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National Model Railroad Association Fox Valley Division
"To promote, the art and craft of model
railroading and |
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~~~ Company News & Activities ~~~ Check out the latest on-line issue of the Semaphore in its new format. Effective January 1st, print copies will no longer be mailed to members unless you request a special print version subscription. ~~~ The Fox Valley Division welcomes the North Shore and Western Division to the September meet as we prepare for the merger of the two divisions. Click here to see more details on the meet. ~~~
Walter Radtke takes over the throttle from Rich Sweet as the newly elected Fox Valley Division Superintendent effective July 1st. We look forward to Walter's new ideas and leadership.
~~~ The NMRA modernizes its brand & logo -- and also renames the national publication.
The new NMRA logo was recently introduced at the 75th anniversary national convention in Milwaukee. The logo change is in concert with a brand change from, The National Model Railroad Association, to simply NMRA. Additionally, Scale Rails will be renamed as the NMRA Magazine. ~~~ Is model railroading a dying hobby? Not so according to John Cloos, Membership Trainmaster. John recently reported that 30% of our membership joined the NMRA in the last 10 years while 60% joined in the last 30 years. Let's keep the trend going by helping with our latest membership drive efforts. Bring a friend to a meet and your friend will have a chance to win a free 6 month Rail Pass membership. One free Rail Pass membership will be offered to a randomly chosen non-member guest at future regular membership meets. This drive will run until further notice. ~~~ Interested in getting in
touch with fellow modelers? Need help on ~~~ NEW! >>> The FVD supports youth activities and the division will reimburse members for the limited donation of materials and tools to teach the art and craft of model railroading to young modelers. Recently, the Board of Directors enacted a new Youth Fund Reimbursement Policy. Please click here to read the full policy before initiating a program requiring financial assistance. ~~~ Did you know that both the Fox Valley Division and the Midwest Region have budgeted funds for "Make & Take" model building programs?? If you know of, or are involved with, an organized group of children in the age range of about 7 through 16, who are located in McHenry, Cook, Lake, and or Kane counties in northeastern Illinois give this activity consideration. We'll send some experienced modelers, as well as tools and a carton of easy-to-build kits to your meeting. The program takes about an hour or so of hands-on creative activity. We'll provide a short introduction to model trains and then take your group through the steps of making their own model train cars to take home. The division donates the cars, a short piece of display track and brings tools to make the event a success. We have found that children thoroughly enjoy this easy introduction to model railroading. "Where can I get more track?" is the most frequently asked question. We can support one or two of these programs a year depending on the group size. Contact us if you are interested. |
| ~~~ Meeting & Activity Timetable ~~~ |
| Regular meetings are held from 1:30 PM thru 4:30 PM, at the Gary Morava Recreation Center, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights, IL 60070. All activities and dates are subject to change, so please check meeting listings regularly for any change in activity, location or time. Click here to display a map to the Gary Morava Recreation Center. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are free and guests are always welcome. |
| September 19, 2010 This is the first meeting of the 2010/2011 modeling year and a joint meet welcoming the North Shore Division membership. The Trainmasters will introduce themselves and discuss division activities and their roles in the division. Jeff Jarr will also bring everyone up to speed on the NSW modular group activities. The Contest Category is a "New" loco or piece of rolling stock that just came off the paint track. The meet will then move to Walter Radtke's home for a tour of his G Scale garden RR. Refreshments and contest certificates will be presented.. |
| October 17, 2010 The clinic this month will feature a discussion about on how to apply and use static grass, and the realistic results possible. It will be followed by a hands on demonstration by Mr. Static Grass himself, Dave Leider. Dave will also report on the National Convention activities. Contest Category is an "Oddball" piece of rolling stock or structure. Refreshments and contest certificates will be presented.. |
| November 21, 2010 The clinic presentation on casting model parts will be lead by Jim Allen. Contest Category is a "Lighted" piece of rolling stock or structure. Refreshments and contest certificates will be presented. |
| December 12, 2010
-- Note: 1:00 PM start time. Jim Darnaby will present his clinic on Scenery Techniques directly from the national convention.. Contest Category is a "Diorama" including a structure and a piece of revenue rolling stock. Refreshments & Lunch provided. Contest certificates will be presented. |
| January 16, 2011 Clinic discussion TBA. Contest Category is "Styrene" structures only. Refreshments and contest certificates will be presented. |
| February 20, 2011 Clinic discussion TBA. Contest Category is "Wooden Structures". Refreshments and contest certificates will be presented. |
| March 5 & 6th, 2011 - The
33rd Annual High Wheeler Train Show There will be no regular meeting this month. |
| March 20, 2011 - The High
Wheeler Train Show Recognition Banquet Sign up to volunteer and help with High Wheeler get a seat at the banquet for food, fun and recognition. |
| April 10, 2011
-- Note: 1:00 PM start time. This is our annual business and election of officers meeting. This year we will elect the Assistant Superintendent and Treasurer positions. Cody Grivino, Associate Editor of Model Railroader Magazine will present a discussion on the Wisconsin Southern Railroad. Contest Category is to "Bring Anything" that is related to trains. This is a real opportunity to be creative. Refreshments & Lunch provided. Contest certificates will be presented. |
May 15, 2011
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| May 2010
Model Contest Winners Category: Unit Trains
Thanks to all
participants. Click on a photo for a larger picture |
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Group 1 Dave Leider's Tank Cars Jim Osborn's
Ore Cars Don Cook's Reefers
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Group 2 Tim Kleimeyer's Coal Hoppers Harold Helland's Coal Hoppers Leif Hansen's Stock Cars
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Group 3
Joel Lebovitz's Rotating Dumper Hoppers Jim Landwehr's Coal Cars David Crement's EBT Coal Cars (1st Place) |
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Click on a photo for a
large
picture Click here to see other entries Photos courtesy of Jim Osborn |
Have train or layout photos you would like to share? Send them to FVDwebsite@comcast.net |
| Train
Photos from the FVD Membership Click on a photo to see more in the series |
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Missing the snow? Check out these beautiful East Broad Top RR winter train photos courtesy of David Crement. |
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Walter Radtke hosted a railroad open house in August. Click here to see a few pictures of his garden railroad if you missed the event. |
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Click on the photograph to the left to get a tour of David Crement's On3 recreation of the East Broad Top Railroad. David's On3 pike is featured in the December 2008 issue of the Semaphore. |
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David Leider's "Waupaca 1947" layout is featured in the October Semaphore's "Track Treks" series. Click on the picture for an tour of David's pike filled with highly detailed structures. |
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The May issue of the Semaphore will feature another "Track Treks" local area layout tour. Click the thumbnail for an advanced picture tour of Don Cook's scenic Great Northern, Cascade Division pike. |
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Follow the thumbnail link to see several pictures of Tom Schweiss' Milwaukee Road -- Superior Division Layout. Learn details about Tom's pike in this month's Semaphore. |
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Click on this photo of Liberty, NY to visit a few scenes of Harry Schildkraut's NY, O&W model railroad. Photos courtesy of Jim Osborn. |
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The Caernafon, Wales, UK narrow gauge railroad. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann. |
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The Porthmadog, Wales, UK narrow gauge railroad. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann. |
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The Snowdon, Wales, UK narrow gauge cog railroad. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann. |
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A Welsh narrow gauge railroad serving a slate mine. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann. |
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Have train or layout photos you would like to share? Send them to FVDwebsite@comcast.net |
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