NMRA BULLETIN DEPARTMENT & PROGRAM MANAGERS Have you changed your address or Administrative Officer — Jenny Hendricks other membership information? P.O. Box 1328 Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-1328 Notify Headquarters O: 423-892-2846 Fax: 423-899-4869 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

Library - 423-892-2846 or [email protected] Phone: 423-892-2846 (8am–4pm ET) Mail: P.O. Box 1328 Education Department Manager — Bruce De Young Soddy Daisy TN 37384-1328 23 Holiday Lane West Milford, NJ 07480 H: 973-697-8098 C: 201-803-9766 NMRA Communications Director VACANT Midwest Region—Paul Mangan e-mail: [email protected] 6187 Sun Valley Pkwy, Oregon, WI 53574 H: (608) 835-9577 e-mail: [email protected] Education Department Assistant Manager — Standards and Conformance Department Manager—Didrik A. Voss, MMR (HO) Nobby Clarke (HO, N) Niagara Frontier Region—Richard Hatton 34 Hopmeadow Court 15226 12th Dr SE 205 Country Lane, Stayner ON L0M 1S0 Northampton, England, NN3 8QG Mill Creek, WA 98012-3082 705-428-9997 +44-1604-415020 O: 425-337-5222 H: 425-337-7084 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Howell Day Museum Committee Chair — REGION PRESIDENTS North Central Region—Dave McMullian (HO) Allen Pollock 279 S. River Rd., Waterville, OH 43566 PO Box 243 Australasian Region—David O’Hearn H: (419) 878-4888 e-mail: [email protected] PO Box 4590, Lake Haven NSW 2263 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0243 Northeastern Region—George ‘Scooter’ Youst H: 573-619-8532 H: 61 2 4393 9564 M: 61 407 811 577 e-mail [email protected] 104 Bent Tree Lane, Baldwinsville, NY 13027 e-mail: [email protected] H: (315) 303-0100 e-mail: [email protected] British Region—Mike Arnold Information Technology Department — 3 Boxgate, Crowborough Pacific Coast Region—Pat LaTorres Ben Sevier East Sussex, UK TN6 1SF 2081 Horne St., San Leandro, CA 94578 12793 War Horse St. H: +44 1892 459967 H: (510) 317-7456 e-mail: [email protected] San Diego, CA 92129-2219 C: +44 07808 323094 (858) 538-9863 e-mail: [email protected]. Pacific Northwest Region—Russ Segner e-mail: [email protected] 14419 SE 84th St., Newcastle, WA 98059 European Region—Alain Kap, MMR (HO, H: (425) 228 7327 e-mail: [email protected] Development & Fund Raising Department HOn3, On3/30) Kammerforststrasse 3a Pacific Southwest Region—Carl Heimberger Manager — Alan Anderson 1256 Old Hickory Road, Corona, CA 92882 D-54439 SAARBURG, Germany 4744 Colander Dr. H: (951) 256-1319 e-mail: [email protected] West Jordan, UT 84088 H: 801-613-0801 Phone: +49 6581-603045 e-mail: [email protected] Mobile: +352 691-325089 Rocky Mountain Region—Gary Myers e-mail: [email protected]. 3717 S. Walden St. Aurora, CO 80013-3517 Marketing Department — Director VACANT H: (720) 837-4393 e-mail: [email protected] Marketing Department — VP Region—Steven Barkley, MMR 2060 Belvedere Drive, Beaumont, TX 77708 Page Martin Southeastern Region—Glen Hall, MMR e-mail: [email protected] 609 Phyllis Street, Pensacola, FL 32503 PO Box 14789 H: (409) 898-4403 Long Beach, CA 90853 H: 714-234-4488 H: (850) 982-2795 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Mid-Central Region—Steve Kaplan Sunshine Region—Gilbert Thomas, Jr. e-mail: [email protected] 8119 Woodvine Cir., Lakeland, FL 33810 Meetings and Trade Show Department (863) 412-3090 Manager — Bob Amsler Mid-Continent Region — e-mail: [email protected] 514 Dover Place Henry (Hank) Kraichely (HO) Saint Louis, MO 63111-2338 716 Reinke Road, Ballwin, MO 63021 Thousand Lakes Region—Dennis Rietze H: 314-606-6118 (H) 636-394-5151 (C) 314-520-6920 39 Shelagh Fax: 314-754-2688 e-mail: [email protected] Winnipeg MB R2G 1Z6 e-mail: [email protected] (204) 663-2302 Mid-Eastern Region— P.J. Mattson, MMR e-mail: [email protected] 129 East Ave., Swedesboro, NJ, 08085 Publications Department Manager — 856-467-0421 Don Phillips e-mail: [email protected] 5381 Heather Cir. Mason, Ohio 45040-2269 2016 NMRA National Convention Dates and National Train Show Reservations: 513 226-2233 2016—Indianapolis, Indiana • July 3–10 • www.nmra2015portland.org e-mail: [email protected] Train Show Booth Reservations—Susan Straub, Registrar - P.O. Box 1328, Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-1328 423-892-2846 • [email protected] rev 10-1-15 • 2017—Orlando, FL • 2018—Kansas City, MO • 2019—Salt Lake City, UT 46 NMRA Magazine ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

