Membership

The list below includes those attractions that have offered discounts to NMRA members. Be aware that you may be asked to prove that you are a member when claiming the discount so be sure to have your non-expired NMRA membership card with you.  

Museums and Attractions

Alabama

Northern Alabama Railroad Museum
694 Chase Road
Huntsville, AL  35815
(256) 851-6276
Free museum admission, $1 member discount on train rides.

Arkansas

Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
306 East Emma Street
Springdale, AR  72764
(479) 725-4016
15% discount on regular excursions, 10% discount in-store for members

Central Delta Depot Museum
100 West Cypress
Brinkley, AR  72021
(870) 589-2124
$1 Adults and $0.50 Children

Arizona

Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel(r)
1201 W. Rt. 66  #200
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Train tickets OR hotel rooms OR RV Park sites are discounted 20% for members, not valid on packages. This discount is not valid with Polar Express.

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
414 North Toole
Tuscon, AZ  85701
(520) 623-2223
Free museum.  10% member discount in the gift shop

Verde Canyon Railroad
300 North Broadway
Clarkdale, AZ  86324
(623) 374-3185
Free museum admission

California

1863 Colma Railroad Depot
1500 Hillside Blvd
Colma, CA  94101
(650) 757-1676
Free admission

California Trolley & Trailroad Corporation Trolley Bard
635 Phelan Avenue
San Jose, CA  95112
(408) 293-2276
Free museum admission

Filmore & Western Railway
364 Main Street
Filmore, CA  93014
(805) 524-2546
Buy one/get one free ticket

La Mesa Depot Museum
4695 Nebo Drive
La Mesa, CA  91941
(619) 465-7776
Free museum admission

Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry Street
Napa, CA  94559
(800) 427-4124
$5 off any package to members

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
750 Depot Street
Campo, CA  91906
(619) 465-7776
10% member discount

South Coast Railroad Museum
300 North Los Carneros Road
Goleta, CA  93117
(805) 964-3540
10% discount in-store

Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum
101 West Tehachapi Blvd
Tehachapi, CA  93651
(661) 823-1100
Free museum admission

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
56001 Highway 41
Fish Camp, CA  93623
(559) 683-7273 
10% discount to NMRA members

Colorado

Colorado Model Railroad Museum
680 10th Street
Greeley, CO  80631
(970) 392-2934
NMRA members receive $2.00 off all admission prices.

Florida

Western Florida Railroad Museum
5003 Henry Street
Milton, FL  32572
(850) 623-3645
There is no charge for admission to the museum and all items for sale in the shop are already discounted by 10% below MSRP.  Additional discounts are possible for larger purchases by visiting NMRA members.

Maryland

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum
901 W. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD  21223
(410) 752-2490
NMRA Members receive a $2 discount off the regular admission charge. Please note that special hosted events are excluded, members should refer to the calendar of events page for any closings or excluded events 

Ohio

Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad
33 West Canal Street
Nelsonville, OH  45764
(740) 249-1452
10% discount for members and three others, present membership card for discount.  Not valid for online ticket sales.

Pennsylvania

The Stourbridge Line
812 Main Street
Honesdale, PA
(570) 470-2697
NMRA Members receive a 20% discount on their entire online ticket order by using a discount code.  Advance reservations are recommended but tickets can be bought at the station on the day of travel if space is available.   

In addition, The Stourbridge Line will make a donation to the NMRA of 30% of the price of each ticket bought through this program.

Texas

Grapevine Vintage Railroad
636 S. Main Street
Grapevine, TX  76051
(800) 457-6338
We have a discount program that gives $3 off per ticket on our Cotton Belt Route Grapevine to Fort Worth Stockyards Excursion. 

Washington

Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
Yacolt, WA
(360) 686-3559
10% discount on the train ride

Hobby Shops

California

Reed's Hobby Shop
8039 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa, CA  91942
(619) 464-1672
NMRA members receive 10% off most items, exclusions include books, magazines, consignment, and used items, Atlas O, MTH, and items already on a special or clearance discount.

