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Reply to "The NMRA in our hobby's changing times"

They are moving the library to CA......whats to see in person that not available online today???

And living in WV and having just returned from a visit to California.....I have proven ANYONE can go there and come back alive!!!

See the log of my trip below in the link Amtrak

 

 

Dave

 

Thanks for the humorously accurate remarks.  The California Stare Railroad Museum is located near the junction in Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 as well as the station serving the Coast Starlight and California Zephyr.  I have nothing against Chattanooga but I have never been there, am unlikely to visit on my way to anywhere else and I am likely not alone in that.  I have been to Sacramento and the CSRM on my way to other destinations and I know that I am not alone in that.  This should be a win win for the NMRA Library collection and the CRSM. 

 

Hopefully the Library material becomes available on line.  While I have a fair collection of railroad books and periodicals most of my research is now done on line thanks to some outstanding museum, university and public library and historical society digital collections.

 

It is encouraging to see that the NMRA is talking positively about changes that they are making to deal with changing economic, technical and market realities.  I hope that they take a similar approach to continue to adapt as the model railroading world continues to change.

 

A few areas where the NMRA might need to address change come to mind.

 

How does an organization like the NMRA respond to changing demographics and the trend among younger adults to be less inclined to joining all sorts of social, civic and hobby organizations?

 

How might the criteria for the MMR program be updated to deal with emerging trends in modeling like the increased presence of sound and command control and 3D printing? 

 

How do DCC standards remain relevant over time as technology continues to move faster than the speed of a committee?

 

How do other standards get revised and remain relevant in light of changing developments and trends in the hobby like popular couplers and alternate wheel profiles (Lo-D, Proto 48 and Proto 87)?

 

The statement from the NMRA has a tone that I find encouraging.  I hope the TCA, and especially the Eastern Division can find a similar attitude toward changes that they can made to better serve the hobby.  Atlas sent an open letter two years ago.  So far one of their three requests has been met.  I hope we see the other two soon, plus a few more or York and the TCA will continue to decline in popularity and relevance.

 

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum...c.asp?TOPIC_ID=67765

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