Rails by the River 2023 logo

Pacific Coast Region NMRA Annual Convention
Rails by the River 2023
April 26 – April 30, 2023
Sacramento, California

Contests

Mike Hamlin
Contests Chair

PCR Contest Department Manager
Earl Girbovan, MMR

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Volunteers and Contest Judges Needed!

Volunteers are needed to judge and staff the Contest Room to provide security for the entries. Model contest judges earn two time units towards their AP Association Volunteer Certificate.

Contact the Contests Chair,TBA, to assist with this very important function.

Contest Room Schedule(Subject to review and approval)

Wednesday  Open 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM
 
Thursday  Open 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
 
Friday  Open 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
 
Saturday Closed from 9:00 AM until contest judging completed.
  Open approximately 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM for contest entry pick-up once judging is completed.
  After Banquet to 10:30 PM - deadline to pick up all Contest entries.
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Contest Entry Pickup

Contest entries may be picked up from the Contest Room after judging is completed Saturday or from 3:00–5:30 PM and after the Awards Banquet, but no later than 10:30 PM. Abandoned entries may be given away as door prizes during Sunday's Business Meeting.

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Contest Forms

In all contests, every entry requires at least one form to be submitted with the entry. Models and modules to be judged also need the appropriate judge's score sheet.

The desired contest form(s) may be downloaded by clicking on the respective underlined link(s) below or from the PCR website Contest Information page. (The links below take you to the PCR website.)

After the forms have been downloaded and filled in for each contest entry, bring them, along with the contest entry, to Rails by the River 2023 PCR/FRRS Convention and present them together at the Contest Registration Desk where your entry will be assigned an entry number and entered into the appropriate contest category.

Model Contest Forms

Photo Contest Forms

Portable Layout/Module Contest Forms

Arts & Crafts Contest Forms

Save time in the Contest Room!

Download and prepare the paperwork in the comfort of your own home! You'll be glad you did. Blank forms will also be available in the Contest Room.

After the forms have been downloaded and filled in for each contest entry, bring them, along with the contest entry, to the Rails by the River 2023 PCR/FRRS Convention and present them altogether at the Contest Registration Desk, where your entry will be assigned an entry number and entered into the appropriate contest category.

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Model Contest

Requirements

An entrant in the model contest must be a member of the NMRA in good standing.

Commercial model builders may not enter model contests.

Entries that have won First Place in a PCR or NMRA contest may not be entered again.

Classes

The Model Contest includes five 5 classes:

  1. Open: Anyone meeting the requirements above may enter the Open class.
  2. Kit: Anyone meeting the requirements above may enter the Kit class if the model is kit-built, kit-bashed, or cross-kitted. A kit entry is generally defined as one built using components, packaged together for commercial sale, although the entrant may modify or supplement such components.
  3. Novice: Anyone meeting the requirements above and has not previously been awarded: (a) more than 87.5 points in the contest category being entered, (b) more than 100 points in any model contest category, (c) model contest Best of Show may enter the Novice class.
  4. Teen: Anyone 13 through 17 years old may enter the Teen class.
  5. Youth: Anyone under 13 years old may enter the Youth class.

Categories

Models may be submitted for judging in the following regular contest categories:

  1. Steam locomotive: All types of steam locomotives. Entries must be powered.
  2. Diesel and Other Locomotives: All locomotives except steam or traction, including heavy electric locomotives. Entries must be powered; multiple-unit entries must have at least one unit powered.
  3. Passenger car: All types of cars in passenger service other than cabooses, traction or maintenance of way.
  4. Freight car: All types of revenue freight cars, including express and company service cars other than M of W.
  5. Caboose: All types of cabooses, including M of W.
  6. Maintenance of Way: All types of non-revenue equipment not included in categories 3-5 above, all types of trackwork, all types of non-revenue railroad off-track vehicles.
  7. Structures: All structures, other than trackwork, without significant scenery. Scenery, if any, is not judged.
  8. Displays: All dioramas or groups of models displayed with significant scenery.
  9. Traction and Self-Propelled Cars: Self-propelled cars, and all models of electrically powered equipment except heavy electric. Models must be powered; multiple-unit entries must have at least one unit powered.

Entrants may indicate if they wish to be judged in kit-built, scratch-built, novice, teen (13 to 17 year old) or youth (under 13 year old) subclasses.

Required Forms

To enter the Model Contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Model Contest Entry Form Cover Sheet for every model submitted.