NMRA AP Certificate Report North Central Region July 2015 Scott Kremer, Northville, Michigan Model Railroad Author Golden Spike Australasian Region Northeastern Region Chief Dispatcher Robert Best, Blaxland, New South Wales Lucien Champagne, Kennebunkport, North Central Region Maine Scott Kremer, Northville, Michigan Pacific Coast Region Mike Blumensaadt, San Francisco, Pacific Coast Region Northeastern Region California Thomas Blinn, Livermore, California Thomas Oxnard, Exeter, New Hampshire Master Model Railroader Master Builder — Structures Association Volunteer Robert Best, Blaxland, New South Wales Pacific Southwest Region Mid-Continent Region MMR 564 Bruce Petrarca, Goodyear, Arizona Larry Diehl, , Kansas Thomas Oxnard, Exeter, New Hampshire MMR 565 Southeastern Region Mid-Central Region Charles Lampman, Hueytown, Alabama Richard Lach, Beavercreek, Ohio AP QUESTIONS Jerry Michnewwicz, Marietta, Georgia If you have questions about the North Central Region Achievement Program or requirements, Master Builder — Scenery Scott Kremer, Northville, Michigan start with your local or Region AP manager. North Central Region If you still have questions, contact Frank Scott Kremer, Northville, Michigan Northeastern Region Koch at [email protected] If you prefer Arthur Ellis, Bedford, Massachusetts to write, contact Frank at 4769 Silverwood Master Builder — Prototype Drive, Batavia, OH 45103. Models Pacific Northwest Region Australasian Region David Faussett, Tacoma, Washington MMR GROUP Arthur Hayes, Sunnybank Hills, David Yadock, Renton, Washington All Master Model Railroaders (MMR) Queensland are invited to work with other MMRs by Pacific Southwest Region contacting C.J. Riley, MMR, at cjriley42@ Pacific Northwest Region Bruce Petrarca, Goodyear, Arizona yahoo.com. Gary Jordan, Mukilteo, Washington Gary Robinson, Escondido, California MMRs: Master Model Railroader shirts and extra patches are available by Model Railroad Engineer — Southeastern Region contacting HQ in Soddy Daily, TN Electrical John Stewart, Hoover, Alabama

From National HQ 2015 Awards and Honors

Pioneer Award Times change, our hobby changes, Brestel, and Dave Thornton, to cite the those who help set scale model railroad- work of Avery “Swede” Norlen of Tomalco. ach year, the National Model ing on its course as the World’s Greatest I have previously observed that the Railroad Association presents Hobby make their mark and perhaps fade model railroad hobby could have survived Eone or more of Model from memory. Our goal here is to ensure quite nicely had we been restricted to two Railroading Awards to individuals who that we don’t forget those who made the scales: TT (halfway between HO and N) established “an impeccable record of in- hobby what it is today: a pastime that of- and S (halfway between O and HO). That’s tegrity and respect as well as a history of fers so much enjoyment to so many. not how the storyline played out, but under service to the model railroad industry.” the Tomalco banner, Swede Norlen certain- Awardees must have played a prominent ly did more than his share to supply S and role in promoting our hobby, developed a Avery “Swede” Norlen Sn3 modelers with key components, nota- unique manufacturing process that signifi- For 2015, it is my honor as chair of bly track. Tomalco was founded by Tom A. cantly impacted the industry, or innovated the Pioneer Award committee, with fellow Lindholm in the 1940s. Swede became the in product marketing or development. committee members Allen Pollock, Mike sole owner of Tomalco around 1964.

