Model Railroad | HMA Hobby Manufacturers Association

What is Youth in Model Railroading?
It is a universal fact that just about everyone loves trains. Old, young, boys, girls, tall, short—regardless of background, culture, and beliefs—you will be hard pressed to find anyone who is not awed by the power and majesty of a locomotive. The love of trains is a fundamental unifier that brings people together to form a community built on a mutual admiration of a captivating topic. Children have a particular affinity and fascination with trains. Anyone who has ever seen a young person’s eyes light up on their first view of a model train layout or on their first ride on a historic locomotive understands the unique power trains have to expand the boundaries of a child’s imagination. Youth in Model Railroading is the only national model train club solely dedicated to young people. The goal of the organization is to help developing individuals achieve their highest potential through education, hands-on experiences, constructive social interactions, and leadership opportunities.

Youth in Model Railroading is a family- oriented organization, encouraging activities that enable parents to engage with their children, establish positive role-models, and together become active members of their communities.

The Youth in Model Railroading advancement program was developed to channel members’ interests and energy towards positive growth opportunities in order to prepare them for future successes in the real world. Each rank incorporates fun and informative goals that are age appropriate and allow advancement commensurate to the member’s skills and level of interest.

Learn more about this movement at www.ymr-online.org or https://www.facebook.com/groups/2031906180230716

You can contact Mr. Larry Price (Club Director) at mr.conductor@comcast.net

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Our mission is to promote the hobby of model railroading

The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour is a model railroad show designed to introduce the general public to the hobby in an exciting, family-oriented atmosphere. Each show includes manufacturers, hobby shops, operating train layouts, interactive displays and workshops. It is also the only train show to feature a Thomas the Tank Engine riding train for the kids. Each show provides an in-person introduction to the World’s Greatest Hobby: model railroading!

Since the shows began in December of 2004, over 1.5 million people have attended! For most of these people, it was their first experience with model railroading. These shows broaden the exposure model railroading receives among the general public. The four to five shows we run each year are all amongst the highest attended shows each year in the industry and are uniquely positioned to focus on attracting new customers.

For more information about the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour, please visit our website WGHShow.com. The website includes photos, videos, complete information for attendees, registration and exhibitor information.
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A Brief History of The Model Railroad Industry Association (MRIA)

It began as somewhat regular dinner meetings at local restaurants of model railroad importers and manufacturers in the Los Angeles area in the early 1960s. This core group typically included Leo Campbell (Campbell Scale Models), Tom Ayres (Ayres Scale Models), Ed Suydam (E. Suydam & Co.) , George Hook (Central Valley), Clarence Menteer (Roundhouse Models) and Erv Athearn of Athearn. They met Monday mornings for breakfast.

Discussions centered on ways to grow the hobby and improve the financial health of the companies providing supplies and services to model railroad hobbyists. The group, although not formally organized, referred to itself as SCHIA (Southern California Hobby Industry Association), patterned after the Hobby Industry Association HIA. They felt a need for exposure in California for model trains.

Over the years, word of these SCHIA Shows and their relevant discussions spread through the model railroad industry. Outside of Southern California there was interest in doing something similar on a wider, perhaps on a national level for the model railroad hobby industry. During the National Model Railroad Association’s annual convention in San Francisco in 1967, an organized effort was made to establish a national not-for-profit model railroad trade association. Jim Conway (JMC/Con-Cor) was instrumental in leading the formation to organize on a national level. A year later would be formalized as The Model Railroad Industry Association and producing a traveling Model Railroad show.

MRIA’s first officers were Leo Campbell, President, Tom Ayres, Vice-President, George Hook, Treasurer, and Hugh Stephens, Executive Secretary. Meetings were held annually during the NMRA’s annual convention and National Train Show, which MRIA co-sponsored. MRIA also established an annual trade and public show of its own that toured the country to promote the hobby. These shows were generally very successful, but as time went on the shows became more expensive and time-consuming to put on.

To better use resources and to benefit from a joint effort, MRIA joined RCHTA (Radio Control Hobby Trade Association) in the mid-1980s, first as a partner and then a co-sponsor of an established multi-hobby trade show – The Chicago Model and Hobby Show. This Chicago-area show introduced new products and ideas from many hobby industry companies and drew large numbers of trade representatives and the public.

Sensing the aging of model railroaders and the need to keep the model train hobby viable for the future, MRIA developed the World’s Greatest Hobby program in the late 1990s. The purpose was to promote model railroading to families and a younger generation. WGH included a series of shows that traveled the country for maximum exposure. Attendance was always strong at the shows, helping to build a legacy.

In the 1970s MRIA established a MRIA Hall of Fame to recognize leaders in the model railroad industry. Today, more than 70 Industry leaders have been inducted representing the model railroad hobby from its earliest beginnings to the present day.

In 2005 it was becoming clear to the general model hobby industry that a number of hobby trade associations were sometimes competing for the same hobby dollar, and a case was made that the three major hobby trade associations could better use limited resources to combined efforts for even wider exposure and promotion. The decision to merge the three associations into a new Hobby Industry Association (HIA) was not without controversy. In the end, the decision was made to proceed with the new cooperative association. HIA combined MRIA, RCHTA, and IMMA (International Model Manufacturers Association). Today, the professionally-run HIA continues to promote hobbies as a worthwhile resource for all, and the Model Railroad Division is a leader in extolling the virtues of the model railroad hobby and the industry that serves it.

Model Railroad Division Purpose and Objective

The purpose and objectives of this Division shall be:

A. To promote the welfare, mutual understanding and public awareness of model railroading by those actively engaged in the model railroad industry.

B. To unite, coordinate, evaluate, analyze and communicate on matters of common interest to its members and to promote and advance programs of the hobby through the model railroad industry and others in similar work.

C. To mutually endeavor and provide a united voice within and for those engaged in the model railroad industry at any level of items made, published or sold for model railroading.

D. To promote education programs for and about the hobby of model railroading under plans as the Division Council and Officers may adopt.

E. To represent the model railroad segment of the overall hobby industry on the HMA Board of Directors. The Division Council will elect two of its members to serve on the HMA Board of Directors, as provided in HMA’s by-laws, to represent the Division. The Division may also provide representatives to HMA committees as requested.

F. To communicate with Model Railroad Division members on government, trade and consumer issues that may affect the model railroad industry.

G. To promote hobby trade shows and conventions, to cooperate with individuals, partnerships, corporations or organizations connected with or related to model railroading and the model railroad industry.

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