Elkhart Model Railroad Club Announcements
The Elkhart Model Railroad Club is a group of model railroad enthusiasts who meet every Friday evening at 2703 Hawthorne Street in Elkhart, Indiana. The club is open from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Visitors and guests are welcome every Friday from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. The Third Friday of Every Month is EMRRC's Business Meeting. We Do Not Open to the Public Until 8:00 PM.
Here's the Monthly Schedule (please check the latest article below for more information)
Regular Club Schedule and Visiting Hours
- 1st Friday of the month EMRRC Learning Clinic from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Maintenance follows the clinic from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The Learning Clinics are open to the public and offer a chance to learn about model railroading from experienced Club members. Club Members may be running trains for maintenance testing.
- 2nd Friday of the month Club Members will be running trains. The public is welcome from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM to meet our Club members and take pictures.
- 3rd Friday of the month EMRRC Business Meeting for Club Members Only. No visitors or guests from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Club Members will be setting up for 4th Friday Operations after the meeting. The public is welcome from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM to meet our Club members and take pictures.
- 4th Friday of the Month Formal Operations. The club's formal operations offer a chance to see model trains running in a realistic setting with a dispatcher, yardmaster and train crews communicating the overall movement of trains with radio instructions. The public is welcome from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM to meet our Club members and take pictures.
- 5th Friday of a month Club Members will be running trains. The public is welcome from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM to meet our Club members and take pictures.
NEWS for November 2023
November 3, 2023
Since our most recent update from EMRRC, we've had the pleasure of hosting an OPS session with several members who thoroughly enjoyed an evening of immersive operations guided by our experienced dispatcher, Rich. For our newer members, these OPS sessions have provided a valuable opportunity to understand the distinction between operations and simply running trains. During these sessions, our train crews maintain seamless communication with the dispatcher via radio, resulting in continuous updates and coordination between the crews and the dispatcher.
Each train is operated as true to prototype as possible, with specific destinations and purposes, which adds an authentic touch to the experience. In essence, a session on EMRRC’s layout is meticulously designed to represent a day in a particular year.
Considering the substantial size of EMRRC's layout, there is a minimum level of manpower required to ensure a fulfilling operating session. In these sessions, we manage over 300 freight and passenger cars, operating up to 20 trains during a 3-4 hour session, creating a dynamic and engaging experience.
Please note that this recent session was our last operating session for the year due to scheduling constraints and the holiday season. We look forward to resuming our OPS sessions in 2024, continuing to provide our members with rich and immersive experiences on our layout.
As is our tradition, our diligent maintenance and construction crews remain actively engaged at EMRRC. Member Ken Prager is currently hard at work on switch repairs, collaborating with fellow member Bill Trail as they continue their efforts on the scenic and track enhancements for the Mishawaka North Wall interchange.
Member Rick Cawley has introduced a new addition to our North Wall scenery: the Cawley Machine Shop. As illustrated in the provided photos, this model showcases remarkable attention to detail, both inside and outside, featuring an abundance of people and intricate machinery.
Member Chuck Hart shared an intriguing link that delves into the history of the Elkhart and Western Railroad. The video provides an in-depth exploration of abandoned sections of the Elkhart And Western Railroad in and around Mishawaka, Indiana, offering a wealth of maps, images, and charts, with a particular focus on the 1980s and the Conrail Operating period. The video comprehensively covers most of the tracks and sidings. CLICK HERE to watch the video. Additionally, we have a dedicated section on our website that offers a broader historical perspective on the E&W. CLICK HERE and You can explore this fascinating article.
Member Bryan Good recently conducted an informative clinic on the RailPro system. His presentation garnered a great deal of interest from the numerous members in attendance, as it explored an intriguing alternative and complementary system to DCC. You'll soon have the opportunity to view this engaging clinic on video, which will be available on both the Elkhart Model Railroad Club's website and our YouTube channel. Stay tuned for this valuable resource!
