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Requirements June 1952 until September 1961

1. Outline the major steps in the growth and development of railroads in the United States and discuss the importance of the railroads to our daily life.

2. Name the railroads which directly serve your community (or the station nearest your home) and on a map indicate connecting routes to at least one city in each of the following sections of the United States: East, South, Middle West, and Far West.

3. Explain briefly how each of the three kinds of locomotives (steam, electric, and diesel) develops power.

4. Identify examples, models, or pictures of six different locomotive types and ten different kinds of rolling stock (passenger or freight or both), explaining the use of each.

5. List the principal duties of the men who make up the engine crew and train crew of a freight or passenger train.

6. (a) Demonstrate five arm or lantern signals commonly used by trainmen.

(b) Tell what the several aspects of one type of semaphore or light signal system mean.

(c) Identify the meanings of five train whistle signals.

(d) Describe two emergency methods of signaling a train to stop in order to prevent a disaster.

7. Explain at least six rules of safety to observe aboard and around trains and with respect to hazards around railroad tracks, platforms, yards, crossings, trestles, etc.

8. Do any three of the following (the last five are especially suited to the interest of model railroaders):

(a) Outline the general organization of a railroad company and briefly describe the functions of its major departments.

(b) Identify freight cars of at least ten different railroads by their report heralds or symbols.

(c) With one or more adults, plan and take a railroad trip of twenty-five or more miles; purchase your own ticket and read the timetables and accompanying notes correctly.

(d) Explore the lifework opportunities open to a young man in the field of railroading. Describe the necessary qualifications and working conditions of one job in which you are especially interested.

(e) (1) Know name, scale to foot, proportion, and track gauge for four standard model railroad gauges. (2) Demonstrate proper method of cleaning and lubricating a model locomotive and other model equipment.

(f) Draw to scale the layout of your own model railroad, or a layout which could be built in a suitable place in your home. Your layout must include at least a point-to-point or continuous loop road with a variety of routings, a turnaround, a terminal, a classification yard, and one or more sidings.

(g) Alone or with others, construct a model railroad layout. Lay track with realistic ties, ballast, and scenery. Make proper wire connections from power supply to track and accessories.

(h) Make an acceptable scale model of a locomotive with or without motive power or two pieces of rolling stock. (Kits may be used.)

(i) Draw scale plans and construct two model accessories, such as a station, bridge, trestle, tunnel, roundhouse, or turntable.

Requirements September 1961 until January 1969.

1. Outline the major steps in the growth and development of the railroads in the United States and discuss the importance of the railroads to our daily life.

2. Name the railroads that serve your community and plan a trip by rail to a city at least 500 miles from your home. Obtain train information (timetable and other folders) from the railroad you would use that would give you the time of departure, the time of arrival, the name or number of the train, and the kind of service you would use.

3. Explain briefly how each of the three kinds of locomotives (steam, electric, and diesel) develops power.

4. Identify by model or picture six different types of railroad cars used in carrying people or products.

5. Name and explain briefly at least ten of the many railroad occupations. Tell who is in charge of a train when it is in operation.

6. Have a knowledge of signals used by trainmen. Demonstrate arm or lantern signals commonly used. Select one type of semaphore or light signal system and tell what its various signals mean. Explain the meaning of five train whistle signals. Describe an emergency method of signaling a train to stop.

7. Explain at least six rules of safety to observe aboard trains; on platforms; at crossings; and around bridges, yards, and tunnels.

8. Do any three of the following:

(a) Name at least four departments of a railroad company and briefly describe the function of each.

(b) Identify freight cars of at least ten different railroads by their symbols (sometimes called heralds or insignia).

(c) Plan and take a rail trip of at least 25 miles; purchase your own ticket and read the timetables and related footnotes correctly.

(d) Name which job interests you most in railroad work and give the reason.

(e) Know name, scale to foot, proportion, and track gauge for four standard model railroad gauges. Demonstrate proper method of cleaning and lubricating a model locomotive and other model equipment.

(f) Draw to scale the layout of your own model railroad or a layout that could be built in a suitable place in your home. Your layout must include at least a point-to-point or continuous loop road with a variety of routings, a turnaround, a terminal, a classification yard, and one or more sidings.

(g) Alone or with others, construct a model railroad layout. Lay track with realistic ties, ballast, and scenery. Make proper wire connections from power supply to track and accessories.

(h) Make an acceptable scale model or a locomotive with or without motive power or two pieces of rolling stock. (Kits may be used.)

(i) Draw scale plans and construct two model accessories, such as a station, bridge, trestle, tunnel, roundhouse, or turntable.