Frequently Asked Questions
The mighty MKT, St. Louis Subdivision, of course! It’s common knowledge in KC.
If you would like to offer a Rail clinic, contact our Clinics Chair, Benny Hana, at clinics@kc2018.org and discuss your proposal with him. If you would like to offer a Non-Rail Clinic, contact our Non-Rail Chair, Hana Banana, at nonrail@kc2018.org and discuss your proposal with her.
In order to cancel your convention registration you will need to send your request in writing to NMRA Headquarters at nmrahq@nmra.org and they will process your refund in accordance with our published Refund Policy.
The Primary registrant is our way of designating the original registrant. There must be a Primary Registrant for every family. A Companion Registrant and/or a Family Registrant is a family member, living at the same address, who is registering with the Primary Registrant and is therefore eligible for a reduced registration rate. All registrants are equally eligible to participate in any clinics, tours or other activities, except that entries into the Model & Photo Contests must come from NMRA members.
Permissions to photograph subjects on tours vary significantly.
Here are answers for both layout and other tours.
Layout tours
If you wish to take photos or videos of the layout, ask the host for permission. It is rarely refused, but if the host is reluctant, put the camera away. Do not allow your filming to monopolize the best viewing areas or interfere with others’ views and movement. Tripods, large format cameras and bags of any kind are not permitted at layouts on tour.
Prototype and General tours
In our experience photography policy will be advised by the corporate person meeting our bus at the beginning of the tour. Many facilities have commercially sensitive processes. Several require that their worksites not be photographed. Some may require all cameras and cell phones be left on the bus. As a rule of thumb, historical enterprises (e.g. museums) welcome photography, commercial industries usually do not.
Many of you are visiting from outside the local area. Photography from the tour coach, during your travels, is always possible!
Here are answers for both layout and other tours.
Layout tours
If you wish to take photos or videos of the layout, ask the host for permission. It is rarely refused, but if the host is reluctant, put the camera away. Do not allow your filming to monopolize the best viewing areas or interfere with others’ views and movement. Tripods, large format cameras and bags of any kind are not permitted at layouts on tour.
Prototype and General tours
In our experience photography policy will be advised by the corporate person meeting our bus at the beginning of the tour. Many facilities have commercially sensitive processes. Several require that their worksites not be photographed. Some may require all cameras and cell phones be left on the bus. As a rule of thumb, historical enterprises (e.g. museums) welcome photography, commercial industries usually do not.
Many of you are visiting from outside the local area. Photography from the tour coach, during your travels, is always possible!
No, you do not need to be a member of the NMRA to register for and attend the convention. However anyone who is not a member of either the NMRA, or an independent group that is participating in the convention, will be asked to pay a nonmember surcharge of $25 (due from only one member of each family registration group) as a part of their registration. This surcharge may be used as credit toward full NMRA membership if purchased before the end of the convention. All registrants may participate in any of the convention tours and activities except only NMRA members may enter the Model and Photo Contests.