About Us:
BDEF - The "German NMRA"
The BDEF was founded 50
years
ago and is an umbrella association representing both model railroad clubs and other
railroad enthusiasts. There are more than 300 clubs and organizations with a
total of about 12,000 members organized in the national association.
The abbreviation BDEF literally means "Federal Association of
Railroad Friends."
You may also visit our German website should your command of the German language
allow this. There you will find a list of all participating clubs, their
addresses and a short description of their layouts. This may be of interest to
you when planning your next holiday in Germany.
| Vorteile... (Benefits) |
The BDEF offers its participating clubs a variety of benefits, including club insurances, concession prices for model railroad exhibitions and museums, reduced price railroad magazines and additionally a fair amount of other relevant information for all kinds of railroad enthusiasts. |
| Vereine,
Clubs ... (Members) |
Members of the BDEF clubs either have a model railroad layout or a garden railroad, or they build or collect model engines and other vehicles from certain periods or countries. The layouts are often in operation. Some of our members are extremely interested in the modern railroad, especially in the development of high-speed trains, for example the German Inter City Express (ICE) and in political issues concerning transport. Other members own narrow gauge railroads with historic railroad buildings, while another group restores old steam locomotives, other vehicles and machines and yet another group collect original railroad accessories. The club addresses can be found on this site. |
| Messen und Veranstaltungen (Trade Fairs and other Exhibitions) |
The BDEF has regular exhibits at 7 of the principle German trade fairs. The BDEF often organizes railroad exhibitions or is co-organizer of such exhibitions and is present at trade fairs with railroad participation. A main attraction at these events is the presentation of new award -winning models and layouts of member clubs. |
| Vorstand (Board of Management) |
The Chairman of the Board of the BDEF is the President, who is assisted by 3 Vice-Presidents representing the Eastern, Western and Southern regions. Furthermore there is an Executive Manager at the association's headquarters in Hanover. The Chairmen of the Transport Politics Commission and the Model Railroads Committee, the Treasurer, the Public Relations Officer and the Exhibitions Convenor have seats on the Board of Management. A number of experts in the fields of law, tax, norms and standardization in the model railroad sector, internet, electronics and digital systems and the editor of the BDEF annual are also board members. |
| AK Verkehrspolitik AK Modellbahn |
Committee
for Transport Politics & Committee for Model Railroads: These two committees are the main bodies representing the fundamental aims of the BDEF. |
| Fördermitglieder (Sponsors) |
In addition to the member clubs there are sponsors, who support the activities of the BDEF. The sponsors include representatives of the transport technology industry, publishers of professional magazines and manufacturers of model railways railroads, equipment and electronic systems. |
| MOROP & NEM | MOROP is the abbreviation for the European federation, which organizes the various national associations of model railroad enthusiasts and railway friends in one European organization with its main seat in Bern, Switzerland. MOROP's main aim is the standardization of scales and measurements for models. These standards bear the name NEM (European Modeling Standards). Since 1994 the MOROP has been keeping close ties to the NMRA, the corresponding body in the USA. At the moment, 23 associations and organizations with more than a total of 30,000 members are represented in the MOROP. Links to these associations can be found in this segment. |
| Jahrbücher (annuals) |
Under this heading you will find information about our annuals. This handbook provides details of all our member clubs in Germany, their addresses and a short description of activities connected with the railroad in the state hosting the next annual congress. |
| Verbandstage (Annual General Meeting) |
All railroad enthusiasts, no matter the gauge, are welcome to visit us during our annual congress, which is usually held in May. A detailed program of events can be found under the appropriate heading. |
| VDMT | The BDEF, although the largest representative of railroad enthusiasts, is not the sole organization of this type in Germany. A number of clubs are organized in the VDMT (Association of German Museums and Nostalgic Railroads). Naturally the BDEF co-operates with the VDMT. |
© BDEF 2004
28. Mai 2008
(Maureen Göbel)