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Welcome to the new NMRA logo... and in many ways, the new NMRA. On its face this wheel-on-rail symbol represents the oldest of the NMRA’s objectives: interoperability.
Yet, it also represents the future. It’s a symbol of our willingness to keep pace with the changes all around us. Changes in our world, in our lives, in our hobby. While it honors the achievements of the past 75 years, it commits us to the continuation of those achievements in the next 75.
Most important, our new logo is a symbol of the NMRA’s commitment to you. As your wants and needs evolve, so will we, with expanded content on our website, easier accessibility to the information in our Library, and programs designed to position us well for another seven-and-a-half decades.
As we move into tomorrow, think of our new NMRA logo as a symbol of our promise to you – and our promises to each other – that we’ll all keep the hobby of scale model railroading alive, vibrant… and ready for the future.
To see the inspiration for the new logo, please click on this link.
For those looking for the Member's Only area, be assured we are working quickly to bring that to you. We want to be sure that your privacy is protected as we validate your membership in the NMRA correctly.
The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), an organization of model railroaders, advances the worldwide scale model railroading community through education and standards as well as advocacy and fellowship.
You can donate to the NMRA through this link.
Diamond Club donations should follow this link. More information on the Diamond Club can be found here.
What's New
Why Join the NMRA?
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Fellowship
Members at all levels of the NMRA are eager to share their knowledge and friendship in local divisions, regions and on the national level.
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Member Services
Being a member of the NMRA entitles you to a multitude of services, all geared toward expanding your enjoyment of the hobby.
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Standards
The NMRA was the organization that set those Standards and Recommended Practices which still guide manufacturers and consumers alike.
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Achievement Program
The NMRA's Achievement Program, or "AP", is designed to help modelers improve their skills and get more out of their hobby. The "AP" gives recognition to members who have displayed a high degree of skill or service to the hobby.
Join/Renew
Region Focus
Thousand Lakes Region
With a total of 146 registrants, the TLR's 'Steam on the Prairies' regional convention, held in Winnipeg, was the largest we've had in over five years! We held a dozen clinics, and had 20 layout hops.
However, we had a great view of the thunderstorm as we watched it from the passenger cars of the Prairie Dog Central Railway. You rarely get a chance to witness a thunderstorm of that magnitude across the broad, flat plain of the Canadian prairie! We also found out first hand that 100 year old passenger cars have a tendency to leak.
We were blessed with the occasional dry spells in the most important places. The rain stopped just before our extra fare excursions arrived at Portage La Prairie and Lower Fort Garry. The sun came out when we toured the facilities at the Prairie Dog Central. No rain fell during Sunday's layout hops. There was yet another downpour during the clinics, but we were all inside.
We were scheduled to have a barbecue at the Assiniboine Valley Railway on Friday night, but the previous showers had turned the grounds into a swamp. The trains were still running, but the grounds were too sodden to hold our barbecue.
The Canadian Mennonite University, where we held the convention, came to the rescue. They allowed us to use their chapel, which they set up tables in record time. We packed everything from the AVR and transported it to the campus. There was still plenty of time to ride the trains at the AVR!
We took a tour of a grain elevator when the Prairie Dog Central arrived at Warren, Manitoba. The elevator had a large awning right over the station platform, so no one got wet when they got off the train.
The train took us to the Hitch 'N Post restaurant, where we held our banquet. They chartered buses to transport us from the tracks to the restaurant. The only time anyone got wet was when we went from the train to the bus. We had to cross a deep, soggy gully from the roadbed to the highway. But no one was complaining once we got to the restaurant. The Hitch 'N Post was a wonderful venue, and they gave us a great meal!
Besides the record breaking thunderstorm, we also had a record breaking number of entries for the model and photo contests. There were so many entries that the judging went into overtime. Gerry Leone had so much work to do that he missed the Prairie Dog Central! He drowned his sorrows as he waited for us at the Hitch 'N Post.
Despite the weather, everyone had a great time. I lost count of how many people came up to me to shake my hand and told me what a wonderful convention it was. Thanks again to the members of my organizing committee, Ron Einarson, Roger Kiendl, Dennis Rietze and Sid Greenstone, for all of their hard work. It was wonderful working with all of you!
Getting Started
in Model Railroading
The NMRA has developed the "Introduction To Model Railroading" to introduce people to model railroading. Our goal is to help those who are interested in building a model railroad but who have never done it before or to assist those who may have a simple track plan and now want to learn more.
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