Here is the latest schedule for Clinics at EMRRC.
- December 1, 2023: Safety Equipment and Procedures by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Equip yourself with knowledge about the club's safety gear and emergency protocols, guided by Mike and Jeff.
- January 5, 2024: Basic 3D Printing by Rick Cawley. Journey into the realm of 3D printing as Rick demonstrates the setup of our AnyCubic 3D printer and imparts essential file preparation techniques.
- February 2, 2024: LEDs and Resistors by Chuck Hart. Chuck will take a look at the abundance of LEDs available for your model railroad project and how to use them with resistors so they don't burn out.
- March 1, 2024; First Aid by Dr. Jeff Cain. Dr. Jeff Cain will lead a fundamental first-aid course tailored to the club's environment.
For our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video, please CLICK HERE. We warmly welcome guests and visitors most Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Refer to the top of this page for a succinct schedule and do check in here weekly for reminders about our meeting schedules. At 7:00 PM Friday, November 10, 2023, we will be open for members to run trains. Feel free to CLICK HERE for more images showcasing our members and their trains. Here is a listing to explore the latest regional train show listing around the Midwest, CLICK HERE. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
NEWS for October 2023
October 20, 2023
EMRRC convened our regular monthly business meeting this past Friday. The meeting covered a range of topics, with a particularly animated discussion centering on the proposed revisions to our constitution and bylaws. Various ideas were considered, and the final version will be subject to a vote at our November 2023 business meeting.
Additionally, the leadership of the Elkhart Model Railroad Club's primary governing body was up for nomination, as the current board's two-year term is set to conclude by the end of 2023. Club members present at the meeting renominated the existing board, which consists of Chuck Hart as President, Matt Glassman as Vice President, Steve Story as Treasurer, and John Banicki as Secretary. The members voted on the nominations for the board and all were accepted. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these gentlemen for their continued dedication and service.
Looking ahead, our upcoming Operations (OPS) session next Friday will transport us back to the year 1979. In the United States during that time, Sony introduced the Walkman, Jimmy Carter served as President, and the beautifully restored Nickel Plate 765 locomotive was unveiled in Fort Wayne, Indiana. While steam locomotives may be a thing of the past, the spirit of 765 and many other steam locomotives live on as they run along the tracks at EMRRC.
A number of EMRRC members were fortunate to participate in a video shoot, visiting two expansive layouts—one situated in northern Indiana and the other in southwest Michigan. These impressive layouts were built within spacious, well-finished sections of pole barns on active farms and within local businesses.
Both layouts were truly captivating, boasting expansive Ho-scale models and intricate scenic elements. They featured a wealth of fascinating details for all to explore and admire. We extend our gratitude to Dave Kimmel and John Nye for extending the gracious invitation to this memorable experience.
Ken Prager's clinic on Crafting Custom-Made Railroad Switches will be available on this website and on our YouTube channel late Sunday evening. Be sure to check out this money-saving clinic on building your own switches.
Here is the latest schedule for Clinics at EMRRC.
- November 3, 2023: Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC by Bryan Good. Escape the hassles of wiring and DCC as you learn the transformational approach of the RailPro system.
- December 1, 2023: Safety Equipment and Procedures by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Equip yourself with knowledge about the club's safety gear and emergency protocols, guided by Mike and Jeff.
- January 5, 2024: Basic 3D Printing by Rick Cawley. Journey into the realm of 3D printing as Rick demonstrates the setup of our AnyCubic 3D printer and imparts essential file preparation techniques.
- February 2, 2024: LEDs and Resistors by Chuck Hart. Chuck will take a look at the abundance of LEDs available for your model railroad project and how to use them with resistors so they don't burn out.
- March 1, 2024; First Aid by Dr. Jeff Cain. Dr. Jeff Cain will lead a fundamental first-aid course tailored to the club's environment.
