Conventions & Mini-Meets

2026 ANNUAL CONVENTION – THE srx – and phoenix rpm joint meet

Convention June 3-4 Extra Fare, 5-7 Convention | RPM Meet June 5-6  [Updated 1/24/26] – HOTEL GROUP RATE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE!

SRX convention logo showing yellow refrigerator cars on left green fields on right and mountains in distance

This year’s SFR&MS Convention will include a joint Railroad Prototype Modeler (RPM) meet on Friday evening and Saturday and will include all the great elements expected of our premier gatherings.  RPM modelers are welcome to join the whole Convention at the regular rate or attend just the RPM meet on Friday evening/Saturday with optional banquet.  Both the Convention and the RPM Meet will be held at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Mesa.  See important details on both the Convention and the RPM Meet below.  Attendees will get the best of both experiences!

SFRH&MS Convention 

The 2026 Convention will include two days of Extra Fare activities and two and a half days of Convention activities including the RPM Meet.

Convention Extra Fares, June 3-4

The Extra Fares are open to 2026 SFRH&MS Convention attendees.  RPM Meet attendees who would like to attend should register as Convention attendees and can then attend both the Convention and the RPM Meet at no additional cost.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026:  The Verde Canyon Excursion

Attendees will depart the Delta Hotel via motor coach and travel to the historic Verde Valley. Time permitting, we will disembark in either the historic mining town of Jerome, Arizona to experience magnificent mountaintop views and a vibrant arts scene or at the Jerome State Historic Park in the former Douglas Mansion to learn about the Verde Valley’s colorful mining past.  After some time to browse, we will head down the mountain to the historic company town of Clarkdale to ride the Verde Canyon Railroad on the former Santa Fe Clarkdale branch. The Verde Canyon ride takes about 4 hours and travels north from Clarkdale to Perkinsville through the scenic Verde Canyon through tunnels, over bridges, and along the Verde River with its American Bald Eagles and other wildlife.  Accommodations include covered, air conditioned cars and open gondolas for photography.  After the conclusion of the tour, we will return by motor coach to the Delta hotel.  Lunch included.  Tentative tour limit of 100.

Thursday, June 4, 2026:  The Arizona Railway Museum and SRX Excursion

Attendees will depart the Delta Hotel by motor coach and travel to the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler, Arizona, to see one of the largest and best-preserved collections of Santa Fe passenger equipment in the world, including the Lounge Observation Denehotso, a pleasure dome from the Super Chief, two sleepers, two additional lounge cars, a high-level coach dormitory, a high level coach, a wood coach, business car 56, superintendent’s car 405, and much much more.  Breakfast will be served at the museum and attendees will have plenty of time to view, photograph and ask questions about the equipment and learn from some of the car restorers at the Museum.  We will then depart by motor coach and tour some of the SRX‘s historic stomping grounds, including a historic citrus/date ranch headquarters, drive-bys of the Glendale, Arizona depot, Phoenix Union Station, Phoenix freight depot.  The tours will include a presentation on the SRX and Santa Fe’s perishable operations.  We will return to the Delta Hotel.  Breakfast and lunch included.  Tentative tour limit of 100.

Thursday evening will also feature layout tours in the greater Phoenix area.

Convention PROPER, June 5-7

The SFRH&MS 2026 Convention proper starts off on Friday, June 5, 2026.  It will include at least 3 clinic tracks, including one modeling track, one history track and one general track. We should post a tentative clinic list shortly.  The  Company Store, a vendor room, and the model/photo contest will round out general activities.  A few special activities will likely include:

  • Modelers Roundtable on Friday night, featuring excellent modelers sharing tips and tricks of their craft, joint with the RPM Meet.
  • Old Heads Panel (tentative), either Thursday or Friday night, featuring former Santa Fe employees sharing their experiences.
  • Saturday Reception before the annual banquet — and not in a hallway!
  • Annual Awards Banquet, on Saturday night, featuring the winners of the Photo contest, certificate winners from the Model Contest, and a review of the RPM model highlights.  We also hope to have a special presentation.