Georgia

Blue Ox Trains
425 Market Place
Roswell, GA  30075
(404) 312-6467
NMRA members receive 10-20% off orders placed by email on items greater than $5.00 MSRP.  The shipping charge is the actual cost.  Members in the metro Atlanta area receive 5% off our already low in-store pricing.  Discounts do not apply to the online store. Contact Steve for more details.

Hobbytown USA
840 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway
Kennesaw, GA  30144
(770) 426-8800
This location offers a 10% discount except for sale or clearance items to NMRA members.  Just present your NMRA card to the cashier when checking out.

Illinois

Mainline Model Railroad Products, LLC.
2436 Denver Drive
Springfield, IL 62702
(217) 679-1945
10% discount for NMRA members. 

Midwest Rail Junction
1611 N. Alpine Road
Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 963-0200
10% for NMRA members except for consignments, sale/clearance items, or items he has listed at his store, which may change from time to time. See Scott.

Hobby Town USA
3782 N. Alpine Road
Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 282-0727
10% for NMRA members except for sale/clearance items. Just fill out a card when you come into the store and see John or Ashley.

Michigan

Trains & Things Hobbies
210 East Front Street
Traverse City, MI  49684
(231) 947-1353
Fax: (231) 947-1411
Orders: (800) 659-2021
Discount varies, depending on the item(s)

New Jersey

The Train Room
715 Arnold Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ  08742
732-892-5145
NMRA members offered a 10% discount on any non-discounted item, excluding magazines.

Sattler's Hobby Shop
14 Haddon Avenue
Westmont, NJ  08108
(856) 854-7136
They offer NMRA members a 10% discount. Certain exclusions may apply.

Yankee Dabbler
101 W. Kings Highway
Bellmawr, NJ 08031
(856) 312-8084
www.yankeedabbler.com
NMRA Members receive an extra 5% discount.

New York

Despatch Junction
100 Station Road
East Rochester, NY 14445
(585) 385-5570
www.despatch-junction.com
NMRA Members receive 5% off. Those attending the 2024 NER Convention in Rochester will receive a 10% discount.

Lake City Hobbies
437 Exchange Street
Geneva, NY 14456
(315) 781-6397
https://lakecityhobbies.com/
NMRA Members receive a 10% discount. Those attending the 2024 NER Convention in Rochester will receive an additional discount.

The Train Place
3911 Rush Mendon Road
Mendon, NY 14506
(585) 507-0562
https://www.thetrainplace.com/
NMRA Members receive 5% off. Those attending the 2024 NER Convention in Rochester will receive a 10% discount.

Ohio

Hilltop Hobby Shop
1732 E. Waterloo Road
State Route 224
Akron, OH
(330) 730-1067
10% Discount, some restrictions may apply.

Al's Trains & Hobby LLC
708 Broadway Ave.
Bedford, OH  44146
440-232-0951
10% Discount, excludes LIONEL items

Depot Train & Hobby
4234 W. 130th Street
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 252-8880
10% Discount, some restrictions may apply

Trading Post Train Shop
4394 Pearl Rd.
Cleveland, OH  44109
(216) 661-7300
Features Lionel Trains
10% Discount, some restrictions may apply

The Train Station
4430 Indianola Avenue
Columbus, OH  43214-2226
(614) 262-9056
Discount offer/terms:  5% discount off of our regular in-store prices with the following exceptions:  new magazines, sale items, products already discounted, and Horizon Hobby products.  Discount applies to in-store purchases only; customers must present a valid NMRA membership card.

Haven Raceway & Hobby
442 Cleveland St.
Elyria, OH  44035
(440) 412-4848
10% Discount, some restrictions may apply

Ormandy's
10 Public Square
Medina, OH  44256
(330) 722-1019
(330) 722-2205 fax
10% Discount, some restrictions may apply.  Ormandy's is trying to reduce inventory.  John Ormandy is offering for a limited time 30% discounts on the purchase of two or more in-stock O-scale cars.

Hobbytown USA
7982 Plaza Blvd
Mentor, OH  44060
(440) 974-2116
5% Discount, restrictions may apply

Corner Field
16720 Pioneer Road
Middlefield, OH 44062
(440) 636-5162
10% Discount, not available on sale items.

