Contests
Contests are suspended until Daylight Division meets resume
When meets resume, the Popular Vote/Favorite Model Contest categories at the meets will follow this schedule:
Contest Categories
- Winter Meet, February 2025
- Model: Freight Car
- Photo: General Rail Subjects
- Spring Meet, May 2025
- Model: Maintenance of Way
- Photo: Working on the Railroad
- Summer Meet, July 2025
- Model: Structure
- Photo: Model Black & White
- Fall Meet, November 2025
- Model: Display
- Photo: Model Color
- Winter Meet, February 2026
- Model: Caboose
- Photo: Tracks and Structures
- Spring Meet, May 2026
- Model: Steam Locomotive and Traction / Self-Propelled Cars
- Photo: Trains in Action
- Summer Meet, August 2026
- Model: Diesel and other locomotive (non-steam)
- Photo: Model Black & White
- Fall Meet, November 2026
- Model: Passenger Car
- Photo: Model Color
The contest categories are the same as the categories in the PCR Contest Directory, as published on the PCR website's Contests page.
Daylight Division Contest Policies
- The model contest will be both favorite (voted) and judged model contests. The Photo Contest will continue as a favorite (voted) contest.
- Only NMRA members in good standing may enter the contests.
- Everyone who enters a contest will receive a voucher for one raffle ticket. (One per person, regardless of how many entries you have.)
- First place winners will receive a plaque and a ribbon. Ribbons will be awarded to second and third place winners.
- A different category will be chosen for each meet’s favorite model and favorite photo contests and published in The Daylight Observation newsletter and on this website.
- If you bring a model or photo to a meet that does not fall into the category for that meet, it will be for display only (no prize or raffle ticket) or the judged model contest.
- The judged model contest will be conducted according to the PCR Contest Directory, as published on the PCR website's Contests page.
- If you enter a model for judging, fill out a Model Contest Entry Form. Blank forms will be available at the meets, but it is much easier to leisurely prepare the form at home.
- Judged models attaining a point score of at least 87.5 points entitles the entrant to a Merit Award which counts towards Master Builder Awards in the NMRA Achievement Program.
- Model contest judges earn 1 Time Unit towards their AP Association Volunteer certificate. NOTE: Keep track of your service as you do it.
Do you have a model that needs to be judged?
If you need to have a model judged for Achievement Program points, contact Chuck Harmon, MMR®, by e-mail or call him (see Contact Us webpage) and he will arrange to have your model judged.
Coast Rails 2014 PCR Convention Contests, 5/03/14, Daylight Winners
- Tom Van Horn won 1st place in Popular Vote: Photo and Best of Show: Photo with his "Railtown Machine Shop" photo (below)
- Tom Van Horn won 2nd place in Photo: Trains in Action with his "Emily Shay" photo
- Jayne Harmon won 1st place in Popular Vote: Arts & Crafts and Arts & Crafts: Needlework Pattern, plus Best of Show: Arts & Crafts for her counted cross stitch "Little Engineer"
- Carolyn Weber won 2nd place in Popular Vote: Arts & Crafts for her "Saticoy Depot" entry
- Dorothy Deis won 2nd place in Arts & Crafts: Needlework Pattern for her "Tisket a Tasket" red work quilt
- Michael Haworth won the Ingenuity Award for his GE ES44AC #4700 wrapped diesel
- Michael Haworth won 1st place in Models: Diesel Locomotive Open for his GE ES44AC #4700
- Michael Haworth won 1st place in Models: Passenger Car Open for his UP theater car "Idaho"
- Michael Haworth won 2nd place in Models: Passenger Car Open for his UP theater car "Fox Valley"
Congratulations to everyone that entered the contests!
To see the full contest report and photos of the winning entries, see Giuseppe Aymar's "PCR Contest Report" starting on page 11 of the July-August-September 2014 PCR Branch Line newsletter.
Fresno Meet, 2/22/14, Contest Winners
| Model: Caboose John Houlihan | Photo: Track and Structures Tom Van Horn |
 O scale Max Gray AT&SF #2035 |
 Railtown Machine Shop |
San Luis Obispo Meet, 11/16/13, Contest Winners
| Model: Diesel Locomotive George Gibson |
Photo: Passenger Train Mike Mickens |
 HO Scale DK&P Boxcab Diesels |
 "The Grand Canyon Railroad in Snow, Williams, AZ." |
Chuck Harmon, MMR®, Contests Chair
Dave Grenier, Achievement Program Chair
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