Your Convention Committee is also planning to rent the Cafe Azul to serve as an after-event venue attendees on both Friday and Saturday night so that there will be plenty of space to sit down and talk about the Convention, the Santa Fe and modeling or just catch up with friends old and new!

Convention ARTS and culture tours, june 5-6

The 2026 Convention will feature two days of Arts and Culture Tours featuring some of Phoenix’s finest institutions.  The exact dates and times are TBD after discussion with the museums and will be announced shortly.

  • A Day of Art and Culture at the Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum.  The Heard Museum is one of the top-rated museums for Native American culture and art.  Discover the rich and vibrant world of American Indian art and crafts, from traditional artworks and crafts to contemporary creations. The Heard Museum  will be hosting exhibitions featuring paintings from its collection, both historical and contemporary sculpture, two highly regarded special exhibitions: HOME: Native People in the Southwest; and AWAY FROM HOME: American Indian Boarding School Stories. Its permanent exhibits will also be available guided by Docents skilled in helping you get the most from your visit.  After the Heard, we will visit the Museum Shop and then catch lunch at either the Heard Museum or the Phoenix Art Museum’s highly regarded cafes.  The Phoenix Art Museum is another highly regarded museum with a wide-ranging collection that includes both the obligatory Art of Europe and Art of the Americas, but also  Asian, contemporary, fashion and some special exhibits featuring Southwestern artists Ed Mell, George Elbert Burr’s Desert Sketches, and the Arizona landscapes of Philip C. Curtis. An Eric Fischl exhibit may still be around. Also experience the unique Firefly exhibit!  Lunch on your own.  Tour limited to 48 individuals.
  • A Day of Music and Culture at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM).  The Musical Instrument Museum or MIM is one of the highlights of Phoenix. It features thousands of musical instruments, many accompanied by videos or recordings of the instruments being played so it is a fully immersive experience. One gallery features instruments that you can try.  Join us for a docent guided “Harmony and Highlights” tour that covers the MIM’s Geographic Galleries that tell stories of musical instruments, makers, and musicians throughout history and across cultures and gain an appreciation for the power of music and the connections that people share through sharing music.   Lunch on your own at the MIM’s cafe.  Tour tentatively limited to 50 individuals.
    • Learn more about the MIM.

Convention Registration

The Convention registration link will appear here shortly.

Phoenix rpm meet

In conjunction with the 2026 SFRH&MS Annual Convention, the inaugural Phoenix RPM will be held on June 5-6, 2026.  The RPM Meet will feature:

  • Attendance at the Modelers’ Roundtable in the evening on Friday June 5th.  Learn some top prototype modeler tips and tricks of the trade in conjunction with the Santa Fe group.
  • An RPM-intensive session during the morning of Saturday, June 6, where all RPM Meet attendees are asked to be present to discuss their models and projects with other attendees and get enhanced access.
  • Full access to the RPM-extensive sessions during the balance of Saturday to meet up with other modelers or attend clinics.
  • Access to the SFRH&MS clinics during the balance of Saturday, June  6
  • An RPM Meet feedback session to provide feedback on whether you liked the experience and how to make it better.
  • Saturday Reception in Cafe Azul with all attendees
  • Opportunity, but not obligation, to attend the Saturday Annual Banquet with Society and Phoenix RPM members
  • Sunday layout tours.

Phoenix RPM Meet Registration

The Phoenix RPM Meet registration link will appear here shortly.  Please do not attempt to reserve until reservation information is posted here.

Phoenix 2026 SRX Convention/Phoenix RPM Meet Hotel Registration

The Convention and Meet hotel is the Delta Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Mesa located at 200 North Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ  85201.  The Convention will have a room rate of $119/night for both Convention and RPM Meet attendees.  The rate is available from June 2 until June 7 and may be available for additional days at the hotel’s discretion.  The rate includes on-site parking, wi-fi, fitness center,  and similar amenities.  An on-site lunch option will be provided on Friday and Saturday.

