2008 NMRA Convention - Anaheim. California logo

Pioneers of Model Railroading

Compiled by Hal Carstens

1985 Awarded by the Model Railroad Industry Association, Inc. (and now included with the NMRA Pioneers in Model Railroading)

1. Irvin R. Athearn.* CA. Athearn, Inc. Pioneer Mfr HO popularly priced plastic train equipment. Mfr O gauge freight car kits.

2. Joshua Lionel Cowan.* NJ. Founder Lionel Mfg. Co., later Lionel Corporation, makers of Lionel trains.

3. Alfred C. Gilbert.* CT. A. C. Gilbert co. Mfr. of Erector sets, later American Flyer trains. First president TMA.

4. George Hook.* CA. Central Valley Model Works, Mfr. trucks, craftsman type freight car kits. Treasurer of MRIA.

5. Albert C. Kalmbach.* WI. Founder Kalmbach Publishing Co., Publ. Model Railroader. Charter member NMRA.

6. Charles A. Penn,* NJ. Publisher Railroad Model Craftsman, Toy Trains, published first hobby trade mag., Active in early industry trade groups, HIAA.

7. Stephen Schaffan.* NJ. Founder Atlas Tool Co., creator of Atlas HO sectional Snap Track, plastic HO structures.

8. George Stock.* PA. George Stock Models. Model Retailer; Custom Loco Builder. Pioneer HO scale 1930s..

9. John Tyler.* NJ. Co-founder Mantua Metal Products Co., helped popularize HO scale. Early trade groups.

10. Gordon Varney.* IL. Varney Scale Models. Mfr. of HO popular loco and car kits 1936. Made O ga loco kit in 1946.

11. William K. Walthers.* WI. Model RR Mfr., est 1932. NMRA Charter member. Active in HIAA, MRR mfr. groups.

12. Carmen Webster Kelly.* NY. Model Railroad Equipment Corp. Model retailer. Promoted model railroading on TV. Active in trade associations.

1994 NMRA PIONEERS

13. Alexander, Edwin P*. PA. Author 1930s-1960s. Magazines, books. Manufacturer, American Model Railroad Company. Early scale O Ga mfr. custom builder industrial models. Experimented with HO in 1920s. TCA Charter Member. Early tinplate collector. 1965 NMRA Distinguished Service Award.

14. Boutell, Hugh*. HO pioneer. First HO Bing layout in 1925. Modeler, 17/64" narrow gauge pioneer. Model railroad author.

15. Chemidlin, Fred*. President, Midlin Track. Created Midlin track system @1940, early easy to lay HO, OO track, popularizing the hobby. Active in early trade associations.

16. Ellison, Frank.* LA. Builder of the Delta Lines, tinplate and later O scale. Author 1930s Model Builder (Lionel Magazine), later Model Railroader, Toy Trains, Railroad Model Craftsman. NMRA Honorary member. Promoted model railroading in his articles.

17. Dechert, James*. MA. 1935: Inventor of the 2-Rail system which bears his name. Pioneer author.

18. Egolf, Paul.* PA. Early O scale locomotive custom builder and conversionist of O gauge locomotives and other scale as. First scale loco kit of K4s.First ads in Model Maker 1927. Proposed 1/8" scale E Gauge.

19. Haverly, William W*. KY. NMRA First national NMRA president 1935-1936. Service. NMRA Charter member

20. Icken, Fred W*. NJ. President Icken Locomotive Works 1930s. Produced quality O scale locomotives. Active in early model railroad trade organizations.

21. Lenoir, William. J. FL. NMRA Charter Member. Pioneer O Gauge Locomotive Mfr.

22. Pittman, Charles A.* PA. President, Pittman Electrical Development Co. Created permag adapter for American Flyer HO Hudson loco, mfr. small DC permag motors (DC60, DC72) for HO, other small gauges. Scale and tinplate O gauge trolleys. Member HIAA, EMRRMA, TCA.

