The 2021 St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet

Photos by Jesus Peña

RMC contributors Jesus Peña and Dan Munson were on hand to witness the 2021 St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet on July 30-31. Located in Collinsville, IL, the meet was held at the Gateway Convention Center just a dozen miles northeast from the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

As with all railroad prototype modeling meets, the focus of the St. Louis RPM is to provide an environment where modelers can admire the work of one another through the models on display and share informal conversation and tips with each other. Participants visit with fellow modelers, attend clinics onsite and see what’s new from exhibitors and manufacturers on hand too! No memberships, no clubs to join, no awards and no dues… Just show up with your models finished or in progress, pay the modest admission fee and share in the fun! Yes, in-progress models are especially welcome, as they readily share the story behind its construction!

With last year’s event canceled due to Covid, modelers and exhibitors made sure to attend this years’ meet. Records were broken with over 700 attendees and dozens of hand-picked scale model vendors participating in this 2021 edition of the St Louis RPM. Thanks to the generous support of these model manufacturers and vendors, a bountiful prize raffle was held, with prize drawings happening throughout both days of the meet. The proceeds help to make the meet financially possible.

Over 1,500 models were on display and all available display space and display tables were fully utilized. For more information about next year’s St. Louis RPM Meet, we encourage you to visit www.stlrpm.org. Look for more coverage to come in the pages of Railroad Model Craftsman by Dan Munson! – Harry K. Wong

Kitbashed Athearn Genesis GP9 for Fox River Valley as displayed on a diorama using a modified Showcase Miniatures GRS Semaphore with right-of-way using actual “Pink Lady” ballast from the C&NW. HO model and diorama by Christopher Braatz.