25th National Garden Railway Convention in Denver, Colorado, USA   July 4th – 12th, 2009 Many garden railway enthusiasts in the USA are members of local clubs in various cities and states.  Each year, a garden railway club in a different city organizes and hosts a national convention.  In 2009, the event was held in Denver.  As usual, it included a great exhibition by garden railway model suppliers.   As every year, PIKO was a major particpant in the party and, through the American PIKO distributor, had an attractive booth where all could see many buildings, locomotives, cars and starter sets from the PIKO-G program on display.  Especially of interest to all was the growing PIKO G-Track assortment.   Dr. René F. Wilfer und Mrs. Ortrun D. Wilfer met in Denver with the V.P. – Development, Jonathan Meador, as well as the General Manager of Silvergate, Michael Stevens.   Traditionally, the last day is open to the general public.  For this, the Silvergate booth was manned by the retailer Gold Coast Station, to sell PIKO products to consumers.   Because of the recession in America, the G-Scale market is depressed.  Dr. and Mrs. Wilfer led a number of discussions about the future business of PIKO-G in the American market.   Of especially great interest to many at the convention were the PIKO-G starter sets, particularly the Christmas set, with delivery in late summer.  Along with the set are compatible Christmas buildings, such as a train station and water tower.   The show in Denver was popular and well-attended by garden railway enthusiasts.  Dr. René F. Wilfer und Mrs. Ortrun D. Wilfer were greatly pleased to meet once again with a number of old friends and business associates, and to have beneficial discussions with them about future market development.   Dr. René F. Wilfer   Sonneberg, July 13th, 2009

Dr. René F. Wilfer und Mrs. Ortrun D. Wilfer in the Silvergate booth, together with Jonathan Meador of Silvergate.

On the last day of the convention, the Silvergate booth was manned by the retailer Gold Coast Station.  Rachel Kahl of Gold Coast greeted the consumers warmly and answered many inquiries about the PIKO-G program.

During the convention, Jonathan Meador of Silvergate (right in photo) and Dr. René F. Wilfer took the opportinuty to show the easy set-up and smooth operation of a PIKO-G American starter set to Hans Kahl of Gold Coast.  Under the watchful eye of Mrs. Ortrun D. Wilfer, they also tested a new sound unit, in development by Phoenix Electronics.