23. Ravenscroft, Edward A. IL. NMRA President 1944-1945. NMRA Treasurer: 1947-1950. Service. Forced through the NMRA Standards Program. NMRA Presidents Award. Benefactor to NMRA. NMRA Honorary Member. 1956 NMRA Presidents Award.

24. Rice, Allan Lake*. PA. aka Eric LaNal. HO pioneer early 1930s. Promoting Hobby. Mfd. H. Owen HO kits with paper sides. Promotion. Author RMC, MR 1930s, 1960s. Pioneer in 2-rail HO. Consultant to several mfrs (Megow, Mantua). LaNal coupler inventor. Mfd in England. Manufacturer H. Owen HO Kits early 1930s. NMRA Distinguished Service Award 1962

1995 NMRA PIONEERS

25. Allen, John*. CA., Model Railroad Author, photographer, clinician. Promotion. Builder of the famous HO Gorre & Daphetid RR. 1974, 1982 NMRA Distinguished Service Award. Consultant to manfacturers. Allen was an inspiration for thousands of modelers in all scales with his artistic modeling technique.

26. Bondurant, Harry.* WI. NMRA Secretary 1935-1936.. Wisconsin. NMRA First Standards Committee, Service. NMRA Honorary Member. NMRA Charter Member. Model Railroader Board of Editors.

27. Donnelly, Elliott*. IL. Pioneer manufacturer, Scale Craft Model Trains, in O and OO setting a high standard for excellence starting in the 1930s using zamac die castings. Chicago, IL. 1975 NMRA Distinguished Service Award. NMRA Charter Member.

28. Huebenthal, R. E., NY. Treasurer 1951-1960. NMRA President 1980-1982. NMRA Honorary Member. NMRA 1973 NMRA Distinguished Service Award. Heuebe devoted many years of effort as treasurer and president of NMRA and was active on many committees

29. Menteer, Clarence. NV. Entered model field 1937 with Charles Voelckel,with Roundhouse Models, later Model Die Casting Co., pioneer HO kit mfr. with SP HO 0-6-0. Active in WCMRRA, HIAA, MRIA. MDC has produced tooling for Central Valley, Silver Streak, Cannonball, Ulrich, Cliff Line, Bowser, Walthers, Suydam, Varney, Lindsay.

30. Lawrence W. Sagle* MD. B&O Public Relations Dept., Author, magazine articles and books. Promoted hobby through shows, B&O Museum, etc., NMRA President 1943, NMRA Honorary Member. Promoted model railroading especially during bleak years of WW2.

31. Schopp, William M*. NJ. Model railroad author from mid 1930s: Railroad Model Craftsman, Toy Trains, Model Railroader, others, foreign. Wrote over 1000 model railroad articles. Pseudonyms John Kemp, Bill Willmore, Layout Doctor. Consultant to mfrs. Custom loco builder; layout designer. Pioneer HOn3, HOn2, traction, and brass loco kitbashing.

1996 NMRA PIONEERS

32. Bowen, William "Billi". CO. NMRA charter member. President NMRA RMR 1956-1957. Designer-draftsman for Wm. K. Walthers. Designed Building of the Railroads display at 1939-1940 New York World Fair.O high rail in 1930, to HO in 1935.

33. Day, Howell. NJ. Pioneer 1930s hobby shop retailer. Bought M. Dale Newton Ho kit line in 1950s marketed under red Ball trade name. Importer Japanese HO brass locomtives 1950s. Dunellen, NJ. Age 92 in 1996.

34. Hall, Bobbye. TX. President, Hallmark Models. First MRIA woman President 1981. HIAA RR Div Big Wheel Award. HIAA Meritorious Award Honor 1978. Early Trade Orgs. Retailer, Brass locomotive and car importer, Wholesaler. In hobbies since post WW2. Now in her 80s. MRIA Hall of Fame 1996.

