maximum amount of modules to take advantage of the 10,000 square feet of space we’ve been given to smash the existing record!
As the event draws near we expect the individual peninsulas to be larger and more diverse than in this preliminary design.
It's not too early to start planning!
We know that this is an early announcement and that life happens, but planning is already in place and we’re accepting participants with our online registration form.
We have two years to plan, and while that seems like a lot, we will need all of it to plan this momentous event.
To those who wish to participate, we need you to start thinking about what you can commit to the layout...and, you do not have to be registered for the convention, or an NMRA member to participate in the T-TRAK layout!
We'll need to know the number and type of modules (Singles, Doubles and Triples, Standard Corners, Large radius corners, inside Corners, Jackson Junctions or Branchline junctions) you will be bringing, and any unique modules (interlockers, for example) you are bringing or prepared to bring. We will need Bus wire and, likely, Digitrax Boosters and Power Managers (just let us know if you have some available)
Other items we'll need are table cloths, throttles, and media.
It’s all there on the online regustration form!
Again, 2 years may seem like a long time but reception for this event has been wildly enthusiastic and many have already registered and secured their place in the layout.
Register now (use the online registration button below) and don’t be left out of this historic event!
MUCH more info to come!
We’re hosting, along with ScaleTrains, an Awards Breakfast Banquet on Sunday morning 8 am August 2. We’re also giving away prizes for various contests, having numerous raffles, and giving away lots of freebies for the participants in this record-breaking event!
See the “Extra Fare” tab, on this website, for info on extra fare items for the event.
Stay tuned to this website for ongoing and updated news and information about this record breaking event!
We've set up an online registration form to make registration easier. ONLY those who complete and submit an official registration form (see button below) will be able to participate in this historic event!
The 2026 NMRA Convention is Coming to Chattanooga!
From the President of the NMRA’s SER:
It’s official! The Southeastern Region of the National Model Railroad Association will be hosting the 2026 NMRA National Convention and National Train Show in Chattanooga, Tennessee
On January 26, 2024, the NMRA Board of Directors voted 9-0 to award the 2026 National Convention to the SER and to be held in Chattanooga. So, it’s full steam ahead for the 2026 Scenic City Express!
The National Convention will be held July 27 – August 2, 2026, at the Chattanooga Convention Center located in downtown Chattanooga. There are 4 hotels either attached or within a 5-minute walk of the Convention Center that will be providing special rates to attendees. The Marriott is attached to the Convention Center and Read House, The Chattanoogan, and Hotel Bo are within 2 blocks of the Convention Center. And when it comes to finding a place to eat, downtown Chattanooga has plenty of restaurants to choose from. Plus, the Chattanooga Convention Center is one of the stops on the free shuttle buses that run about every 20 minutes from the area by the river to the Chattanooga Choo Choo so attendees will be able to hop on the shuttle and hop off at shops and restaurants along the way.
Chattanooga is within a day’s drive of over 4,400 NMRA members. One of the major factors in members deciding to attend National Conventions is the travel expense. Chattanooga is the center of easy access for travelers coming by Interstate Highways through Nashville, Knoxville, Birmingham, and Atlanta from points around the US. And current updates to the Interstates in Chattanooga will be completed in 2025. We are projecting that over 900 attendees will be at the convention, but Jenny at HQ thinks we could get over 1,200 attendees. With lower travel, lodging, and dining expenses that Chattanooga has to offer over cities home to millions of people where the national convention has always been held at, we could see a large turnout. Especially with all the events we are planning, and all the tourist-related activities the Chattanooga area has to offer visitors.
ScaleTrains
We are honored that ScaleTrains will be the major sponsor for our convention. I also reached out to the Southern Railway Historical Association and the L&N Historical Society, and they are planning to hold their conventions at the TVRM during our convention and open their archives to our convention attendees.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
On February 6, 2024. I met with the Operations and Scheduling Managers at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum along with Mike Cummings, SER Member and NMRA Secretary, and Shane Wilson, President of ScaleTrains, to discuss private trains reserved for NMRA convention attendees.
We are delighted that the TVRM will provide the following trains and activities for our convention:
- Dinner Train on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. 96 passengers on each train. Tickets would be sold on first come basis during registration.
- ScaleTrains will charter the Summerville Double-headed Steam Special on Thursday with the 4501 and possibly with a locomotive the TVRM has been restoring that will be heading to its home at a museum down south after the convention so would be an unusual locomotive for Chattanooga. The train will carry 240 people with lunch under a tent in Summerville for the passengers. And this train trip will also be sold on a first come basis.
- The Hiwassee River Rail Loop train would run on Friday. It's a 4.5-hour train trip for around 200 people.
- And as part of the non-rail activities the TVRM has a Homefront Tea Room that holds 50 people, and they will set those up for 11:00 AMand 2:00 PM. Also first come during registration.
- The Missionary Ridge Local operates every half-hour and convention attendees will ride with other guests of the TVRM. But convention attendees will be given a special back shop tour of the TVRM shops where the really heavy railroad shop machines are used.
- The TVRM may also have a blacksmith demonstration and a WWII Army Camp reenactment group with equipment for guests to enjoy.
- TVRM Night Photo Shoot Event limited to 50 attendees that lasts for an hour and 15 minutes.
Chattanooga Activities
In addition to all the above we also have the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain, Riverboat cruise on the Tennessee River, Rock City, Ruby Falls, Point Park, the Tennessee Aquarium, and many other attractions. We will also be planning bus tours of Chickamauga Battlefield, the nation’s oldest and largest National Military Park. The Battle of Chickamauga was the 2ndbloodiest battle of the Civil War with over 35,000 killed, wounded, missing, and captured.
Besides all the above activities, at the Chattanooga Convention Center we will have great clinicians from around the country giving clinics from Monday – Saturday. And capped by over 100,000 sq. ft. of model trains at the National Train Show on Saturday and Sunday that will be open to the public.
On March 1, we will launch a convention website where you can keep up with events we will be adding to the convention before we go live with registrations. www.nmra2026.org.
So, save the date, July 27 – August 2, 2026, and plan on attending a great convention planned and carried out by members of your Southeastern Region!
See you in Chattanooga!
Roy
Roy Masterson
President - Southeastern Region
Convention Chairman – 2026 NMRA National Convention and National Train Show
Chattanooga - Scenic City