The Music Box
Grand Pacific Junction
8062 Columbia Road
Olmstead Falls, OH  44138
(440) 235-1625

Jan Dell Flowers Train Shop
19350 Detroit Road
Rocky River, OH  44116
(440) 331-2392
10% Discount, some restrictions may apply

Uncle Ray's Trains
4282 Lake Road
Sheffield Lake, OH  44054
(888) 933-2999
(440) 933-0609
10% Discount, some restrictions may apply

Oregon

Hobby Smith
1809 NE Cesar Chavez Blvd
Portland, OR  97212
(503) 284-1912
Owner Ron Maize offers current NMRA members with valid membership cards a discount

Pennsylvania

Trainpops Attic
400 Mill Street
Bristol, PA  19007
(215) 788-20146
NMRA members can get a 10% discount, certain exclusions may apply.

Tennessee

ARCY DVD & HOBBY
4439 Blaylock Road 
Crossville, TN  38572
(931) 788-3373
A 10% discount to all NMRA Members (not to be combined with any additional club-affiliated discounts). Discounts are applicable for In-Store purchases ONLY.

Virginia

BYMRR Hobby Center (Building Your Model Railroad)
2632 E Kings Rd. 
Virginia Beach, VA  23452 
(757) 904-9390 
A 10% discount for NMRA members using coupon code.

Wisconsin

Hiawatha Hobbies
2026 Silvernail Rd.
Pewaukee, WI  53072
(262) 544-4131
20% discount on items not on sale

Nova Scotia, Canada

Maritime Hobbies and Crafts
1521 Grafton Street
Halifax, NS
B3J 2B9
(902) 423-8870
10% discount on regular-priced items only

Annual General Meeting / Meet the President

General Meeting Minutes - Minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting - Check back about September 20

Pre-meeting questions and answers, discussed at the General Meeting on September 13, 2020
     (available soon)

Reproduced from the February 2003 Issue of Model Railroader.
Copyright 2003 Kalmbach Publishing Co. Used with permission of Model Railroader Magazine

Joining the NMRA

What does the National Model Railroad Association have to do with workin' on my railroad? The short answer is: standards. But let me give you a little background first.

Belonging to the NMRA has many benefits, which are described on its Web site at www.nmra.org. I've always considered the friendships made at NMRA meets a valuable asset. But recently I've discovered the importance of standards set by the organization and what they mean to the hobby.

Developing standards

In 1935 the National Model Railroad Association was founded in Milwaukee, and it has become the largest organization in the world devoted to the hobby of model railroading. Before the 1930s, there were no standards pertaining to model railroad equipment. One manufacturer's equipment would not necessarily work with another's, and many modelers set their own standards from their designs and ideas. It became more and more difficult, if not impossible, to take equipment from one model railroad and expect it to run on another.

So a group of model railroaders, manufacturers, and publishers decided it was time to bring order to the hobby. Standards were developed to guarantee that equipment could be interchanged between individual model railroads. These standards ensured cars and locomotives purchased from one manufacturer could run on the track of another manufacturer. Many of the original standards still remain in effect today, virtually unchanged.

I never fully understood how important NMRA standards were to the hobby until I was recently researching Digital Command Control (DCC).

During the mid-1990s the NMRA began the process required to introduce a standard for DCC. The standard covers the digital signal traveling from the command station to the decoders controlling locomotives and other accessories such as switch machines. All manufacturers have to abide by this signal standard in order to receive NMRA conformance approval. Electronics required for DCC quickly got cheaper and DCC became more popular. Had it not been for the efforts of the NMRA and its volunteers, the advancements made in DCC would not have happened nearly as fast.

Benefits for modelers

So what does belonging to the NMRA do for me and you? It lets us purchase products from manufacturers without worrying about compatibility.

The NMRA has much to offer the individual modeler besides standards, such as a library providing thousands of books, magazines, photos, and slides. There are local meets, plus regional and national conventions to attend throughout the year, where you can get together with fellow modelers and enjoy clinics about every aspect of our hobby.

So the next time you're running that new locomotive or installing replacement wheelsets on a boxcar, remember how important the NMRA is to you being able to work on the railroad.

