The Golden Spike Award will be awarded to any NMRA member who has completed the Qualifications Checklist, obtained the necessary signatures and who does not hold MMR status. It will be administered by the Regional and Divisional AP Chairs. AP regulations and definitions apply for scratchbuilding and superdetailing. To qualify for the award the member must complete the following checklist, obtain the signature of the Divisional AP Chair or another NMRA member designated by the Divisional Chair. The Divisional Chair will submit the signed form to the Regional AP Chair who will issue the Golden Spike Award certificate.

Qualifications Checklist

1. Rolling Stock (Motive Power & Cars):

· Display six units of rolling stock either scratchbuilt, craftsman kits or superdetailed commercial kits.

2. Model Railroad Setting (Structures & Scenery)

· Construct a minimum of eight square feet of layoutincluding scenery.

· Construct five structures either scratchbuilt, craftsman kits or superdetailed commercial kits. If a module has less than five structures, additional structures separate from the scene may be presented.

3. Engineering (Civil & Electrical)

· Three types of trackage required (e.g. turnout, crossing, crossover, etc.). All must be properly ballasted and installed on proper roadbed. Commercial trackage may be used.

· All installed trackage must be properly wired so that two trains can be operated simultaneously (e.g. double track main, single track main with sidings, and block

or command control).

· Provide one additional electrical feature such as power operated turnouts, signaling, turnout indication, lighted buildings, etc.

To qualify for this certificate you must:

1. Build twelve scale structures. At least six different types of structures must be represented in the total. One must be a bridge or trestle. At least six must be scratchbuilt. The remaining six structures, if not scratchbuilt, must be superdetailed with scratchbuilt parts or commercial paas defined in the “DEFINITIONS” section.

2. Earn a Merit Award of at least 87.5 points with six of the above models, either via an NMRA sponsored contest or AP Merit Awards.

3. Submit a completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) which shall include the following:

 a) Attachment giving detailed descriptions of the models.

 b) Identification of the scratchbuilt features.

 c) List of all the commercial components appearing on each model.

 d) The materials used in building the models.

 e) Verification of the Merit Awards.

To qualify for this certificate you must:

1. Construct a completed section of a model railroad of at least sixty square feet  in O scale, or forty-five square feet in S scale, or thirty-two square feet in HO scale, or eighteen square feet in N scale or other scales in proportional relationship to HO scale. This completed section must contain the necessary scenic elements of terrain, structures, background, lighting, and realism/conformity as combined to achieve a realistic effect using applicable NMRA standards. in that particular model railroad scene. The intent of this category is the prototypical rendering of the scenic elements from the ground up.

The definitions of the various elements (which may be combined to comprise the setting for the model railroad) shall be:

TERRAIN - The ground and all natural features such asrocks, water, trees, hills and depressions, as well as manmade features such as the railroad roadbed, cuts, fills, drainage ditches, embankments, streets and roads.

STRUCTURES - Structures are considered from the standpoint of prototypical suitability, placement and appearance as scenic elements. (The quality of construction is covered under the Master Builder Structures category). Structures include: bridges, trestles, culverts, buildings and all other types of structures (towers, power lines, signs, fences, etc.), track and right-of-way appurtenances (such as turnout controls, signaling structures, crossing gates and shanties etc.), turntables and other service structures. The items described above are a few examples and additional features are encouraged.

BACKGROUND - Treatment of wall, backdrop or ceiling to realistically depict depth and distance, horizon and sky.

LIGHTING - Illumination effects from three aspects: railroad cars and signals, etc.; buildings, streets and roads, etc.; overall lighting effects - day and/or night. An entirely daylight scene is acceptable. This lighting information must be included in the material prepared for Section 4 below.

REALISM/CONFORMITY - General overall impression that the scene is a believable, miniature representation of prototype railroad.

2. Prepare a set of photographs and a written description clearly describing the intended setting of the model railroad and the scenic details including towns or cities in the area being judged.

3. Prepare a description of the materials and methods of construction used in creating various features of terrain, background, and lighting.

4. Attach one copy of materials in Sections 2 & 3 to the SOQ for use by the judges in determining the effectiveness of the craftsmanship displayed by the member requesting certification.

5. Earn a Merit Award of at least 87.5 points on the section of layout being judged.

6. Submit a completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) including the attachments for Sections 2 & 3 and the signed Merit Judging forms from Section 5.

1. Prepare one original scale drawing of a model railroad track plan identifying overall size, scale, track elevations, curve radii and turnout sizes. The plan must include: adequate terminal facilities for handling freight and/or passenger cars, storage and service of motive power, a minimum of one mainline passing siding and four switching locations (exclusive of yards, inter-changes, wyes and reversing loops), provision for turning motive power (except in switchback roads, trolley lines, etc.), provision for simultaneous operation of at least two mainline trains in either direction.

