The Teen Association of Model Railroading (TAMR) was founded in 1964 by David R. Burris and Steve Seidel to help teenage model railroaders who lived too far from or were unable to join an established model railroad club. At the time, “scale” model railroading was consider an adult hobby and teenage modelers had few places to turn for help or guidance.

During its first two years of existence, the TAMR was an informal organization with no officials or dues. Communication between members was accomplished primarily by correspondence and typed newsletters issued at regular intervals by David. In September of 1966, the TAMR was organized on a formal basis with elected officials and a constitution. Richard C. Wagie became the association’s first President while David Burris was elected to the position of Secretary. Also at this time, The name of the TAMR’s bi-monthly official publication was changed from Newsletter to Hotbox, the regional structure was developed, and the organization’s famous herald was adopted. Steven R. Seidel, the TAMR’s first Vice-President, designed the herald basing the diesel drawing on a D&RGW F-unit.

Between 1966 and 1969, the Hotbox was produced by a variety of methods including “spirit” duplicator and mimeograph. In 1969, offset issues become commonplace thanks to the efforts of former President, Richard Wagie. During this period, TAMR membership climbed to a high over 300 members and many innovative programs were developed including a stock exchange committee, a member services committee, a correspondence exchange committee and a car exchange committee. Regions were also formally organized with many issuing regular newsletters to their members.

In 1970, the TAMR sponsored its first national convention in St. Louis. The concept was such a success that subsequent years conventions were held in such places as New York, Toronto, and Chicago.

Then in 1974, a combination of poor management and an erratic Hotbox schedule precipitated a membership decline. For a time the national organization ceased to function; sporadic activity remained at a regional level. After a thorough house cleaning which include a new constitution, a re-organization of the regional structure, the TAMR began rebuilding in 1975. Gone were most programs and the Hotbox returned to mimeograph reproduction as a conservation measure.

By 1979, the Hotbox was again offset and new services were introduced. In 1980, TAMR members approved a new constitution and by-laws, which gave voting rights to associate members and established regular elections for regional representatives. The Member Services Committee was also re-established during this year.

In spite of a large membership decline and treasury deficit in 1981-1982, which caused by such things as the video game fad (which drew the interest of many teens away from model railroading) and a major economic recession (which left the average teen with less money to spend on model railroading), the 1980′s was generally good to the organization. The 21st anniversary of the founding of the TAMR was celebrated in 1985 with the publication of a special issue of the Hotbox and a very successful convention in Milwaukee. It was also a year in which membership of the Teen Association of Model Railroading voted to change the name of their organization to Teen Association of Model Railroaders.

The partnership with the NMRA that had served the organization so well throughout the 1970′s and early 80′s soured in the last half of the decade. After a failed attempt by the NMRA to integrate the TAMR into it’s group in 1986, both associations parted company. Following this the group once again fell upon hard times with lack of activity and a membership decline finally culminating in a sort-of mutiny by several of the officers in 1988 attempting to start their own teen model railroad group. Following the mutiny’s failure, the group coasted into the 90′s with few changes and minimal growth.

This would change in 1994 when then TAMR President Brent Johnson held the Summer National Convention in Dayton, OH. Thanks to the promoting of it in the Hotbox (which he also edited at the time) as well as the support of the local NMRA chapter his convention would be the most successful summer convention in nearly a decade, and would spawn a rebirth of activity in the group unlike anything anyone’s seen since the 1970′s. Membership swelled to almost 150, regional publications, as well as the Hotbox grew in size (over 20 pages, and occasionally in color) and circulation. The next seven years saw successful Summer Conventions (many even garnering coverage in Model Railroader magazine) every year as well as the creation of the Winter National Convention (originally started as a regional meet in 1988) in Springfield, MA to meet the growing demand of activity. A partnership was also begun with Model Railroad News that including a monthly teen column and advertising for the group.

Following 2001, activity began to once again stagnate as the endless cycle of teens growing into adulthood left the group with few replacements for the departing officers now moving into careers and college. The Summer Conventions while still held every year haven’t drawn the membership crowds of conventions of the late 90′s, and has been nearly replaced by the Winter National Convention (WNC) as the big membership draw every year. Alot of this has to do with the fact the WNC is held alongside the Amherst Railway Society’s Big Model Railroad Show (the second biggest show in the US). The Hotbox is the only remaining publication still in circulation. Following the downturn in activity after 2001 it yo-yoed in and out of production until late 2003 when veteran member Peter Maurath took control and returned it to a steady, monthly schedule, albeit far smaller (at present 8 pgs) and only in B&W (which he still produces today). The TAMR celebrated it’s 40th anniversary in 2004 with a special issue of the Hotbox recalling the trials and tribulations of the last four decades as well as coverage in Model Railroad News and Model Railroader magazine. A yearly photo contest started in 2004 partnered with MRN has now become a popular event within the group.

For almost 50 years, the TAMR has been actively engaged in projects designed to help teenagers become better model railroaders. The future of model railroading depends greatly on sharing this knowledge with the new generations and that’s why the organization exists; to be an open environment for new generations to find the joy in the hobby of model railroading.