Celebration (Contests)

Awards

1. General -
   
   1. Awards are presented to the winners of the competitive events in recognition of their excellence in modeling, photography and crafting.  These are generally plaques; however, honorable mentions and participation awards are certificates.
   2. Modelers may also earn enough points for merit awards in the Achievement Program (AP); however they can only be issued the Merit Award by the Region AP Chairman.  The National Contest Staff sends the results to the National AP Chair who distributes them to the appropriate Region Chair.
   3. The Gold Award goes to the best model in the judged model contest and is defined as the single model that scores the most points of all the models in all the categories.  When that model has been identified, it is removed from the contest as it has attained a higher level of recognition than any model in any category - it earns the Gold Award.  After the Gold Award model is removed from further consideration, the First, Second, and Third Place models are then identified in every category based on their scores.  This policy has been in place for some thirty years and has been affirmed by the NMRA BOD on several occasions.
2. Judged Model Contest -
   
   1. Place Awards - First, Second and Third Place awards are given to models in each of the nine categories as shown below in accordance with the ranking of their points scores.  One complete set is given for the Scratch Built classification and for the Kit Built classification.  Models not achieving a place award but attaining a score of 87.5 or more points (Merit Award level) are given an honorable mention.  All models achieving 87.5 or more points are eligible for a merit award except for the display or diorama category for which there is no AP merit award.
      
      1.    Steam Locomotives
      2.    Diesel & Other Locomotives
      3.    Passenger Car
      4.    Freight Cars
      5.    Caboose
      6.    Non-Revenue
      7.    Traction
      8.    Structures
      9.    Displays
   2. Special NMRA Awards -
      
      1.    National Contest Chair's Award
      2.    National Contest Judge's Award
      3.    Dean Freytag Industrial Structure Award - For Best Industrial Model
      4.    Gold Award - For Best Model of Show
   3. Sponsored Awards - These change from time to time and may or may not be given at any contest.
      
      1.    Allen Pollock Miniatures Award - For best use of figures
      2.    Bachmann Innovations Award - For most innovative model
      3.    Fantasonic/Pricom Award - For model most deserving of sound
      4.    Hunterline Award - For best Scratch Built wooden model
      5.    Mt Albert Scale Model Lumber Company Award
      6.    Iwata Award - For most realistic motive power
      7.    Iwata Award - For most realistic rolling stock
      8.    Wm. J. Lenior Locomotive Award - Best Scratch Built steam locomotive
3. Module Contest
   
   1. Place Awards - First, Second and Third Place awards are given to modules in each of two classifiactions: individual and group, in accordance with their ranking.
   2. Special NMRA Awards
      
      1. Best-of-Show Award
   3. Sponsored Awards
      
      1. DPM City Classics Award

4.  Photo Contest

   1.  Place Awards - First, Second and Third Place awards are given to photographs in accordance with their ranking in the following categories:

      1.    Model black & white print

      2.    Prototype black & white print

      3.    Model color print

      4.    Prototype color print

      5.    Working on the railroad theme

   2.  Special NMRA Awards

      1.  Best Fan Trip Award

      2.   Best Panorama Award

      3.   Best Special Effects Award

      4.   Best Photo of Show Award

5. Pass Contest - First, Second and Thrid Place awards are given to passes in accordance with their ranking.

6. People's Choice Awards -

   1. First, Second and Third Place awards are given to the following categories in accordance with their ranking:

      1.  Favorite Train

      2. Photo Match

      3. Arts & Crafts - General

      4. Arts & Crafts - Railroadiana

      5. Arts & Crafts Needlepoint

   2. In addition First Place awards are given to the following categories in accordance with their ranking:

      1. Locomotives

      2. Rolling stock

      3. Caboose

      4. Structure

      5. Display

      6. Prototype Print

   3. Special NMRA Awards

      1. Best-of-Show Arts & Crafts

   4. Sponsored Awards - These change from time to time and may or may not be given at any contest.

      1. Bar Mills Favorite Model

      2. Thumbs Award (presented to First, Second and Third placing entries for most humorous models)