National Model Railroad Association Case Study

Ashley Atkinson, Cody Pagel, Alex Thacker

Overview:

National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) is a 501c corporation serving east-central Nebraska and Western Iowa. NWRA belongs to the Western Heritage Division and the company mission is to develop technical skills, promote fellowship, educate and advance the hobby. NMRA achieves this through portable layouts, prototype operating sessions, education clinics, contests, train shows and clubs.

Problem: Declining Recruitment

One problem that NMRA has, stems from recruitment. This is because membership has declined, over the past decade. The pursuit to attract millennials and generation x, has been difficult. The group has been looking to recruit people from all walks of life, to increase membership

The Lauritzen Gardens provides an excellent place outdoors to enjoy the beauty of nature and model trains. The Lauritzen Gardens feature their own Model Railroad Garden which ties directly into the hobby of model trains. The gardens boast G-scale model trains that travel continuously through miniature communities, landscapes, and countrysides. There are four train lines that run through the garden area featuring handcrafted replicas of Omaha Landmarks built from natural materials. NMRA could showcase its own custom built trains and tracks at Lauritzen Garden. The Durham Museum, which is located in Omaha 's former Union Station, features an O Scale model train layout representing Unions Pacific’s double track main line during the 1950s. This is not only a cool way to introduce people to model trains but is also an interesting piece of Omaha History. The Museum also features multiple full scale train cars viewable inside and out. RailsWest Railroad Museum displayed artifacts from numerous rail lines that once passed through Council Bluffs. There is also an outdoor train yard with old steam engines that patrons can board and experience. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum is a big piece of Omaha history and has a display of how America traveled by rail from the 1930s-1971. They also have an exhibit on Abraham Lincoln including pieces from his railcar as he traveled the US. Another venue not featured at Railroad Days in the Henry Doorly Zoo with their train which takes visitors throughout the zoo to view their wild attractions. This could be a good opportunity to reach out to people who aren 't necessarily interested in trains with a good segway. People going to view ride the train could pass by a booth set up by the NMRA which would feature a model train and draw