Mark your calendars for our 2023 RGM&HS Convention which will be in Denver, Colorado on August 27-30, 2023, and will run sequentially with the 2023 National Narrow Gauge convention which will run August 30th – September 02, 2023.
Our convention will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Denver – Aurora, which is short distance from the hotel hosting the Narrow Gauge convention. So its the perfect opportunities to take in both events while in Denver.
We have a great line-up of programs for the 2023 that will include color photography and explanations of Rio Grande Standard and Narrow gauge operations. The programs we are considering will cover both freight and passenger operations on the D&RGW system. The full list of programs, other convention events being planned is below. Please check back here for more updates.
Jeff Pierce our Society President kicks off the 2023 Convention Sunday night with our first session on the state of the RGM&HS. Jeff will recap the health of the organization and highlight some of the initiatives the society is working on. He will wrap up by covering some of the logistics of the convention over the coming days.
Jeff volunteers his time as a President and staffing the society exhibit booth a various railroad and model train show events in Utah and throughout the area. Jeff has been a featured speaker in both the WP & RGM&HS conventions. He is an Operations Manager at the Salt Lake City International Airport and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah area.
RC Farewell has spoken at our 2021 virtual convention and will give a video program titled Rio Grande’s Desert Crossing and take your questions about the program at the end of the session.
RC blames his father for a lifelong obsession with western railroads and the D&RGW in particular. A degree in Geology / Geophysics and a focus on computer applications of same with the USGS eventually took RC to Denver and the D&RGW.
After a number of professional moves, RC ended up at the COORS Brewing Company’s IT department from which he ultimately retired. Side gigs included the Colorado Railroad Museum and authoring six hardcover books on Colorado railroads and the D&RGW in particular.
RC lives in Arvada, CO, with his wife, Sgt. Peggy Farewell, USMC. His cameras remain active, especially during Ski Train season.
Jeff Simley has authored three Morning Sun Books on the Rio Grande, and one on Amtrak and will give a talk on Second Generation Diesels Over the Great Divide.
Jeff is a retired Cartographer with the
others Presenters coming soon!
Gil Bennett has spoken at many railroad events and is one of our featured speakers for the convention and will give a talk on some of his Rio Grande painting he’s been commissioned to do in the past.
Gil is an industrial illustrator that has had over 30 years of experience. He began painting from a young age, and after receiving a degree from the University of Utah, began his own studio in the Wasatch Front. Gil began working in industrial illustration after meeting and working with famous illustrator Howard Fogg. Since that time, Gil has been featured in numerous magazines in the US and abroad, has received dozens of awards for his model building and paintings. Gil has had work featured in rail road museums in Utah, California, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Wisconsin.Gil has completed over 2000 watercolor and oil paintings that have been purchased and featured by the likes of W. H. Miner, Tidemark, Xerox, Union Pacific, Utah Railway, and various other publishers and private collectors. Gil currently lives and works in Saratoga Springs, Utah where he enjoys the company of his dog, Jack, his wife Gayleen, and his four sons.
Matt Darling has spoken at many railroad events including our 2017 convention and will give a talk on the photo collection of Ray Cheedle D&RGW carmen/freelance photographer based in Grand Junction in the 50s, 60s, 70s.
Matt is the Curator of Cross Orchards Historic Site of the Museums of Western Colorado in Grand Junction, CO. Matt has a Degree in History from Mesa State College, completed an apprenticeship in automotive repair and has numerous certifications in small engine repair, giving him a unique set of skills. Matt has been a lifelong railfan especially of the Grande. When not modeling the Grande Matt enjoys hiking in the Colorado Rockies with his girlfriend Dr. Christine Noel.
Doug Delmonico promises to have an interesting presentation about his time on railroad called Tracks and Falling Rocks. Doug started on Rio Grande narrow gauge in 1972 as an equipment operator. By the early 80’s he was head of the Work Equipment department for DRGW at age 30! Eventually Doug had 72 people working for him covering several road crews plus a 20,000 square foot shop in Burnham. After the SP acquisition In 1989 Doug became head of all maintenance equipment for SP. Doug founded Encore Rail System where he made countless engineering innovations in crosstie life extension technologies.
Chuck Graham will be sharing his recent personal experiences doing box car restoration work in Chama NM on the former D&RGW narrow gauge, now the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR.
Chuck has had an interest in the D&RGW since the 1960s and currently serves on the Society’s Board of Trustees, with published articles in the Green Light and the Prospector. He has modeled the D&RGW since his teens and currently has an HO home layout featuring the dual gauge operations in Alamosa and the narrow gauge across Cumbres Pass, Chama, and beyond. He has been a longtime member of the HO modular narrow gauge group called the Mudhens, and has recently joined the Friday Boomers NG group. He has degrees in chemistry from Wittenberg University in Ohio, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a retired research chemist, living in suburban St Louis.
Don’t wait, register now!
Our convention fee is $95* This provides full access to the convention including clinics, the RGM&HS Company Store, and the numerous area layouts.
As part of our convention when you register below we also have special convention rate for rooms (standard king or 2 queen bed rooms) at the DoubleTree for just $119 a night **. Reservations can be made online by clicking Book Hotel button below or by call-in basis by calling (303) 337-2800 x157 and asking for the “Rio Grande Modeling and Historical Association” group’s room block at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Denver-Aurora.
Look for more updates on speakers as we get closer to the convention, If you are interested in presenting a topic at the convention please send an e-mail to rgmhswebmaster@rgmhs.org
See you in Denver!
Registration is also already open for the National Narrow Gauge Convention and we encourage folks to consider attending both events. To learn more about the 43rd National Narrow Gauge Convention in Denver click here. 
* Cancellation Policy After August 1st, 2023, there will be no refunds for cancellations, due to commitments that must be made on our part with the venue.
** Rooms are available at the convention rate starting Wednesday evening, August-23rd with checkout as late as Saturday September 2nd so you can stay at the Doubletree through the NNG convention if you would like.
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