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2010 O Scale National Convention

Getting Here



© 2010 O Scale National Convention 2009-2011
All rights reserved.



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This page has several sections, you can quickly get to each by clicking the link to it in the following list:
Note that you can view dynamic (changeable maps) at google maps. At the top left of the page there is a search box. Enter "2010osnat"in the search criterion box at the top left of the screen, then click the "Search Maps" button. The result will be a map that shows some locations that google has decided to show. In a scrollable column on the left the top entry with an orange ballon marked A is for the convention site, the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. In blue at the bottom of that entry is a link a map that shows the route from the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train stop named Great America, station code GAC, to the convention site Convention Hotel Location Relative to Amtrak. Click on the orange balloon just above and to the left of the word "Francisco". You will get a pop up box for the Hyatt Regency (if you get a pop up box for San Francisco, close it by clicking the boxed "X" and then click the other orange balloon). Inside the Hyatt Regency pop up box click on "Zoom Here". On the resulting map click on the boxed "X" in the upper right corner to close the box. You will see two blue balloons; the left one is the Hyatt Regency location (ignore the orange dot for the hotel's location), and the right one is the location of the Amtrak Santa Clara station, code GAC. Use the slider at the top left corner of the map to zoom in or out to get a view of the map that works for you.

If You Take Amtrak to The Convention

Getting to the hotel is somewhat complicated by the number of ways you can come into the San Francisco Bay Area by train. See the following Amtrak map:

Let us know if the map doesn't appear.

You can come in from the north on the Coast Starlight (brown colored route). You can come in from the east on the California Zephyr (blue colored route). You can come in from Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight (brown colored route); perhaps continuing on from another train that terminated in Los Angeles.The red routes are the regional San Joaquin trains.

Things are further complicated by train arrival schedules. You should be prepared to alter your plans if your train is late. Be sure to bring with you schedules for connecting trains such the Capitol Corridor and VTA Light Rail so that you can adjust to an adverse arrival time.


From the Southbound Starlight or Westbound California Zephyr


What you want to do is get to the Amtrak Great America station in Santa Clara, station code GAC, which is about 3/4 mile from the Hyatt Regency.

At this time the Coast Starlight does not stop at the Great America station. Trains known as the Capitol Corridor trains (green colored route) do stop there, so you will need to transfer to a Capitol Corridor train. This can be done as early as Sacramento, or at Emeryville.

The California Zephyr terminates at Emeryville. You will want to catch a Capitol Corridor train there.

Convention Hotel Location Relative to Amtrak shows you the location of the Great America station's location relative to the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. According to google maps, it is 3330 feet from the station to the hotel. The gray and white dashed line next to Lafayette Street is the railroad. Your choices from this point are to walk if the weather (no rain, but it might be warm) and the weight of your luggage work for you, or to call the hotel and have them send a cab to pick you up; the hotel's switchboard number is 1-408-200-1234.


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From the Northbound Starlight


This train does not stop at the Great America station. Your best bet is to terminate your ticket at San Jose. From there you can board a Northbound Capital Corridor train and exit at the next station Great America (GAC). Convention Hotel Location Relative to Amtrak shows you the location of the Great America station's location relative to the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. According to google maps, it is 3330 feet from the station to the hotel. The gray and white dashed line next to Lafayette Street is the railroad. Your choices from this point are to walk if the weather (no rain, but it might be warm) and the weight of your luggage work for you, or to call the hotel and have them send a cab to pick you up; the hotel's switchboard number is 1-408-200-1234.

Alternatively, you can get a shuttle to the Light Rail Line. The Amtrak staff in the station should be able to provide directions for this. The Light Rail in the area of the Hyatt Regency runs down Tasman Drive. Convention Hotel Location Relative to Amtrak will show you Tasman Drive along with the two light rail stations nearest the Hyatt Regency. Get off the Light Rail train at the stop named Great America Station; the Hyatt Regency will be to your right as you face the direction in which the train was traveling. For more information on VTA including maps and a VTA trip planning tool, please visit VTA Light Rail info.
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If You Fly to The Convention


If you fly into the San Francisco airport and do not rent a car at the airport:



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If you fly into the Oakland airport and do not rent a car at the airport:

You have two choices for getting to Santa Clara. One is to take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) then bus, and then light rail. The other is to take an Amtrak Capitol Corridor train to the Great America Station.

If you prefer and your schedule allows it, the Capitol Corridor train is more direct and faster. The Coliseum BART station and Amtrak station are next to each other, so taking AirBART to the COLISEUM BART station will also get you to the Amtrak station. Once there, follow the instructions above for the Southbound Starlight or Westbound California Zephyr to get to the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara.

Following are the instructions on how to get to the convention using BART.


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If you fly into the San Jose airport and do not rent a car at the airport:

There is a shuttle bus that connects the airport with the VTA Light Rail system. From the Light Rail you want to detrain at the Great America Station. Click VTA Light Rail for more information.

Alternatively, at the time this is written, shuttles run from the San Jose airport to the Hyatt Regency, click here for more information.

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Renting a Car After Arriving At the Hyatt Regency

Enterprise car rental will pick you up and drop you off. The location nearest (about 1 mile away) from the hotel is at 4767 Lafayette Street, Santa Clara. The telephone number is (408) 492-0012. Click here for the Enterprise web site. Enter Santa Clara, CA in box number 1 and click search. Select the Lafayette Street location.


Let us know if the OSKers loco does not appear here.

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