NMRA Achievement Program
The Achievement Program (AP) is a guide to help you on your journey from beginner to accomplished master. It provides incentive to develop crafts and skills, and members receive certificates acknowledging their accomplishments as they earn credit in different categories.
The AP is a set of standards for hobbyists at every experience level. Rather than being the sole form of recognition, it offers information and project ideas to help you improve your modelling and deepen your enjoyment of the hobby.
Four Main Categories
- Model Railroad Equipment — Master Builder: Motive Power; Master Builder: Cars
- Settings — Master Builder: Structures; Master Builder: Scenery; Master Builder: Prototype Models
- Engineering and Operation — Model Railroad Engineer: Civil; Model Railroad Engineer: Electrical; Chief Dispatcher
- Service to the Hobby and NMRA — Association Officials; Association Volunteers; Model Railroad Authors
Golden Spike Award
The Golden Spike Award targets members without Master Model Railroader (MMR) status who complete specific qualifications in rolling stock, model railroad settings, and engineering requirements — including scratchbuilt or detailed models, a minimum of eight square feet of scenery, and properly wired track systems.