November 2015 47 Swede is generally considered the fa- in the large-scale renaissance but with Like into Walthers’ portfolio. Bill started ther of Sn3, which is an ideal scale for nar- standard-gauge models running on 45mm the Cornerstone line; the first kits were row-gauge modeling. He imported the first track, which brings us back to No. 1 scale Magnuson cast models converted to plas- locomotives in conjunction with Pacific and gauge. But two major manufacturers tic. Fast Mail. Sn3 authority Peter Smith re- decided the 1:32 models looked too small, Bill retired to part-time in 2012, but calls that they were Rio Grande C-16s in so they bulked up their models to 1:29, yet he is still active and contributing, not only both Sn3 and Sn42 (or Sn3½); the latter retained the 45mm track gauge. to Walthers but also to your and my enjoy- would run on HO track. Pete purchased Despite this headache-inducing termi- ment of our hobby. the Tomalco line from Swede in the early nology and mathematical gobbledegook, The NMRA is honored to name Bill 1990s; Bill Peter of PBL markets the Sn3 we can’t deny that the Richter brothers Wischer a Pioneer of Model Railroading. track. Swede produced a line of HO, S, started a revolution that continues to this and O scale narrow-gauge car kits and a day. The NMRA is therefore delighted and Fellow of the NMRA line of brass investment castings for cars honored to recognize them as Pioneers of The Fellow of The NMRA Award and locomotives plus the all-important S Model Railroading. may be granted to those individuals in the and Sn3 track. NMRA who have fostered the organiza- The NMRA is delighted and honored tion and the hobby and have increased an to recognize the late Avery Norlen as a Bill Wischer advanced social interaction and the social Pioneer of Model Railroading. The last Pioneer Award for 2015 is benefits of the hobby. especially meaningful to me personally. Back in 1961, I became one of the in- Eberhard and Wolfgang Richter mates at Purdue University and, stumbling Gerry Hopkins Our next honorees for 2015 are two along in the footsteps of track-planning Gerry is a pillar of the Australasian brothers who have done more than anyone guru John Armstrong, joined the Purdue Region and of the NMRA itself. For at else to confuse the terminology we use for Model Railroad Club. Over the years, I least 30 years, he has worked tirelessly for large-scale model railroading. At the same met a number of fellow inmates who be- the Hobby and more particularly for the time, they resurrected a previously popular came lifelong friends. Among them was NMRA. track gauge. Bill Wischer. Gerry is a very well-known modeler Model railroad gauges and scales were Bill’s parents were model throughout Australia and New Zealand once numbered: aught or zero, one, two, airplane builders and fliers, but they also and is a devoted supporter in every way. and so on. A printed aught standing alone had an interest in railroading. They were He has attended countless model railroad looks a bit odd, so it became O scale. A friends with Bill Walthers, and I’m sure exhibitions throughout Australia over scale about half that size became HO. The that influenced Bill Wischer’s choice of the years and has exhibited his own nar- next larger scale was No. 1, with a 45mm career at Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. Bill com- row gauge and standard gauge portable track gauge. mented that Walthers hired him because layouts. He has an outgoing personality, Eberhard and Wolfgang Richter no one else would. and through his efforts has attracted many, of Lehmann Garten Bahn, or LGB, ex- In the 1960s, Bill worked in the ware- many people to the hobby and the NMRA. plored the O scale market, decided it was house, did purchasing, and then moved Over the years, Gerry has held many already saturated, and instead looked to to manufacturing as what Phil Walthers roles for the NMRA. He has served the No. 1 scale’s 45mm track. They used No. 1 dubbed a jack-of-all-trades. “When we AP Chair for Austrailasia Region and as scale’s 45mm track gauge but treated that started importing European products,” Deputy Chair to Frank Koch, MMR for as meter gauge, resulting in large-scale, nar- Phil noted, “Bill knew nothing about AR. He encourages members to partici- row-gauge models of 1:22.5 proportion. them. But in short order, he was traveling pate in the Achievement Program, and he What they called G gauge became very through Europe — by train, of course — has probably managed the progression to popular with garden railway enthusiasts, and became an expert. Master Model Railroader of three-quar- as the equipment was far too heavy for the Almost all of us have been directly ters of the 22 Master Model Railroaders squirrels and mosquitoes to carry off. affected by Bill’s accomplishments at in the AR. Then, they decided to produce some Walthers. He has an encyclopedic memory Gerry has held many executive posi- U.S. prototype narrow-gauge equipment, of details relating to all things railroading, tions including newsletter editor and web and this started a rash of confusing termi- both models and full-size. He understands master, Ordinary Member of the Board, nology that we haven’t resolved to this day. how to lay out tools for the most efficient AP Chair, and Divisional Super. He is Our stuff doesn’t run on meter gauge but production. always available to the members on any rather on slightly narrower 36-inch gauge. His knowledge of the company’s tool- number of railway and hobby-related mat- So, if we use 45mm track for three-foot ing library has enabled him to figure out ters. His life really does revolve around gauge equipment, the proportion changes modifications that extend the life of the the NMRA. to 1:20.3. That’s properly called F scale. tools while creating new products that Competitors picked up on that gauge/ would otherwise not be possible. Bill was Distinguished Service Award scale discrepancy, but LGB carried on with the key player in the integration of Ulrich, The Distinguished Service Award may G gauge. Still other firms decided to join Silver Streak, Train Miniature, and Life- be awarded to those who have, directly or

