Since my post several weeks ago about the new Achievement Program of the OpSIG (Operations Special Interest Group of NMRA), I have received several comments and questions, some by email and and a couple in person. I thought I would take a few minutes to respond. That previous post is at this link: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-new-achievement-program.html .
As might be expected, several of the contacts were about the relationship of the new OpSIG program to the well-established NMRA program with the same name. The latter program is of long standing and is widely known. I myself reached the Master Model Railroader (MMR) status earlier this year (see my comments at: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2024/10/personal-master-model-railroader-772.html ).
The new OpSIG program is independent from, and different in almost every way than, the existing NMRA program. The NMRA program was established to encourage development and improvement of model- and layout-building skills, and I think it has been quite successful in doing so. I have heard any number of modelers saying things like, “I’ve read the requirements for Category XYZ and I think I could do that.”
By contrast, OpSIG’s new program is entirely aimed at achievements in operating, in all its many and varied forms. It’s true that the NMRA program has a category called “Chief Dispatcher,” but it doesn’t really demand literal dispatching skills. OpSIG has set out to offer a broader program about a whole range of serious operating skills, and contributions to this part of the hobby. And the underlying goal is just like that of the NMRA program: to encourage development and improvement of skills, but now strictly about operating experience and skill.
The photo below is perhaps a typical view of a two-person crew during an operating session. They are Seth Neumann at left, and Mark Schutzer at right, operating a few years ago on my layout. Improving the knowledge and skills of such individual operators is the primary goal of the OpSIG program.
In short, I perceive no conflict between the two achievement programs. Both intend to encourage development of skills and through that, greater accomplishment and enjoyment in the hobby. The overlap is minuscule, and there is certainly no intent by OpSIG to compete with or supplant the NMRA program; they are quite different in content, if similar in broad goals.
One of the best received categories in the program has been the Key Helper one. This is nominated by a layout owner for the people who help the most to sustain the layout and its sessions. The sales pitch here is something like “if not for you, at least make sure your crew is recognized,” and many layout owners have really liked this idea.
A quite specific question I received from two people is about the rules test that is administered as part of the Conductor & Engineer (C&E) category in the OpSIG program. There is indeed a test, conducted on-line by a testing program, and timed. It is an open-book test, so you can refer to the study materials during the test. The study materials are extracts from a couple of prototype rule books, and the sections on which you might be tested are highlighted in red.
Of course there is not enough time in the test period to read these sections for the first time. Instead, a test taker should have at least reviewed and understood the study materials before taking the test. No need to memorize, just familiarity so one can quickly refer back to the study materials for details. The test is not meant to be demanding, only to demonstrate a basic grasp of rules.
The C&E category is an essential part of the OpSIG program, because it is required to be among the minimum of eight completed categories to achieve the “Operations Ninja” status. There are altogether 13 categories from which you select the eight; about 400 category certificates have been issued so far. When a correct set of eight categories is completed, one receives a separate Ninja certificate. Below is mine. To date about a dozen of these Ninjas have already been granted.
For additional background, you can visit the OpSIG website (at: https://www.opsig.org/ ), then scroll down to “What’s New” and you will find a mention of the Achievement Program; or you can see the scope of the program directly, by going to the website which has been set up for the program (it is located at: https://opsig-ap.org/ ). There, one option is an introductory video — it’s quite informative about the goals of the program — but is some 20 minutes long. It might help to begin by browsing the screens of the website before sitting down with the video.
I personally think this is a creative way to encourage development of operating skills, along with stimulating participation in operating sessions. Operation has long been a kind of “poor cousin” in the hobby, just because the magazines find it hard to cover well. We all perceive the scope of the hobby from the magazines, so that leaves all of us with lower recognition of the processes and pleasures of operation. This Achievement Program should help change that.
Tony Thompson
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