Article Photo Captions: (photos not reproduced)

A.) The most common use of the standards gauge is to check that your track is the correct width. Remember the gauge is made of metal, so be sure you don't have any power going to the rails or you may cause a short.

B.) Standards established by the NMRA keep modelers from being stopped in their tracks. Lionel Strang uses his HO scale NMRA standards gauge to check the clearance of a loading dock.

C.) Digital Command Control has become quite popular with modelers, thanks in no small part to standards established early on by the NMRA, which allow a decoder from one manufacturer to be used with a command station from another.

Join the NMRA and enjoy the many benefits of membership. Please review the information below before completing your membership application. (NOTE: You may select 1 or 2 years for either new or renewal memberships at the final checkout page on the NMRA Company Store after entering in the requested information. Select the QTY field and change as needed, then click on the UPDATE button to recalculate the amount due.)

Want to "test drive" the NMRA for a little while?

Sign up for our 9-month Rail Pass trial membership for only $19.95! This Includes 9 months of the Digital NMRA Magazine.

The Rail Pass offer is good in the U.S. only and is for new members and those who have not been NMRA members for two years or more. Individuals can join at the Rail Pass rate only once. Rail Pass members can attend conventions and participate in contests, but cannot hold office or vote in NMRA events. Membership will renew at the regular membership rate.

Classes of NMRA Membership

Member (with Magazine Subscription) - as of 4/1/2022
All Rights and Benefits; Includes the printed NMRA Magazine and digital access.
Cost - $92.00 (US) per year, 2 years for $184.00 (US)

Member (No Print Subscription) - as of 4/1/2022
All Rights and Benefits; Does include the Digital NMRA Magazine access.
Cost - $68.00 (US) per year, 2 years for $136.00 (US)

Family Member
The spouse or minor child of above member in good standing. Family Members have no vote and cannot hold an office at any level of the NMRA, and do not receive NMRA Magazine. Family Members receive their own annual renewal notice and membership card.
Provide Family Member's name and date of birth in the comments box.
Cost - $10.00 (US) per year per family member.

NOTE: If you are a new NMRA Member, please complete the Member application for yourself as a Member first. Then complete a separate Member application for each family Member. If you are a current NMRA Member adding a family membership, please complete the Member application for the Family Member and note in the "Special Interests, Prototype & Modeling" section of the application your NMRA Member Number and Name for the Family Member to be Linked.

Student Member
Any person 18 yrs and under or student between the ages of 19 - 25 yrs possessing valid student ID. All Rights and Benefits and the Digital NMRA Magazine. (date of birth mandatory on the application).
Cost $40.00 (US) per year.

Sustaining Member
Mandatory for all group memberships such as Clubs, Associations, Corporations or other Businesses. Sustaining membership includes all the rights and privileges of membership including the NMRA Magazine. The NMRA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization and your professional association as a sustaining member is tax deductible. Any individual may also support the NMRA as a sustaining member in which ½ the cost of membership is eligible as a tax-deductible donation.
Cost - $120.00 (US) per year.

International Memberships

Notice: Under the Dues structure, Canada, United Kingdom (including Europe now), and Australia/New Zealand residents must contact their region for membership to the NMRA.

NMRA Canada

• Canadians must remit dues to NMRA Canada using a different form than the US form.
• nmracanada.ca
• Contact: registrar [at] nmracanada.ca

Australasian Region

• Australia and New Zealand
• www.nmra.org.au
• Contact: membership [at] nmra.org.au (Al Harris)

Other International Countries

Any prospective member from a country other than the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand should join via the British Region website.

U.S. Membership

• 9-month Rail Pass membership (PDF)
• U.S. New and Renewal Membership Application - Online
• U.S. New Member Form (PDF)
• U.S. Renewal Form (PDF)

Allow 2-4 weeks for your application to be processed and to receive your NMRA membership card. If you selected a membership that includes the NMRA Magazine, it will take 2 monthly issues to integrate your name into the publication mailing list due to publication lead times. Therefore, your first issue of the magazine should appear in approximately 6 weeks.

If you have any questions, please contact our Administrative Department.