R AILROADING

STEM-Based
 BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
MERIT BADGE SERIES

R AILROADING

“Enhancing our youths’ competitive edge through merit badges”

 Railroading

1. Do THREE of the following:

(a) Name three types of modern freight trains. Explain why unit trains are
more efficient than mixed freight trains.
(b) Name one Class I or regional railroad. Explain what major cities it serves,
the locations of major terminals, service facilities and crew change points,
and the major commodities it carries.
(c) Using models or pictures, identify 10 types of railroad freight or passenger
cars. Explain the purpose of each type of car.
(d) Explain how a modern diesel or electric locomotive develops power.
Explain the terms dynamic braking and radial steering trucks.
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2. Do the following:
(a) Explain the purpose and formation of Amtrak. Explain, by the use of a
timetable, a plan for making a trip by rail between two cities at least 500 miles
apart. List the times of departure and arrival at your destination, the train
number and name, and the type of service you want.
(b) List and explain the various forms of public/mass transit using rail.
3. Do ONE of the following:
(a) Name four departments of a railroad company. Describe what each
department does.
(b) Tell about the opportunities in railroading that interest you most and why.
(c) Name four rail support industries. Describe the function of each one.
(d) With your parent’s and counselor’s approval, interview someone
employed in the rail industry. Learn what that person does and how this
person became interested in railroading. Find out what type of schooling
and training are required for this position.
4. Explain the purpose of Operation Lifesaver and its mission.
5. Do THREE of the following:
(a) List five safety precautions that help make trains safer for workers
and passengers.
(b) Explain to your merit badge counselor why safety around rights-of-way
is important.
(c) List 10 safety tips to remember when you are near a railroad track
(either on the ground or on a station platform) or aboard a train.
(d) Tell your counselor about the guidelines for conduct that should be
followed when you are near or on railroad property. Explain the dangers
of trespassing on railroad property.
(e) Tell what an automobile driver can do to safely operate a car at grade
crossings, and list three things an automobile driver should never do at a
grade crossing.
(f) Tell how to report a malfunction of grade crossing warning devices.
(g) List safety precautions a pedestrian should follow at a public crossing.
6. Explain the appearance and meaning of the following warning signs and
devices: advance warning sign, pavement markings, crossbucks, flashing
red lights, crossing gates.
7. Do EACH of the following:
(a) Explain how railroad signals operate and show two basic signal types
using color or configuration.
(b) Explain the meaning of three horn signals.
(c) Describe a way to signal a train for an emergency stop.
(d) Explain the use and function of the EOTD (end-of-train device), or FRED
(flashing rear end device), used on the last car of most freight trains.

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8. Select ONE of the following special-interest areas and complete the requirements.
(a) Model Railroading
With your parent’s and counselor’s approval, do TWO of the following:
(1) Draw a layout of your own model railroad or one that could be built
in your home. Design a point-to-point track or loop with different routings.
Include one of the following: turnaround or terminal or yard or siding.
(2) Build one model railroad car kit or one locomotive kit.
(3) Name the scale of four popular model railroad gauges. Identify the
scale of four model cars or locomotives.
(4) Locate the website of four model railroad–related manufacturers or
magazine publishers. Print information on their products and services and
discuss the information with your counselor.
(5) Build one railroad structure (from scratch or using a kit), paint and
weather the structure, mount it on your layout or diorama, and make the
surrounding area on the diorama scenic.
(6) Alone or with others, build a model railroad or modular layout includ-
ing ballast and scenery. Make electrical connections and operate a train.
Describe what you enjoyed most.
(7) Participate in a switching contest on a timesaver layout and record
your time.
(8) Explain the difference between powering and controlling a model
railroad by using direct current, and powering and controlling a model
railroad using digital command control.
(b) Railfanning
With your parent’s and counselor’s approval, do TWO of the following:
(1) Visit a railroad museum, historical display, or a prototype railroad-
sponsored public event. With permission, photograph, videotape, or
sketch items of interest. Explain what you saw and describe your photos,
sketches, or videotape.
(2) Purchase tickets and ride a scenic or historic railroad. Under supervi-
sion, photograph the equipment and discuss with your counselor the
historic significance of the operation.
(3) Locate the website of four rail historical groups, then find informa-
tion on the history of the rail preservation operations and purpose of each
group. Talk with a member of one of the groups and find out how you
might help.
(4) Plan a trip by rail between two points. Obtain a schedule and explain
when the train should arrive at two intermediate points. Purchase the
tickets and make the trip. Explain to your counselor what you saw.

