The Clubhouse is moving forward

French Broad e'N'pire — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:33:11 +0000

We have the modules connected and have successfully run a train, but there is still much left to do. We are hoping to be ready for an open house sometime before this fall. Check back here in the future for more info.

The Autumn Rails 2012 Flier is here

French Broad e'N'pire — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:59:40 +0000

Hello all, click HERE to download the flier for this falls Autumn Rails.

Also there is a smaller black and white version HERE that will print two per page.

Autumn Rails 2012 Announced!

French Broad e'N'pire — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:16:02 +0000

The French Broad e‘N’pire Model Railroad Club is pleased to report that our first show in the Expo Building at the WNC Agricultural Center, Autumn Rails 2011, is now successfully behind us. Overall, we were happy with the show, to the extent that we have booked the same facility for next year.

Autumn Rails 2012 will be held on October 13 and 14, 2012. Note that this is Saturday and Sunday, instead of Friday – Saturday like this past show. We spoke to a number of the dealers at AR 11 and all but one favored Saturday – Sunday. Set up will be from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, the 12th and 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday. Show hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Table rental will remain at $30 per 8′ table for the 2 day show. Advance reservations are recommended and are now being accepted; contact me at hmp3@blueridge.net or call 828-685-2726.

For those not familiar with the facility, the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center is located across from the Asheville Regional Airport, midway between Hendersonville and Asheville in Fletcher, NC. The entrance is within ½ mile of I-26 (Exit 40) on four lane Boylston Hwy (NC 280). The like new Expo Building has 27,000 square feet of heated and air conditioned floor space and there is more than enough parking for both dealers and customers. They also have hookups for RV’s adjacent to the building, if you wish to stay on site. There are nine huge overhead doors and NO steps, so unloading and loading is very convenient.

At AR 11, we had four large layouts in N, HO, S and #1 Gauge (live steam!). We expect those layouts to return and have a tentative commitment for at least one additional HO layout, plus we are talking to an O gauge group about joining us. Mike and his super crew from the First Wesleyan Church will continue to operate the dining car and free coffee and donuts will still be provided to all dealers on Saturday.

We are counting on this much more accessible location, closer proximity to Asheville, additional publicity and several operating layouts to attract far more customers than we were able to do at the Whitmire Center in Hendersonville and look forward to you joining us.

See you there.

Chuck Place
General Chairman