| Links to our | Req. 1a | - Req. 1c | - Req. 1d | - Req. 2a | - Req. 2b | - Req. 3a | - Req. 3b | - Req. 3c | - Req. 4 | |
| Study Guides | Req. 5a | - Req. 5b | - Req. 5f | - Req. 6 | - Req. 7a | - Req. 7b | - Req. 7c | - Req. 7d | - Req. 8 |
How
to make your choices for Requirement 8.
Requirement 8 is best accomplished before you come for a full-day session at our railroad. Our facilities and session plans do not lend themselves directly to either of these requirements. You should complete your choice from 8a or 8b, and bring any model, pictures, or other supporting information to your sign-off session.
Requirement 8a: Model Railroading
This requirement has to do with model railroading. Some scouts have a model railroad in their family, or perhaps a neighbor has one. The scout can work with the person in charge of the model railroad layout to accomplish two of the requirements for this section.
If the scout does not have a model railroad in his family, or his neighborhood, there may be a model railroad club in his scout district. Many of these clubs would be interested in having a scout come to their layout, learn about the museum, and perhaps complete his requirements there. The scout may build models, help decorate the layout, and operate model trains properly.
Requirement 8b: Railfanning
This requirement lends itself to observing real trains, rather than working with models. Whether by visiting a railroad or a museum display, or riding a short line or museum railroad, the scout will be asked to make observations, and describe the activites.
In eaither case, they scout will need to pay attention to the requirements, and take any pictures needed to show what they have done and learned. Scouts are encouraged to use a Railroading Merit Badge worksheet, to remind them of the requirement parts, and to write down any notes about what they have learned. These worksheets can be referred to during their sign-off sessions.
There are currently 120 active merit badges that can be earned by Boy Scouts today, and scouts can find information about all of these on the Internet at the Merit Badge Research Center (MBRC) website, including the Railroading merit badge requirements. The MBRC has worksheets for most of the current merit badges.