Contest

The contest room is a highlight of every model railroading convention. It’s easy to be amazed at what your fellow modelers have created, but it’s also a great opportunity to learn, to push yourself to grow as a modeler, and to show the world what a great hobby this is.

Win or lose, the feedback you can get from your entries can be a great way to learn how to build the best quality models possible.

There are a broad range of categories to choose from, so why not participate and help this year be the best ever? Get out those hobby knives, soldering irons, cameras and crocheting needles and get creative!

In addition to the awards for each category, there are a number of special awards from Best Tree to awards for the best logging-themed module. We even have a new special award this year, the Loren Neufeld Square Footer Award. See below for the full list and details.

Four awards are based on popular votes – Most Popular Model, Most Popular Photo, Most Popular Arts & Crafts, and Favorite/Complete Train. Ballots will be included in your registration packet — even if you don’t submit an entry, come and vote for your favorites!

If you have any questions or feedback about the contest, please contact the LSR Contest Co-Chairs, Ray Byer and Jeff Palmer, MMR, or the Convention Contest Chair, Jack Merkel, MMR.

Good luck!

Categories

Rules, entry forms, and judging forms are at the bottom of this page.

Models

Steam Locomotives	Types of locomotives that ran off of steam and are representative of steam power. Remember it has to be powered and able to run.
Diesel Locomotives	Types of locomotives that are representative of diesel power. The model must be powered (at least the lead unit) and able to run.
Traction or Other Motive Power	Electrically powered or other locomotives that don’t fit into the Steam or Diesel categories. The model must be powered and able to run.
Passenger Cars	All types of passenger revenue carrying equipment, including RDC, rail buses, observation, mail and baggage. Basically, if it was used to carry passengers, it counts.
Freight Cars	All freight revenue carrying equipment, including express reefers, box cars, gondolas, and so on. If the railroads used it to carry freight and generate revenue, it’s legal. Any loads or appropriate figures on or in the car will be judged with the car.
Cabooses	All types of caboose and cabin cars including bobbers, drovers, transfers, and so on.
Maintenance of Way	Non-revenue, right-of-way and track maintenance vehicles, rail and inspection cars, railroad cranes, snow removal and other cars not considered directly involved in railroad revenue service. Any loads or appropriate figures on or in the car will be judged with the car.
On-Line Structures	On-line structures are considered those to be normally owned by the railroad such as stations, yard buildings, bridges, and so on. This category also includes buildings featuring rail loading/unloading facilities on the right of way. If scenery extends past the building drip line, it must be entered in Displays and not this category.
Off-Line Structures	Off-line structures are those that do not need direct rail access. Again, if scenery extends past the building drip line, it must be entered in Displays and not this category.
Bridges & Trestles	Any type of on-line or off-line bridge or trestle used by the railroad to move trains or to move vehicles over railroad tracks.
Displays/Modules	Models or modules which include supplemental scenery. For a model to be in the display/module category, the scenery elements are not pertinent to the function of the model or primary structure. The display/module can be an “On-Line” or “Off-Line”.

Models – Special Awards

If there is no entry that qualifies for a given award, it will not be presented this year.

New for 2026 Loren Neufeld Square Footer Award	Highest scoring entry in the Displays/Modules model category that fits within as 12″ by 12″ square, regardless of scale. The winner, if one qualifies, will be selected by a designated San Jacinto Model Railroad Club member and the LSR Contest Chair(s).
Gil Freitag Award for Best Scratch-Built Model	Highest scoring scratch-built entry in the model contest, based on the “Scratch Built” score on the judges’ entry sheet. If there is a tie in the score, then the “Construction” score will be used to break the tie.
Best Kit-Built Model	Highest scoring entry from the model contest created from a kit or a modified kit.
James P. Baugh Architecture Award	Model which represents the best example of architectural design in a prototype or freelanced off-line structure. This award is decided by the LSR Contest Chair(s), if a model is deemed to qualify.
James P. Baugh Memorial Tree Award	Best tree entry in the model contest. This award is decided by the LSR Contest Chair(s), if a model is deemed to qualify.
Bob Clarke Logging Award	Model entry that best depicts logging or backwoods modeling. Entry can be a prototype or freelanced model. This award is decided by the LSR Contest Chair(s), if a model is deemed to qualify.
Most Popular Complete Train	Due to the mixture of model types and motive power, this is a non-judged category and will be awarded based on popular vote.
Linda S. Little Award	Highest scoring entry from the model contest, in any judged category, submitted by a woman modeler who has not previously scored higher than 87.5 points.
Youth and Teen Awards	Best model entries from any category by youth (12 years of age or under) and teen (13-17 years of age) modelers. These awards are designed to include young people and promote the hobby and the LSR Model Contest, and they are decided by the LSR Contest Chair(s), if model(s) submitted are deemed to qualify.
Participation Award	The contestant in the model contest who receives the greatest number of combined points from the judges (from all of their entries that receive at least 87.5 points).
Most Popular	Awarded to the model receiving the most votes from convention attendees. Judges’ scores are not taken into consideration for this award.
Novice Best in Show	Highest scoring entry from the model contest, in any judged category, that receives at least 87.5 points from the judges, by a modeler that has never placed first or second in any Regional (LSR) or National (NMRA) Model Contest.
Best in Show	Highest scoring entry from the model contest, in any judged category, that receives at least 87.5 points from the judges.

Photos

Photos – Special Awards

If there is no entry that qualifies for a given award, it will not be presented this year.

Most Popular	Awarded to the photo receiving the most votes from convention attendees. Judges’ scores are not taken into consideration for this award.
Best in Show	Best photo in the contest, as selected by the judges from amongst the first place photos in all categories.

Arts & Crafts

Railroadiana	Arts or crafts (not a model or photo) that have a railroad motif. Can be from a kit (which includes plans, instructions and materials), pattern (where the material is acquired separately), or an original design.
Needlework	Arts or crafts where the entry is a type of stitching (knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, sewing, etc.)
Special Theme: Connections	Arts or crafts that exemplify the special theme this year, which is “Connections”. This could be anything from a painting to woodcarving to needlepoint. Be creative!
General	Arts or crafts that do not fit into the other arts and crafts categories.

Arts & Crafts – Special Awards

If there is no entry that qualifies for a given award, it will not be presented this year.

Youth and Teen Awards	Best arts & crafts entries from any category by youth (12 years of age or under) and teens (13-17 years of age). These awards are designed to include young people and promote the hobby and the LSR Arts & Crafts Contest, and they are decided by the LSR Contest Chair(s), if model(s) submitted are deemed to qualify.
Most Popular	Awarded to the arts & crafts entry receiving the most votes from convention attendees. Judges’ scores are not taken into consideration for this award.
Novice Best in Show	Highest scoring entry from the arts & crafts contest, in any judged category, that receives at least 87.5 points from the judges, by someone that has never placed first or second in any Regional (LSR) or National (NMRA) Arts & Crafts Contest.
Best in Show	Best photo in the contest, as selected by the judges from amongst the first place photos in all categories.

Rules and Forms

Here are the detailed contest rules and entry/judging forms for the various categories (in PDF format). PLEASE READ THEM before submitting an entry:

Also check out the guide for the writeup that should accompany model entries – it’s important to have this completed before you arrive at the convention. The NMRA judging guidelines for models might give you some insight as well.

Good luck! We can’t wait to see your entries!