The deadline for the group rate is MAY 15, 2026.  Please stay at the Convention Hotel.  Your staying at the hotel is offsets the cost of the seminar and modeling rooms!

Some things that you should know before you register:

  • The Convention block runs from June 2 – June 7.  the cost is $119 USD/night.  The rate includes wi-fi, parking.  Breakfast is NOT included but the hotel offers a breakfast buffet at Cafe Azul and coffee and pastries at Arizona Mix (in the lobby).  There is a FEE for early departures before the departure date you set when you arrive. If you have an unavoidable early departure, please see the Registrar.  You can adjust the number of days within the block by clicking on the “Date” box and adjusting the highlighted days.
  • Phoenix RPM would need June 5 but we would love to have you stay for the Banquet on June 6th as well.
  • The Convention hotel is pet friendly within limits.  See the Delta Hotel website for details:
  • If you need additional nights, the hotel may be able to accommodate you.  Please call the hotel at 480-898-8300 and explain you are part of the SFRH&MS group and seeking additional nights.

Book your group rate for Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society Convention 2026

Convention model and photo contests

Model Contest

Models are judged by interested members based on prototype fidelity (10 points), modeling effort and proficiency (10 points) and finish and weathering (5 points), with 22 points required for a Certificate of Technical Excellence, 18 points for a Certificate of Technical Merit, and the best overall model scoring 22 points or more receiving the President’s Award for Technical Excellence.  These certificates count towards obtaining your Master Santa Fe Modeler title. Technical contest categories include: motive power; rolling stock; and structure.

Moving away from the model popular vote contest we will host an RPM style display area, where modelers can connect with each, share techniques and ideas, and view a larger quantity of models.

Photo Contest

The Society also sponsors prototype and model photo contests where participants can enter their ATSF or BNSF protoype photo taken on any pre-merger ATSF line, or recreate the Santa Fe or BNSF in model form and then photograph it. . Max size 11×14 including mat.

You can see the ATSF entry form here and BNSF entry form here.

Upcoming conventions

The Society is planning Annual Conventions at the following locations:

  • 2026: Phoenix, AZ (tentative scheduled June 3-7, 2026)
  • 2027: Oklahoma City, OK

Society Mini-Meets

Our Mini-Meets are regional based gatherings generally one half to one day long on a Saturday. Interested members have organized these meets in areas not regularly visited by our conventions allowing us to reach the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest.  A mini meet may include;

  • Clinics by experts on various aspects of Santa Fe history and modeling.  Some of these clinics are “warm ups'” for a presenter who will be at a future Annual Convention.
  • Models on display for close up viewing and discussions with the builder.
  • Networking with fellow Society members who live close by and a good way to attract new members.

Upcoming Mini-Meets

The Society is pleased to announce that MINI-MEETS are restarting!  Here are the planned mini-meets so far:

  • 2026 Indianapolis Mini Meet – March 14, 2026, Indiana Rail Road Depot, 1500 S. Senate Ave. Indianapolis, IN.  Cost is $25 with Lunch; limited to 50 attendees!
  • Clinicians include:
    • Denny Krausman – Modeling the Santa Fe Grain Door Boxcars
    • Steve Cigolle – Changes on the Former Santa Fe between Chicago and Kansas City
    • Tom Hoback – Tour and Information on the El Cap Lounge Car #1389
    • James Brown – Santa Fe’s Two Branch Lines East of Kansas City: the St. Joseph and Pekin Districts
    • Bruce McKeown – A Basic Briefing of Helium Tank Car Operations and Building the Helium Car Kit.
  • Register with Tom Cain, .  Checks payable to Indy Santa Fe Mini Meet (mail to 6383 Dover Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46220)
  • Download the Flyer by clicking HERE

Past Convention and mini-meet Reports

Read about other prior Annual Conventions and see what members did, learned, and showed!

Reports on other past conventions and Mini-Meets
List of all International conventions

SFRH&MS Mini-meet Reports

other meets