A Colorado not-for-profit corporation

2024 Joint Convention with MoPac Society in Pueblo, Colorado

Mark your calendars for our 2024 Joint Convention with the Missouri Pacific Historical Society (MPHS)in Pueblo, Colorado, at the Pueblo Convention Center on October 10-13, 2024.

We kick things off early evening on Thursday, October 10th with a welcome reception featuring a street taco bar.  Following that will be a full schedule of programs and events that run through noon on Sunday, October 13th.  Look for periodic updates over the coming months as details for each program and even are firmed up.

Our convention fee is $95.  There will be extra-fare events and optional activities including:

  • Welcome reception with street taco bar – $15 per person for family members (free admission for registered attendees).
  • Swap Meet on Saturday October 12th – free admission for registered attendees.
  • Informal Society Dinner – TBD.
  • Pueblo Railway Museum.
  • Steelworks Center of the West, Steelworks Museum.
  • Company Stores for both RGMHS and MPHS.
  • Spring Creek Model Trains

Currently we are working on a great line-up of programs that include material, photography and explanations of Rio Grande & Missouri Pacific Historical Society operations.  Programs will cover freight and passenger operations on each railroad.  We are particularly interested in program topics that overlap both the Rio Grande and Missouri Pacific. If you are interested in presenting a topic at the 2024 convention or have a suggestion for a topic please send an e-mail to: Pueblo2024@rgmhs.org

We are excited to be jointly hosting what essential is their annual convention with us in Pueblo.  This year convention is special as the MPHS is celebrating 50 years as a society that was organized as a not-for-profit corporation in 1980. It is chartered in the state of Missouri for the purpose of obtaining, preserving, and sharing information and material relating to the Missouri Pacific Railroad and its subsidiaries. The current MPHS is an outgrowth of a prior group which was formed in 1974. The society’s area of interest includes not only the Missouri Pacific Railroad, past to present, but its predecessor railroads. Annual meetings began in 1981 and are rotated throughout the Missouri Pacific system as feasible. In addition to the society’s business, varied programs covering the Missouri Pacific and its history are given for the benefit of those attending.


The Royal Gorge Railroad

The Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society invites you to an unforgettable excursion during the 2024 joint convention with the Missouri Pacific Society in Pueblo, Colorado this fall. On Friday, October 11th, we’ll ride the Royal Gorge Railroad, with a car reserved exclusively for us at $89 per person (carpools available for those needing transportation to/from Cañon City).

Buckle up, rail enthusiasts! This journey through the rugged beauty of the Royal Gorge, carved by the Arkansas River, will be etched in steel and nostalgia. As the 1950s-era train winds along the very tracks once thundered by the legendary Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, settle into our cozy passenger chartered car. The clickety-clack of wheels on rails will serenade you as you feast your eyes on jaw-dropping vistas—the sheer granite cliffs, the emerald river ribbon, and the sentinel Colorado Rockies.

Convention attendees are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Royal Gorge and layout tours. Transportation is not included in the excursion ticket price. Attendees must arrive at The Royal Gorge one hour before departure or they risk missing the train.

Register for the convention now, secure your spot, and snag an excursion pass. Let’s make this an historic event one for the ages.


Don’t wait, register now!

To buy your convention pass click the button below:

Register Here

As part of our convention, we have arranged a special convention rate for rooms (standard king or 2 queen bedrooms) at the Courtyard Pueblo Downtown for just $159 a night. The hotel is right next to the event venue.  Reservations can be made online on an individual call-in basis by calling the hotel front desk at 719-542-3200 and asking for the “Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society/Missouri Pacific Joint Convention” group room rate. Room availability is limited so book early.

To reserve your hotel room for the convention at the group rate visit:

Book Hotel

The special convention rate at the Courtyard Pueblo Downtown is also available up to three days pre-and post- convention.  Pre-and post-convention dates must be booked by calling the hotel front desk at 719-542-3200 and asking for the dates to be added to your group room reservation.

More information about this event will be posted as soon as its available.

See you in Pueblo!