35. Ketcham, Victor. OH. NMRA Pres 1940. Committees. NMRA legal staff. Many years of NMRA service.

36. Polk, Nathan. NJ. HIAA VP 1963-1964. Numerous HIAA committees. HIAA Meritorious Award of Honor 1968. In early '30s with brother Irwin, leased hobby store space in about 30 department stores. Early 1930s WOR radio program Junior Birdmen of the Air got many youths into model building. Introduced low priced brass rail to hobby about 1939, 99 cents for 99 ft. Got Stephen Schaffan of Atlas to make low cost HO switch kits. Involved in landmark Customs Tax case involving levies placed on scale models vs toys which were taxed much higher. Polk trade name Aristo Craft, imported train equipment from England, Germany, Italy, other European countries, Japan. Polk's Hobby Craft Stores. Active in industry fund raising activities for film promotion. Member HIAA, MRIA. (INDUSTRY). Nat died at age 83 ten days after receiving the NMRA Pioneers Award.

37. Westcott, Linnaeus "Linn"*. (Harriet), WI. Author, Editor Model Railroader, Model trains, Ships & the Sea, books. Publishing. NMRA Charter member. Developed electrical circuits for use in model railroading, notably route cab control in 1949, layout design. Clinician. NMRA Distinguished Service Award 1962. Died Sept. 8, 1980, died at age age 67.

1997 NMRA PIONEERS

38. Armitage, Alan B. CA. NMRA Honorary Member. Author and draftsman since 1930s Railroad Model Craftsman, Model Railroader. O gauge modeler.

39. Barnett, Louis*. NY. President International Model Products, New York, NY. Accountant for Ideal Model Aeroplane & Suply Co., 1925. By 1930 was handling foreign orders. Started International in 1930. First imported railroad items were a box cab B-B, trolley poles and pantographs in 1931. Pioneer importer of Japanese HO and O scale and toy trains. First known brass importer. During lean war years obtained surplus balsa from the war administration. Died Jan. 5, 1961, age 72.. MRIA Hall of Fame 2001.

39. Hertz, Louis H.* NY. Pioneer toy train collector, often called the father of toy train collecting. Editor Miniature Railroading Magazine 1937, Model Railroaders Digest 1938, Electric Trains 1952. Author of many toy train, model hobby books. Authored Riding the Tinplate Rails series of 132 articles in Railroad Model Craftsman starting 1937. Created Polk catalogs. Died Jan. 1997.

40. Mallery, Paul. AR.NMRA Secretary 1950-1951. Helped develop NMRA X2f Coupler: standard train set coupler but never NMRA standard coupler: Invention. Master Model Railroader 4. Magazine and book author. NMRA Distinguished Service Award 1978. NMRA Presidents Award 1980.

1998 PIONEERS

41. J. Harold Geissel*, PA. For many years a draftsman of model railroad equipment, primarily in Model Railroader, of unsurpassed excellence whose work contributed to advancement of the hobby. A fastidious modeler, Harold worked in half inch scale, and was known as a clinician. He had previously received the NMRA President=s Award.

42. Lawrence Geiringer*, PA. Started building structures to 3/8" scale in the mid 1930s, leading to creation of Roadside America, a miniature display of America covering a 24 hour cycle. Open to the public, the display has been seen by countless thousands and has appeared in many publications including Toy Trains and Railroad Model Craftsman.

43. A. Ballard Bradley, FL. Brad contributed much to the NMRA standards program making possible greater interchange of commercial model railroad equipment. He served on the standards committee and helped develop the NMRA standards gauge. He served as NMRA Midwest region president and as NMRA national president 1961-1963. He has received the NMRA President's Award and is an NMRA Honorary Member.

44. Whitney K. Towers*, CA. Whit served as NMRA western VP 1958-1960, PCR president 1970-1971, and NMRA national president. He also served as NMRA Bulletin editor. He received the President=s Award twice, the NMRA Distinguished Service Award in 1965 and is an NMRA Honorary Member. Whit was a prolific author and is known for his HO Alturas & Lone Pine Railroad which was featured in a professionally produced motion picture, later offered in VHS.

1999 NMRA PIONEERS

45. Kimball, Ward. CA. Train collector, retired Disney animator. 3 ft. narrow gauge railroad in rear yard. Donated much 3 ft. equipment to Perris RR Museum. Member TCA, TTOS. President TCA 1974-1975. TV railroad videos.