These forms will be collected in the Contest Log Book in chronological order with the Contest Claim Check attached. Entrants will be required to sign the claim check at the time the model is returned to them in good order at the end of the contest. Proxy entries will be accepted.

For any contest model to be formally judged, the entrant must, at a minimum, complete and submit the model with either an Model Contest Entry Form - Open, Kit, & Novice OR Model Contest Entry Form - Youth, depending on which class is being entered. This form may be accompanied by supplemental information, plans, photographs, etc., that the entrant feels will help the judges appreciate the model.

Failure to provide a Model Contest Entry Form will result in the model not being formally judged as part of the Model Contest. In this case, the model can still be displayed as a Showcase (display) item that will be a candidate in the Popular Vote portion of the contest, along with any other models submitted for display only.

Awards

A plaque will be awarded for Best of Show, Levity, and Ingenuity. A plaque and blue ribbon will be awarded to first place winners in each category. Ribbons will be awarded for 2nd and 3rd place finishers. Honorable Mention Certificates will be awarded for models which score over 87.5 points, but do not place among the top three in any category. Models achieving 87.5 points or better will receive an Achievement Program Merit Award, regardless of what place it finishes in.

NMRA Achievement Program

Models achieving 87.5 points or better will receive an Achievement Program Merit Award, regardless of how it places in the judging. Only NMRA members in good standing are eligible to receive AP Merit Awards.

Remember that some AP certificates require some qualifying models to receive a Merit Award. This is a perfect opportunity to complete those requirements. Go to the NMRA website to view the requirements. If you have questions about the NMRA Achievement Program, contact either:

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Square Foot Challenge Contest

Requirements

The popular Square Foot challenge will be back for the 2023 Convention in Sacramento! The rules for this category are simple:

  • 1 foot square footprint
  • Railroad themed
  • Must contain a piece of rail
  • No limit on height

Your entry can be whimsical or prototypical. This is a non-judged category, so no documentation is needed. A First Place plaque will be awarded to the entry receiving the most popular votes. Note that if you desire, the entry can be judged as part of the diorama category, and this would re-quire a writeup.

This is the perfect opportunity to build that certain kit that’s been sitting in the back of your closet. You know the one I mean. Maybe you want to try something in a different scale or gauge. Or a new scenery technique. Here’s your chance! No judging, no paperwork, just your creativity.

Need additional inspiration? Go to YouTube and check out the huge variety of videos the military and other modelers from around the world have posted.

Looking forward to seeing your creativity in Sacramento.

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Module (Portable Layout) Contest

Requirements

An entrant in the Module Contest must be a member the NMRA in good standing.

Commercial model builders may not enter module contest.

Entries that have won First Place in a PCR or NMRA contest may not be entered again.

Categories

Modules may be entered in one of two categories:

  1. Individual module
  2. Group Module

To distinguish modules from the above Diorama/Display category in the Model Contest, evidence should be submitted to show modules are capable of being connected to other similar modules as opposed to just being a demountable portion of a layout. Modules will be judged using the same criteria as used for judging the Diorama/Display category in the Model Contest.

Modules will be also eligible for the Popular Vote Contest (see below).

Required Forms

To enter the Module (Portable Layout) Contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Portable Layout/Module Contest Cover Sheet for each module submitted.

For any contest module to be formally judged, the entrant must, at a minimum, complete and submit the module with a PCR Portable Layout/Module Contest Entry Form. This form may be accompanied by supplemental information, plans, photographs, etc., that the entrant feels will help the judges appreciate the module.

Failure to provide the Portable Layout/Module Contest Entry Form will result in the module not being formally judged as part of the Module Contest. In this case, the module can still be displayed as a Showcase (display) item that will be a candidate in the Popular Vote portion of the contest, along with any other modules submitted for display only.

Awards

A plaque and blue ribbon will be awarded to first place winners in each category. Ribbons will be awarded for second and third place. Honorable Mention will be awarded for modules that score 87.5 points but do not finish in the top three.

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Photo Contest

Requirements

An entrant in the Photo Contest must be a member of the NMRA in good standing. Prototype and model railroad theme photographic prints only (no slides), sized and mounted according to PCR Photo Contest Judges and Participant Guide.

Commercial photographers may not enter the Photo Contest.

Entries that have won First Place in a PCR or NMRA contest may not be entered again.