2. Construct and demonstrate the satisfactory operation of a completed section of the model railroad and trackwork described in Section 1. This section must contain at least twenty five linear feet of track in Z, N or TT scale, or fifty linear feet of track in HO or S scale, or seventy five linear feet of track in O scale, or one hundred linear feet of track in G or #1 scale, or other scales in proportional relationship to HO scale. Trackwork shall have appropriate ballast, drainage facilities and roadbed profile, and may contain spurs, yards, etc. Trackwork shall have examples of at least SIX of the following features:

· passing siding

· spur

· cross over

· reversing loop

· wye

· simple ladder

· compound ladder

· turntable

· transfer table

· super elevation

· simple overhead wire

· compound overhead wire

· scale track

· cog railway track

· coal dump truck

· ash pit

· service pit track

· grade elevation

· other ___________________

3. Construct scratchbuilt scale models of any three of the following for Merit Award judging and demonstrate their satisfactory operation:

· turnout (point or stub)

· crossover

· double crossover

· single slip switch;

· double slip switch

· crossing

· gauntlet track

· gauntlet turnout

· dual gauge turnout

· gauge separation turnout

· double junction turnout

· three-way turnout

· spring switch

· operating switch in overhead wire

· other ______________________

Commercial frogs are NOT permitted in the three models. These models may be built and demonstrated as part of the layout or separately.

4. Earn a Merit Award of at least 87.5 points on the models

in Section 3.

5. Submit a completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) which shall include the following:

 a) Attachment to the SOQ showing the track plan required in Section 1above.

 b) Description of the trackwork features, methods of construction and identification of  commercial components used in Section 3.

 c) Verification of the Merit Award

 d) Witness Certification Form showing that each of the above models meets all applicable  NMRA standards.

To qualify for this certificate you must:

1. Construct and demonstrate on your own or a club layout, the satisfactory operation of an electrical control system on a model railroad capable of simultaneous and independent control of two mainline trains in either direction, and containing at least:

· For conventional DC wiring (non-command-control), five electrical blocks that can be controlled independently. For command control wiring (DCC, TMCC, and others), sufficient gaps and switches to AP Regulations maintain polarity, phase if needed, and troubleshooting.

· one mainline passing siding

· one of the following: reversing loop, wye, turntable or

transfer table

· one yard with a minimum of three tracks and a

switching lead independent of the mainline

· facilities for the storing of at least two unused motive

power units

· one power supply with protective devices (short

indicator or circuit breaker) to ensure safe operation.

2. Wire and demonstrate the electrical operation of at least three of the following items:

· turnout

· crossing

· crossover

· double crossover

· single slip switch

· gauge separation turnout

· double junction turnout

· three way turnout

· gauntlet turnout

· spring switch

· operating switch in overhead wire

Operating third rail (either center or outside) powered layouts may be considered for ALL aspects of the AP.

3. Wire and demonstrate the satisfactory electrical operation of at least three of the following features:

· Electrical turnout position indication on a control panel or at track side for a minimum of four turnouts · Track occupancy indication on a control panel or at track side for a minimum of five blocks.

· Cab control, making provision for connection of at least two power supplies to a minimum of five blocks as the trains progress.

· Engine terminal including an electrically powered  turntable or a transfer table, a minimum of three stall tracks and at least two "blocked storage sections" for

parking locomotives outside the stall area

· Two turnout junctions with electrical interlocking and protecting trackside signals

· Constant intensity lighting

· Electronic throttle with inertia and braking provisions · Grade crossing with electrically actuated warning indication

· Two-way block signaling with automatic train detection for at least five blocks

· Operating overhead wire and collecting current with either trolley poles or pantographs or both · Installation of an advanced electronic and/or computer

control for the model railroad

· Design, installation and operation of animated mechanical and/or electrical displays

· Design, installation and operation of mechanical and/or electrical layout lighting displays

· Installation of a command control receiver in a locomotive. Modifications or additions to the device's wiring are required. Installing a plug-equipped decoder into a manufactured prewired socket is not sufficient.

· Installation of a command control throttle buss line around a layout capable of handling at least two throttles at three or more separate locations Commercially assembled complete units are not acceptable in items below:

· Construction and installation of a sound system

· Construction and installation of a signaling system

· Development and installation of a CTC system

· Installation and operation of an onboard video system

· Computer generated displays of block detection information

· Hardwired or stored control program for operation of the railroad

· Development and demonstration of a computer to railroad interface

· Other _________________________________

The use of advanced power supply, train control, track wiring and track control methods shall not be restricted by the definitions in these minimum requirements.

4. Prepare a schematic drawing of the propulsion circuitry of the model railroad in Section 1 showing the gaps, blocks, feeders, speed and direction control, electrical switches and power supplies. Prepare schematic drawings identifying the wiring and components of the six items in Sections 2 & 3.

5. Submit a completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

which shall include the following:

a) Attachment showing the track plan required in Section 1.

 b) Description of the trackwork features, method of construction and identification of  commercial components used in Section 2 & 3.

 c) The signed Witness Certification form showing that each of the above items are  operational and meet all applicable NMRA Standards.

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