Cancellation Policy:
 * After September 7th, 2024, there will be no refunds for cancellations, due to commitments that must be made on both societies part with the venues and for excursion.
** Rooms are available at the convention rate starting Thursday evening, October-10th with checkout as late as Sunday October 13th

  • October 10, 2024 8:00 am - October 13, 2024 1:00 pm
  • 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Agenda (subject to change)

Thursday 10/10/2024

Activity Program Code Start Time End Time Location Information
RGM&HS Board of Trustees meeting BOT 12:00pm 3:00pm Meeting Room 5 The RGM&HS Annual Board Meeting (open to attendees)is held in advance of the convention start
Registration Desk Opens Registration Desk/Store 3:00pm 7:00pm Main Hallway
MPHS & RGMHS Company Store Set Up Registration Desk/Store 3:00pm 6:00pm Fortino Grand Hall C-East Both Company stores will be setting up for the convention
Welcome Reception - Street Taco Bar, Cash Bar Social 5:30pm 7:00pm Fortino Grand Hall C-East A Meet and Greet Event, $15 per person for family members (free admission for registered attendees)
Welcome - MPHS & RGMHS Presidents CP001 7:00pm 7:15pm Fortino Grand Hall C-West Both Society President's welcome attendees with their opening comments to kick off the convention
Program 1 CP100 7:15pm 8:00pm Fortino Grand Hall C-West TBD
Break Break 8:00pm 8:15pm Main Hallway
Program 2 CP110 8:15pm 9:00pm Fortino Grand Hall C-West Missouri Pacific to Colorado Pacific presentation by Jim Gattis
Break Break 9:00pm 9:15pm Main Hallway
Program 3 CP120 9:15pm 10:00pm Fortino Grand Hall C-West History of Pueblo Railroads & Steel Mills presentation by Reid Adams

Friday 10/11/2024

Activity Program Code Start Time End Time Location Information
Registration Desk/Company Store Open Registration Desk/Store 8:00am 1:00pm Main Hallway
Program 4 CP200 9:00am 9:45pm Fortino Grand Hall C-West DRGW and MoPac in St Louis and on Tennesse Pass presentation by Jeff Simley
Break Break 9:45am 10:00am Main Hallway
Program 5 CP210 10:00am 10:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West Getting to Colorado on Missouri Pacific presentation by David Helsing
Break Break 10:45am 11:00am Main Hallway
Program 6 CP220 11:00am 11:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West Prototypical Sound operations with DCC for DRGW & MoPAC presentation by George Bogatiuk
Lunch Break Lunch 12:00pm 1:00pm Various Restaurants
Depart for Canon City - Car Pooling Excursion 1:00pm 3:30pm Attendees will marshall and carpool to the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Canon City
Royal Gorge Route Railroad Excursion Excursion 3:30pm 5:30pm Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Return to Pueblo Convention Center - Car Pooling Excursion 5:30pm 6:30pm Attendees will marshall and carpool from Royal Gorge Route Railroad back to the convention location
Dinner on your own Dinner 6:30pm 7:30pm Various Restaurants
Layout Ops Session (by carpool) Layout 7:00pm 10:30pm 6-8 Operators on Greg Long's Montrose Division DRGW HO/HOn3 layout TBD

Saturday 10/12/2024

Activity Program Code Start Time End Time Location Information
Registration Desk/ Company Store Open Registration Desk/Store 8:00am 4:00pm Fortino Grand Hall C-East
MPHS Membership Meeting and BOD Elections BOT 8:00am 9:00am Fortino Grand Hall C-West
Program 7 CP300 9:00am 9:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West
Break Break 9:45am 10:00am Main Hallway
Program 8 CP310 10:00am 10:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West Gore Canyon - hiking trip views presentation by Jeff Simley
Break Break 10:45am 11:00am Main Hallway
Program 9 CP320 11:00am 11:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West The other Rio Grande Railroad presentation by David Helsing
Break Break 10:45am 11:00am Main Hallway
Swap Meet Set Up Swap 11:00am 1:00am Fortino Grand Hall C-East
Lunch Break Lunch 12:00pm 1:00pm Various Restaurants
Swap Meet Swap 1:00pm 5:00pm Fortino Grand Hall C-East
Museum visits, Layout Open house(walking/carpool) Museum/Layout 1:00pm 5:00pm Steelwork Musuem, Pueblo Railway Museum, Layout Open House @Greg Long's
Informal Group Dinner Dinner 6:00pm 8:00pm Restaurant TBD
Program 10 CP330 8:30am 9:30am Fortino Grand Hall C-West TBD

Sunday 10/13/2024

Activity Program Code Start Time End Time Location Information
Registration Desk/ Company Store Open Registration Desk/Store 8:00am 9:00am Fortino Grand Hall C-East
Program 11 CP400 9:00am 9:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West D&RGW standard gauge Jordan Spreaders presentation by Jerry Day
Break Break 9:45am 10:00am Main Hallway
Program 12 CP410 10:00am 10:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West TBD - Chuck Conway Presentation
Break Break 10:45am 11:00am Main Hallway
Program 13 CP420 11:00am 11:45am Fortino Grand Hall C-West TBD

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