` Stan Ames's Home Page

Let me introduce myself. I have been a model railroader since long before I can remember. I am also fortunate enough that my wife and family are as active as I am in this great hobby. Deb and I are both life members of the NMRA and our family models in multiple scales. Our pride is our 1:20.3 SJR&P garden railroad. Most evenings and weekends you can find us outside working on the railroad. Currently we have over 10 scale miles of railroad and we try to operate is as a real railroad. We also model HO scale and have won numerous awards for our Brockwayville, PA HO scale module including first place at the 1992 NMRA National. Our module group has been fortunate enough to be able to display in many state in the US, Canada and the Netherlands.

We are also rail fans and enjoy the history of railroading. Our favorite prototype is the Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway. This railroad was famous for its large steam (both 2-8-8-2 and 2-6-6-2 locomotives) and the way it kept its equipment and right of way in pristine shape. The fact that Deb's grandfather headed up the railroad's PR department also helped in the selection of the railroad. We also enjoy riding trains from around the world, especially steam and Narrow Gauge.

In 1992, I spearheaded the creation of the NMRA DCC Standards and Recommended Practices. As original Chairman of the NMRA/DCC Working Group I also took the task of editor for all of the original NMRA DCC Standards and Recommended Practices. A large job, but well worth the effort. Having completed my tenure as chair of the DCC working group I was asked to spearhead the revitalization of the NMRA Conformance & Inspection Committee. I chaired this committee until my wife decided to form a formal business relationship with Lenz GmbH to manage the Lenz Agency of North America. To avoid even the appearance of any possible conflict of interest, I resigned immediately upon her establishing this business relationship. My wife is also the president of Tried & True Trains, Inc. a small model railroad business, which has a wholesale side, a retail side as well as a service side and thus has business relationships with several other model railroad manufacturers. Having a wife who is both an active modeler as well as being active in the Model Railroad industry, has its advantages and also its disadvantages. While I do my best not to let her business relationships influence my opinions, her business relationships nevertheless exist, which is why I avoid placing myself in a position where a conflict could occur.

In 1994 I chaired the industry "Large Scales Definition Working Group", which established the scale and gauge relationship for Large Scale models running on 45mm track.

In 1998 I co-authoring a book on DCC along with two other members of the DCC working group Rutger Friberg and Ed Loizeaux. The book was signed by all major DCC manufacturers and DCC working group members who worked hard to bring you NMRA DCC. The aim is to provide the readers a thorough knowledge about DCC and explain it in an easy way in order to make the technology understood by everyone.

In 2003 I was granted a US patent 6,539,292 on "Using location-influenced behavior to control model railroads." This patent was donated to the NMRA so that they could provide royalty free licenses to those manufacturers wishing to implement their Bi-Directional recommended Practices.

From 1998 to 2004 I was a member of the NMRA Board of Directors serving as the Trustee from the Northeastern Region of the NMRA. Because of my wife's business I excused myself anytime DCC was discussed at a board meeting.

From 2002-2003 I worked with the Garden Railroad Association to help sort out the various scales operating under the banner of "G"

From 2003-2004 I spearheaded an effort to rewrite the basic wheel and track standards which included Large Scale.

I am also proud to have been awarded two NMRA Meritorious Service Awards and the NMRA President's Award in 2004.

Currently I remain active in the DCC community. I also remain active assisting model railroad manufacturers on a wide variety of topics. I do not charge for this service which allows me to pick and choose which projects I work on. Its more fun that way.

Copyright 2007 by Tried & True Trains, Inc.
This page is written and maintained by: Stan Ames
For more information contact Debbie Ames, President tttrains