46. Märklin Brothers(9)*. Germany. Only two of the 9 brothers carried on in the firm. Creators of the geometric sectional track sytem still used in train sets. Plus Frau Märklin (mother), Pioneer toy train mfrs. est 1892 or earlier. Company is still in business.

47. Newton, M. Dale*. OR. 1930s. Founder of Red Ball car line, HO printed side car kit manufacturer, wood bodies, lead castings made on Ludlow machine, Large line of soft lead truck kits. Later sold to Howell Day.

48. Van Leer, Edward. NY. NMRA President 1951-1952. NMRA Honorary Member. 1970 NMRA Presidents Award. Master Model Railroader 2.

2000 NMRA PIONEERS

49. Bob Bast*. OH. NMRA Office Manager 1949-1975. NMRA Honorary Member.

50. Busch, Karl. CA. NMRA PCR President 1957-1958. Made many of the early NMRA model trophies. NMRA Presidents Award 1962.

51. Keiling, Leighton*. CA. NMRA PCR President 1954-1956. NMRA National President 1959-1960. NMRA Honorary Member.

52. Mortimer, Kenneth. IN. NMRA MWR President 1961. NMRA Executive VP 1967-1969. NMRA President 1969-1971. NMRA Honorary Member. Magazine author. NMRA President=s Award: 1961, NMRA President=s Award:

2001 NMRA PIONEERS ST LOUIS

53. Armstrong, John. MD. Model Railroad Railroader. Author. NMRA Distinguished Service Award 1968. Known for his layout design work.

54. Trott, James E*. OH. NMRA Bulletin Cartoonist. NMRA President=s Award 1968.

55. Clouser, William*. MO. O gauge trolley manufacturer, clinician, author. 1994 O Scale Hall of Fame.

2002 NMRA PIONEERS FT LAUDERDALE

56. Colburn, David E. . PA. (Gene)* NMRA Eastern VP 1965-1967. NMRA Executive VP 1969-1971. NMRA President 1971-1973. NMRA Honorary Member. NMRA Presidents Award 1974.

57. Edwards, Dale. OR Co-inventor of the Kadee coupler. Co-founder with twin brother Keith of Kadee Quality Products and Micro Trains Lines. Continued with Kadee when company was divided (ca 1992). NMRA Distinguished Service Award 1992. MRIA HALL OF FAME 1996.

58. Edwards, Keith. OR Co-inventor of the Kadee coupler. Co-founder with twin brother Dale of Kadee Quality Products and Micro Trains Lines. Continued with Micro Trains when company was divided (ca 1992). MRIA President 1975-1977. NMRA Distinguished Service Award 1992. MRIA HALL OF FAME 1996.

59. Grandt, Cliff. (* 2002) CA On3 manufacturer. Tool & Die man. MRIA HALL OF FAME 1996.

2003 NMRA PIONEERS TORONTO

60. Freytag, Dean Besides NMRA activity, is a pioneer in the modeling of larger industries; many of which have appeared as magazine articles and some of which have been made available in kit form. Dean has served as NMRA Central VicePresident 1973-1975. In addition to being an author, Dean has been honored with the NMRA Distinguished Service Award, a two time NMRA Presidents Award recipient in 1975 and 1982. He has also served as an NMRA Contest Judge.

61. Work, Jack* (Canadian) died several years ago. His early work in modeling defined the state of the model railroad art in the early 1960's. He showed us how to make cold castings, individual board car and structure sides with Strathmore board and more that could be listed with research. In addition, Jack Work shared the hobby with thousands of modelers through his many how-to articles in the model railroad magazines.

62. Stroup, Kenneth* Industry pioneer, started the Model Railroad Specialty Company in 1915 in Jackson, Michigan. He manufactured Sampson HO streamlined passenger cars and diesel locos. Stroup sold his business in 1949, joined LMB Models of Cleveland, and was later with Marcraft Distributors, an LMB affiliate. Ken was active in the NMRA Thousand Lakes Region. Ken was later a member of the San Diego MRRC. Ken was a true pioneer in the hobby and industry.

