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Golden Spike Awards
by Brad Joseph
(MCoR AP Chairman at the time of this article)
The subject of this Achievement Program column is the
Golden Spike Award. As is the case with many features
and components of the AP program, I feel the Golden
Spike Award is misunderstood. Perhaps misinterpreted is
the more correct description. At any rate, I hope to
clear up some preconceptions and generate some
enthusiasm for this certificate! Before I proceed
however, there is a bit of housekeeping to be addressed.
First of all, my apologies to Clay Thompson of the
Eastern Oklahoma Division. In my last column, I detailed
the AP Certificates presented and I inadvertently left
out Clay. Clay received his Volunteer Certificate last
fall. Second, I want to welcome aboard Steve Shelton.
Steve is a new NMRA member and has agreed to become the
Eastern Oklahoma Division AP Chairman. This is a sign of
great encouragement to me. Here we have a new member who
not only wants to get involved and contribute to the
hobby and organization, but also the AP program as well.
He is a good example to us all. May I also suggest
reading editor Bob Brown's editorial in the most recent
Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette discussing the AP.
Now back to the business at hand - the Golden Spike
Award. Since 1994, there has been a marked decrease in
the number of GS Certificates issued, and this has
concerned me. I personally know many people who have
started a layout over the past year or two and already
achieved the necessary requirements for the award. Why
don't they apply?
I believe that there are a number of reasons for this
problem. First, there are some model railroaders who,
for whatever reason, will never be members. Perhaps they
are "lone wolves" in the extreme, or perhaps
they just don’t like organizations. Maybe they had a
bad experience in the hobby. At any rate, I do not feel
we will be successful in getting these types into the
NMRA, and it is probably their loss. The second group
are the people who have not been told about the program
and the benefits it offers. Those should be the easy
ones! All members should consider it their business to
call appropriate layouts to the attention of others. The
requirements are relatively simple, and most members can
be familiar with them with a few minutes study. When we
visit layouts on tours at meets, or run into people at
hobby shops or swap meets showing photos of their
layouts, speak up! Some personal contact and
encouragement will do wonders. Get their name and phone
number and ask if you may have someone contact them.
Then have your Division or Area AP Chairman contact
them. Follow up to make sure the connection comes off
and we may have a convert! Even if the person is not a
member, fill them in anyway as the possibility of the
recognition of their modeling work may be a spark to
recruit them.
The third group would be people who may not be
enthused enough to fill out the paperwork. In this case,
once again contact your Division AP Chairman to help
arrange a visit or, better yet, set one up yourself. The
verification signature on the Golden Spike form does not
need to be an officer or even an official — it can be
any member! There is no doubt in my mind that every MCoR
member knows at least one person that qualifies for this
award but has not applied for one reason or another. Let’s
beat the bushes and get the general membership involved.
If you know someone whose layout is close, encourage
them to proceed on the features needed to qualify. Once
they do, and get their award to hang in the layout room,
I guarantee that they will thank you for the
encouragement.
What does the award entail? It is pretty basic in its
requirements and you will find that almost all but the
most basic layouts qualify. There are 3 categories:
Rolling Stock (Motive Power and Cars), Model Railroad
Setting (Structures and Scenery) and Engineering (Civil
and Electrical).
| Rolling Stock |
A. Display 6 units either
scratchbuilt, craftsman or commercial
kits |
| Setting |
A. Minimum of 8 square
feet (any scale)
B. Construct 5 structures which may
or may not be part of the layout. They
can be either scratchbuilt, craftsman or
commercial kits too. |
| Engineering |
A. Three types of trackage
must be on proper roadbed and ballasted.
Turnouts, crossings, crossovers,
sidings, etc.
B. Must be properly wired so two
trains can operate at the same time.
Blocks or command control will qualify.
This is probably the most difficult
requirement for the beginner.
C. Must have one additional
electrical or electronic feature in
operation. This may be lights in a
building, an operating crossing, or a
horn or bell. |
There are a couple of extra points to keep in mind.
First of all, in the Rolling Stock and Setting
categories, if you build strictly commercial kits there
must be some additional work done. Perhaps adding some
details, weathering, repainting or decaling. Next, these
features do not all have to be on the same layout or
even be the same scale or gauge. Lastly, the three types
of trackage do not have to be different. Three of the
same item will qualify.
Not to tough is it? So first of all check to see if
one is hanging on your wall. If not, drop me a note or a
phone call and we will get you one quick. Next check all
your friends. If they have earned it, they deserve it
— let’s get them one too!
Details from the NMRA's web site on the NMRA
Achievement Program.
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