North American Railcar Operators Association
How You Can Operate a Railcar
on NARCOA Excursions
 

The list below details the steps that you can follow to join NARCOA and to be ready to operate your rail vehicle on excursions sponsored by NARCOA affiliates. 

Joining NARCOA

You can instantly join NARCOA or renew membership on line or, if you prefer, you can complete a form and then print and mail it. The cost is $40 per year. To Join or renew membership, click HERE.

Once you have Joined:

  • You will receive a rule book and insurance information. There is no membership card issued.

  • The NARCOA magazine, The SETOFF, is published 6 times per year. You will start with the next issue. Thus you may wait up to 2 months before your first issue of The Setoff arrives.

  • If you indicate that your name and address can go into the NARCOA roster, it will be added. The roster is located through the "Members Only" area of the Narcoa web site.

Getting an Operator Qualification Card

  • To operate your car on a NARCOA excursion you must pass an operator’s test and receive a qualification card. 

  • Learn the rule book that you received when you joined NARCOA.

  • Follow the process listed in the How to obtain or renew your NARCOA Operator Qualification document.

  • Processing is usually completed within 2 weeks.

Getting Liability Insurance

  • To operate your car on a NARCOA excursion you must buy NARCOA liability insurance. 

  • To get NARCOA liability insurance you must have a current operator certification card (see above)

  • Download an insurance application from the NARCOA Documents page

Getting Ready for an Excursion

  • To operate your car on an excursion sponsored by a NARCOA affiliate, you must have a current operator certification card and NARCOA liability insurance (see above).

  • Read the rule book. Your vehicle must meet the standards that are detailed in the rule book. Until it does, you will not be allowed to operate it on a NARCOA-sponsored excursion.

  • To operate your car on an excursion sponsored by a NARCOA affiliate, you must have a current operator certification card and NARCOA liability insurance (see above).

  • If you have questions, ask them on one of the online forums such as the NARCOA forum. Alternatively, call your NARCOA Area Director, who name is listed in the Setoff, or an officer of your local NARCOA Affiliate.

  • If you have never operated rail vehicles before, you need practice and mentoring before your first excursion. Many NARCOA affiliates offer some form of mentoring. Contact an officer of your local NARCOA Affiliate.

  • You will find excursions listed in The Setoff and on the NARCOA website. It is a requirement that all excursions sponsored by NARCOA affiliates be open to all members. There are no closed or private NARCOA sponsored excursion.

Updated 08/30/21

Copyright; NARCOA 1997-2021