DCC Portal

The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) is the governing NPO of the model railroading hobby. The organization developed the DCC and the HO standards, which, respectively, dictate the digital operation and the scale of modern model track sets.Though “National” still remains in the organization’s name, the Association’s reach has extended greatly since being founded in 1935. Today, the NMRA has divisions in the United States, Australasia, Canada, and the British Isles. Every year, members come together for the NMRA National Convention, in which the National Train Show (a rigorously-detailed and insanely fun combination of trade show and play area) takes center stage.Education is another important part of the NMRA’s mission, whether it’s aimed toward the general public or the modelers themselves. For the latter, there are certification programs and awards for excellence in different fields. In a promotional role, the NMRA supports the A.C. Kalmbach Memorial Library (Tennessee’s official railroad library, located next to the Norfolk Southern Railway Georgia Division and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum) and the Railroading Merit Badge program for the Boy Scouts of America.For more information on the NMRA and its activities, visit the website at nmra.org. If something strikes your fancy, don’t be afraid to do more research and let your imagination run wild. You’re never too old (or too young) to experience the thrill of model railroading.