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 .Resources About Railroading

Resources About Railroading

Scouting Literature Frary, Dave. How to Build Realistic
Engineering and Model Design and Model Railroad Scenery, 3rd ed.
Building merit badge pamphlets Kalmbach Publishing Company, 2005.
Hubbard, Freeman. Encyclopedia of
Visit the Boy Scouts of North American Railroading: 150
America’s official retail website Years of Railroading in the United
(with your parent’s permission) States and Canada. McGraw-Hill
at http://www.scoutstuff.org for Book Company, 1981.
a complete listing of all merit Kelly, Jim, and Michael Emmerich.
badge pamphlets and other HO Railroad From Start to Finish
helpful Scouting materials (Model Railroad Handbook, No. 36).
and supplies. Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1993.
Miller, Allan W., ed. Model Railroad
Books Resources: A Where-to-Find-It
Guide for the Hobbyist. Krause
Ambrose, Stephen E. Nothing Like It Publications, 2000.
in the World: The Men Who Built
the Transcontinental Railroad 1863– Schleicher, Robert. The HO Model
1869. Simon & Schuster, 2000. Railroading Handbook: Build
an Exciting HO Layout the Easy,
Armstrong, John H. The Railroad: What Inexpensive Way, 3rd ed. Krause
It Is, What It Does, The Introduction Publications, 1998.
to Railroading, 5th ed. Simmons-
Solomon, Brian. The Heritage of North
Boardman Books, 2008.
American Steam Railroads: From
Blumberg, Rhoda. Full Steam Ahead: the First Days of Steam Power to the
The Race to Build a Transcontinental Present. Reader’s Digest, 2001.
Railroad. National Geographic
Stover, John F. The Routledge Historical
Society, 1996. Atlas of the American Railroads.
Drury, George H., and Bob Hayden. Routledge, 1999.
Guide to Tourist Railroads and Vantuono, William C. All About
Railroad Museums 2002, Railroading, 2nd ed. Simmons-
37th ed. Kalmbach Publishing Boardman Books, 2006.
Company, 2002.
RAILROADING 61
Resources About Railroading.

Magazines Trains & Railroads of the Past

Classic Trains Telephone: 877-787-2467
Kalmbach Publishing Company Website: http://www.trpmagazine.com
P.O. Box 1612
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
Organizations and Websites
Toll-free telephone: 800-533-6644 Amtrak
Website: http://ctr.trains.com Toll-free telephone: 800-872-7245
Website: http://www.amtrak.com
Model Railroad News
Telephone: 877-787-2467 Association of American Railroads
Website: 425 Third Street SW
http://www.modelrailroadnews.com Washington, DC 20024
Telephone: 202-639-2100
Model Railroader Website: https://www.aar.org
Kalmbach Publishing Company
P.O. Box 1612 Federal Railroad Administration
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612 1120 Vermont Ave. NW
Toll-free telephone: 800-533-6644 Washington, DC 20590
Website: http://mrr.trains.com Website: http://www.fra.dot.gov
Passenger Train Journal National Model Railroad Association
Telephone: 877-787-2467 4121 Cromwell Road
Website: Chattanooga, TN 37421
http://www.passengertrainjournal.com Telephone: 423-892-2846
Website: http://www.nmra.org
Railfan & Railroad
White River Productions National Railway Historical Society
Telephone: 862-354-3196 100 North 17th St., Suite 1203
Website: http://www.railfan.com Philadelphia, PA 19103-2783
Telephone: 215-557-6606
Railroad Model Craftsman Website: http://www.nrhs.com
White River Productions
Telephone: 877-787-2467 Operation Lifesaver
Website: http:// 1420 King St., Suite 401
www.rrmodelcraftsman.com Alexandria, VA 22314
Toll-free telephone: 800-537-6224
Railway Age Website: http://www.oli.org
345 Hudson St.
New York, NY 10014
Website: http://www.railwayage.com Acknowledgments
Trains The Boy Scouts of America is extremely
Kalmbach Publishing Company grateful to the Association of American
P.O. Box 1612 Railroads for its assistance with updating
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612 the Railroading merit badge pamphlet.
Telephone: 262-796-8776
Website: http://trn.trains.com

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