Maximum Entries

An entrant may enter a maximum of three prints in any one category and a maximum of six prints in total. The entrant must have exposed the original negative or digital image.

Categories

Photos may be entered for formal judging in the following categories:

  1. Model Black & White
  2. Model Color
  3. Prototype Black & White
  4. Trains in Action
  5. Track and Structures
  6. Working on the Railroad
  7. General Rail Subjects (distinguishable from the previous four categories)
  8. Display
  9. Special Event

A additional category is available for showcasing any print of any subject that the entrant does not wish to be formally judged. Prints in the latter category will still be eligible to participate in the Popular Vote Contest (see below).

Required Forms

To enter the photo contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Photo Contest Entry Form for each photo submitted.

Awards

Best in Show, first, second, third place and honorable mention will be awarded, when appropriate. Plaques and blue ribbons will be awarded to first place photographers in each category. Ribbons will be awarded for 2nd and 3rd place. A plaque will be awarded for Best in Show.

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Arts & Crafts Contest

All registered convention attendees and accompanying family will be eligible to participate in the Arts & Crafts Contest. The contest categories will be:

  1. General (any non-needlework art & craft: e.g. painting, drawing, sculpture, woodcarving, photomontage, etc.)
    1. Kit Built (commercially available kit; includes plans/instructions and materials)
    2. Pattern (existing plans/instructions; entrant acquires materials separately)
    3. Original (entrant’s own design)
  2. Railroadiana
    1. Kit Built (same as General Kit Built, except entry must have a railroad motif)
    2. Pattern (same as General Pattern, except entry must have a railroad motif)
    3. Original (same as General Original, except entry must have a railroad motif)
  3. Needlework
    1. Kit Built (same as General Kit Built, except entry is type of needlework – e.g. knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, etc.)
    2. Pattern (same as General Pattern, except entry is type of needlework – e.g. knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, etc.)
    3. Original (same as General Original, except entry is type of needlework – e.g. knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, etc.)

Required Forms

To enter the Arts & Crafts Contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Arts & Crafts Contest Entry Form for each entry submitted.

Awards

Awards shall be given for first, second and third place in each category and subcategory:

  • General-original, General-pattern and General-kit
  • Railroadiana-original, Railroadiana-pattern and Railroadiana-kit
  • Needlework-original, Needlework-pattern and Needlework-kit
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Popular Vote Contest

All registered convention attendees will receive a ballot form in their registration packet and will be eligible to participate in the Popular Vote Contest. All contest models, photographs, trains, craft items and Showcase display-only items are eligible for the popular vote and will be identified with a numbered tag for this purpose.

The ballot will allow individuals to vote for up to three of their favorites in each category:

  1. Model (including Modules)
  2. Photograph
  3. Train
  4. Arts & Crafts item

Modules will be considered to be models in the Popular Vote Contest.

Awards

Plaques and certificates will be awarded for the model, photograph, train and craft item that receives the most votes in its respective category. A Popular Best of Show plaque and certificate will also be awarded for the item that receives the most votes regardless of category.

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Switching Contest

All registered convention attendees will be eligible to compete in the Switching Contest. This will require the entrant to reposition cars on a typical “Timesaver” switching layout. Two aspects of this contest will be completing the switching problem with 1) the fewest number of moves and 2) in the least time.

Awards

Certificates will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in each category.

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Ingenuity and Levity Contest

All registered convention attendees will be eligible to participate in this contest. The Contest Chairman will make one award each for ingenuity and levity incorporated in any entry in any of the above contest categories. These awards will be made at the discretion of the Chairman.

Awards

A plaque and certificate will be awarded to the most ingenious and most humorous entries.

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Showcase, Display Only

This is a non-competitive event for models, modules, photos, and arts & crafts. Entries may be complete or in process. Entries may be submitted in the following categories:

  1. Models – These include all models as designated by the categories of the judged model contest. However, other model and layout oriented items may be permitted, such as mechanisms, control panels, etc. at the discretion of the contest chairmen.
  2. Photos
  3. Train
  4. Arts & Crafts

Awards – Entrants shall be given Certificates of Appreciation.

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In Summary

We hope the above contest opportunities encourage all convention attendees to participate in at least one contest. Certainly everyone can participate in the Popular Vote Contest just by completing and submitting their ballots. For those who do not wish to enter any of the formal contests, we ask you to bring and Showcase display examples of your craftsmanship for the mutual pleasure of all attendees.

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Mike Hamlin
Contests Chair

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