NMRA worth Joining or not? - The Whistle Post

Allegany2666 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-18-2008, 11:50 PM

I have been thinkig about joining the local chapter of the NMRA, but I am always hesitant of joining any club that would want me as a member. Do you guys feel it's a worth while thing to be a part of or is it just another group who just wants your money. If you are a member do you feel like you get anything out it or is it a waste of your time.

Eastern Roads · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 12:17 AM

Once upon a time I belonged to a local RR club not too far from here, and they demanded everyone to be members of the NMRA. Okay, I wanted to run trains, so I joined. What did I get? A nice newsletter, and when the National Convention would come to town you can ride the bus to see the home layouts, and get a hotel discount. You can call the NMRA HQ with questions, and if I recall take out books from their library. Now, I'm going by memory here, and it's been a few years since I bailed out and started doing my own thing, maybe they juiced things up a bit since then. In a word...NO. (My apologies if I offend) It's one of those things if you really want to get totally immersed and go for your Master Modeller, then by all means full speed ahead, but if you're just puttering around with the choo choos on every fourth weekend, it's not worth it in my opinion.

stevechurch2222 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 12:29 AM

I for one wouldn't consider joining.There are a lot of peopke me included that are going to run auto racks and piggyback flats on 30" radius,and according to NMRA stnaddards you should run 40" or 42' radius for these types of cars.I will be running 30" radius.

TallDude · #4 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 12:36 AM

I added a poll to the top of this, I'd be interested in seeing the outcome of this.

abutt1 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 09:21 AM

I've been serious scale model railroading for over 50 years, and I, like others, joined the NMRA in the beginning. I recall getting a lot of "standards" and stuff, and I'm happy they seemed to have set the standard for wheel shape and flange depths, etc. But after that I really found no need for them. A new modeler can learn more about the hobby on these forums. If one's concerned about prototype accuracy...remember, there's a prototype for everything, and you, the modeler are the boss.
Allan

Allegany2666 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 10:48 AM

Well as far as me building my layout to conform to anyone's standards other then my own is never gonna happen. I hear you about running what ever kind of cars on certin radius curves etc. I don't care for one if you run autoracks being pulled by a 4-8-4 if it's what you want to do then that all that matters. I am a minor league rivet counter to some extent where as I want all my structures, bridges etc. to correct for the time period and area of the country I am modeling but other then that it's wide open. So far you guys have echoed what the little voice was saying in the backof my head, and that for one is kinda scary. SO you guys hear the voices too.........lol

Eastern Roads · #7 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 10:54 AM

It's also okay to talk to yourself, but when you start answering, there may be a problem...

domiluk · #8 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 02:51 PM

I'm not a menber of the NMRA and don't plane to join. but saying that we really need them if we didn't each manufacturer would have everything there way take DCC each manufacturer would make different system and they wouldn't make them so you could run any decoder you wanted that MTH engines he says that there ho scale an they are but you can't run one on a digatrax mrc or on linz systems that why we need MNRA an be glade that someone joins. Jion not me I like doing thing my way when I got into modeling railroad someone said to me it's your railroad do anything you want. an I do.

mike1352 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 06:21 PM

The NMRA may sometimes be a big money graber, but they do keep the Corporations inline as far as Standards for us. They are basicly the FDA for Model Railroads though. They scream everytime one of the companies steps out of line a little bit. If it weren't for them things like DCC would be like the old Computer Wars of the 80's and early 90's before WC3 was created. Some of you may or maynot remember them but it wasn't real fun. You don't have to live by there standards, it's more there recomendations. The Companies do though or they get turned in for not living up to the rules. We get notified and that's all of us members or not. No I'm not a member yet, but I did vote yes.

mike1352

cpfan · #10 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 08:07 PM

I'm headed to an NMRA meet in Puallup WA this weekend. No, I'm not a member of the NMRA, the Region, or the Division. I also will not be joining because of an impending cross-country move.

Why are we going? Layouts, dealers, and clinincs. Including four hands-on clinics (painting building parts, making trees, painting rocks, soldering) that are running all-day. Should be good fun.

My experience with the NMRA in the late 80s and early 90s in the Toronto Ontario Canada area was that it depended on where you lived. For example, the Toronto area meets were less frequent and less interesting/informative than the meets in the Niagara Falls-Buffalo area. Of course this can change over time as people drop out and others join. When I moved to Saskatchewan, there was nothing happening with the NMRA.

The best part of being an NMRA member is the National Convention. Great clinics, layout tours, and a HUGE Train Show.

Steve