West Side Reunion
Logging Modelers Convention
Black Oak Casino Hotel, Tuolumne, CA
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Start/End Times: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: The Hotel at Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne, CA. Convention is held on the lower level at the Conference Center.
New for 2026
The West Side Reunion has joined forces with the Tuolumne Historical Railroad Association to sponsor The Tuolumne Railroad Weekend which runs from Friday April 17th through Sunday April 19th.
The weekend will feature the following:
- Friday April 17th – Sierra Railroad Excursion behind historic engine #3
- Saturday April 18th – West Side Reunion Logging Modeling Convention
- Saturday April 18th – THRA Historic Banquet
- Sunday April 19th – Sierra Railway Seminar
Updated for 2026 – Please see Black Oak Casino Hotel page for Hotel Room Rates and info.
Event Highlights
Clinics: Topics include logging/mining Historical Research and Modeling techniques.
Model Contest: Covering all scales and logging/mining related topics.
Vendor: Vendors will be selling new product as well as individual/estate sales of railroad and logging related items.
 | The Logging & Mining Modeler’s Convention is a great place to meet and network with fellow modelers. Legendary modelers Jim Vail, Jack Burgess, and Dave Braun are taking a few moments to discuss a subject or two. |
 | The genesis for the event occurred in the cab of Shay 10 at the Yosemite Sugar Pine railroad where John Swiger and Joe Bispo imagined a reunion of former West Side employees. The first meet occurred at the YSPR. Left is the February 1986 meet when Glenn Tyra started hosting the first “West Side Reunion” at his home in Tuolumne. Total attendees were 18, including his mom, Clara. |
 | Our New Venue as of 2024 is the Black Oak Casino Hotel. Here we have Catenary Productions showing off their latest digitally remastered videos. |
 | Master Craftsmen Bob Poli and Rob Teates closely examine one of the 2025 model contest entries. |
 | At the 2024 West Side Reunion Mike Musal, professional model builder, described his usage of fixtures in his model building. |
 | The vendor area offers hobbyists a wide array of new and collectible items. All scales are represented. Railroad memorabilia, photos, books, tools, videos, etc. are also available. This was the 2022 event at the Sonora Senior Center. |
 | Some of the best modelers around participate in the model contest. Pictured here is Bob Poli’s Willamette Loader. |