48 NMRA Magazine indirectly, member or non-member, given outstanding elective or voluntary service Brian Barnt, Stan Ames, and several manu- outstanding service to the hobby. to the NMRA. facturers to design a testing program for decoders. He also wrote the computer pro- Keith Wills gram that does this testing. The only thing Keith wrote the “Collector Consist” Al Boos that got in his way was his health. He had a column in Railroad Model Craftsman. He In the spring 2014, Al Boos stepped severe viral infection that confined him to is one of the few who chronicled the his- down as AP Chairman in the Lone Star his bed and unable to walk ten steps before tory of the hobby, and he has been doing Region after about 16 years of service. Al being completely exhausted. This went on it very well for more than 30 years. For his proved himself as an extremely valuable for several years. Now that he has regulated body of work as perhaps the most pub- source of information for many members in his medicines, Ken has resumed his duties lished historian of the hobby, the Honors the region. He always made time to answer as the decoder baseline tester. Committee felt he fully deserves this all questions and provide needed guidance DSA. The committee found an interview and encouragement to those working on he did for the old “The Model Railway certificates. Al always gave a 100 percent The NMRA now accepts Show” podcast back in January 2012 (the effort to support the NMRA in everything episode was sponsored by the NMRA, he did as Region AP Chairman. He was a by the way), detailing his fascination and mentor to many members working on their love of the early trains after visiting the MMRs. Many of the members who earned Train Collectors Association museum in certificates owe a debt of gratitude to Al Strasburg, Pennsylvania. for his assistance. Al continues to be active 1/12 pg • Renewals in the Lone Star Region and is a strong Honorary Life Member proponent of the Achievement Program. • Memberships Honorary Life Membership is the • Books highest honor the NMRA can bestow • Donations upon one of its present or past members. Ken West • Online store It shall be given only in recognition of Ken has been the decoder tester since • EVERYTHING! the inception of DCC. He worked with

The NMRA now accepts

Railroad Not since the WWII years hasHistory the Comes BOOKAlive! HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 1/6 pg nation seen such an unprecedented number • 350+ B&W archival photos of freight cars from 1898 - 1947 and variety of cars on the rails - until now! • Historical car design texts from Use it for new memberships, membership renewals, NMRA®'s Postwar Freight Car Fleet the first half of the 20th century books, donations, the National convention... hardcover book captures the beauty and • Tables and graphs depicting companyanything and private andcar everything in our online store! historical significance of this prolific RR ownership

era so popular with today's modelers. • Authored by RR historians Larry Kline and Ted Culotta Railroading history comes alive with $ 95 Postwar Freight Car Fleet. Get your 49 NMRA® members $ 95 The NMRA now accepts limited-edition copy today, before it, too, 64 Non-members Shipping: $895 in the U. S., $1295 to all other countries. becomes history. 9.25% sales tax applies for TN residents. US funds only. V, MC, AMEX, DISC & PayPal accepted. 1/4 pg Order by: Online Store: www.nmra.org  Mail: P.O. Box 1328, Soddy Daisy, TN 37384  Phone: (423) 892-2846  Fax: (423) 899-4869 © National Model Railroad Association

November 2015 It’s the easy, secure way 49to pay for anything VERSION 3 - PayPal add online. Use it for new memberships, membership Half-Page Non-Bleed Full Color renewals, books, donations, the National 02/24/15 Leone convention... anything and everything in our online store! PayPal Small Space Ads 2/24/15 Leone