63. Carstens, Harold H. NJ President Carstens Pubications, Inc., Publisher Railroad Model Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad. Holds NMRA Distinguished Service Award 1962, Past President Hobby Industry Association 1971-1972, Model Railroad Industry Association 1977-1978, Train Collectors Association 1964-1965. NMRA Life Member. Member NMRA Museum Committee. Editor, Author, HO, train collector. Secretary, Eastern MRR Manufacturers 1956-1962. HIAA Meritorious Award of Honor 1979. HIAA MRR Division Big Wheel Award 1987. NMRA Model RR Man of the Year Award 1989. MRIA HALL OF FAME 1996. Listed in Who's Who in America. Train collection has been displayed in Williamsburg; Trenton State Museum, and National Geographic Hall, Washington.

2004 NMRA PIONEERS SEATTLE

64. Riley, H. Lee (DE) Bachmann Industries design engineer. Worked for Pro Custom Hobbies and Associated Hobby Manufacturers during the 1970's and 1980's. Joined Bachmann in late 1980's and was instrumental in developing new products and expanding the Bachmann line. Helped develop the "big hauler" large scale train set, developed large scale line including logging, industrial and historic locomotives and rolling stock. During 1990's, developed the On30 line extending model railroading to the "Christmas Village" products, and then to the narrow gauge fraternity. NMRA Distinguished Service Award. MRIA HALL OF FAME 2004.

65. Lunde, Lynn Founded Magnuson Models in 1970's with husband Bob. Sold Magnuson Models to Walthers and worked as marketing manager for four years. Founded (with husband Bob) Design Preservation Models in 1985. Board of Trustees of MRIA 1988. MRIA President 1991. DPM line was sold to Woodland Scenics in early 1990's and worked for WS for several years developing the DPM line. In mid-1990's, started Lunde Studio to build exhibition layouts for industry members, and home layouts for individuals. NMRA Model RR (wo)Man of the year 1992. MRIA HALL OF FAME 2004.

66. Lunde, Robert Founded Magnuson Models in 1970's with wife Lynn. Sold Magnuson Models to Walthers and worked developing new products for four years. Founded (with wife Lynn) Design Preservation Models in 1985. Board of Trustees of MRIA 1988. MRIA President 1991. DPM line was sold to Woodland Scenics in early 1990's and worked for WS for several years developing the DPM line. In mid-1990's, started Lunde Studio to build exhibition layouts for industry members, and home layouts for individuals.

2006 NMRA PIONEERS PHILADELPHIA

67. Quimby, E.J.* Cdr, USNR (Ret.). Pioneer 1929 in 1/2 inch scale interurbans indoor and outdoor. Member NYSME. 1915 motorman on North Jersey Rapid Transit, Morse Telegraph Club, Veteran Wireless Operator Assoc., Society of Wireless Pioneers, Radio Club of America. Co-founder of Branford Electric Ry. Museum. A founder of the Electric Railroaders Association. Merchant marine wirelss operator 1920s. Installed the calliope on the Delta Queen. Author of magazine articles and books on electric railways. Died Nov. 8, 1981, age 87

68. Thornburgh, Mel* O gauge locomotive builder. Writer. 1930s. Started with B&O in 1919. Built first elec. powered locomotive 1923. Helped organize Cincinatti MRRC.

69. Sellios, George Creator of Fine Scale Models, manufacturer of extra detailed craftsman style kits in HO. Author known for his detailed HO layout.

70. Brazelton, Glen* bought a small hobby shop after World War II and founded Cabose Hobbies in Denver, now one of the largest shops in the U. S. A. Died at age 99 in 2005.

71. Hamilton, Fred Active in Model Railroad Industry Association. Narrow gauge modeler. Former advertising manager Kalmbach Publishing Co. Also was employed as general manager for Northwest Short Line. Offered consulting services to MRIA and MRD. Narrow gauge enthusiast.

* Deceased