For our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video, please CLICK HERE. We warmly welcome visitors most Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Refer to the top of this page for a succinct schedule and do check in here weekly for reminders about our meeting schedules. Commencing at 7:00 p.m. on October 27, 2023, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club (EMRRC) will have a Formal OPS session the public is invited to watch or you can be assigned to a train with an experienced crew. Feel free to CLICK HERE for more images showcasing our members and their trains. Here is a listing to explore the latest regional train show listing around the Midwest, CLICK HERE.Have some fun with Model Railroading.
October 13, 2023
The Elkhart Model Railroad Club celebrated the arrival of autumn by hosting a workshop on Crafting Custom-Made Railroad Switches, featuring club member Ken Prager as the instructor. During this informative session, Ken shared a concise guide on utilizing downloaded paper templates from Fasttracks to create your own personalized switches. He demonstrated how to make use of this cost-effective system to fabricate reliable switches that consistently perform well.
With an initial investment in essential tools and track components, you can recoup your expenses after crafting just ten switches. Following this, you'll be able to fashion custom switches of various sizes for a budget-friendly price of under $15 or even less. Keep an eye out for the forthcoming video tutorial, which will soon be available on our YouTube channel and website.
With the onset of cooler weather, EMRRC experiences a surge in new members, guests, and visitors attending our Friday evening public sessions. Among the impressive array of trains showcased during these gatherings is the #460 PRR, which holds a unique distinction as the last Atlantic locomotive constructed for the PRR. Even more notably, #460 earned the moniker of the "Lindbergh Special" after engaging in a race against an airplane.
This historical event took place on June 11, 1927, when the film depicting Charles Lindbergh's return to the United States was urgently transported from Washington to New York City for media presentations. The #460 locomotive was chosen to carry this precious film, pulling two cars behind it, where films of the famed aviator were being developed en route to NYC. #460 completed the 216-mile journey in a remarkable 175 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 115 mph at one point. Upon arriving with the fully developed film, the locomotive decisively triumphed over the plane in this unique race, earning the PRR well-deserved recognition and acclaim.
Maintenance remains a continuous priority at our club, and we're fortunate to have a dedicated group of members who faithfully attend every Tuesday, without fail, as well as the first Friday of each month. These passionate individuals invest their time and effort into maintaining our expansive HO-scale and N-scale layouts, both of which require an unwavering commitment to ensure their seamless operation on a weekly basis.
One significant undertaking has been the transformation of the North Wall area. Extensive trackwork and scenic enhancements have taken place, including the introduction of new curved corners, replacing the square corners that had been in place since the 1950s. These updates have breathed fresh life into this section, creating a more dynamic and visually appealing layout for our members and guests to enjoy.
Furthermore, the North Wall now proudly features a brand-new beer distributor building, skillfully constructed by our member, Jim Metzger. This recent addition adds character and authenticity to our layout, enhancing the overall experience for everyone involved in the club.
Here is the latest schedule for Clinics at EMRRC.
- November 3, 2023: Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC by Bryan Good. Escape the hassles of wiring and DCC as you learn the transformational approach of the RailPro system.
- December 1, 2023: Safety Equipment and Procedures by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Equip yourself with knowledge about the club's safety gear and emergency protocols, guided by Mike and Jeff.
- January 5, 2024: Basic 3D Printing by Rick Cawley. Journey into the realm of 3D printing as Rick demonstrates the setup of our AnyCubic 3D printer and imparts essential file preparation techniques.
- February 2, 2024: First Aid by Dr. Jeff Cain. Dr. Jeff Cain will lead a fundamental first-aid course tailored to the club's environment.
For our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video, please CLICK HERE. We warmly welcome visitors most Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Refer to the top of this page for a succinct schedule and do check in here weekly for reminders about our meeting schedules.
Commencing at 7:00 p.m. on October 20, 2023, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club (EMRRC) will have our monthly business meeting and EMRRC will be closed to the public until 8:00 p.m. or whenever the meeting ends. Following the meeting, we will transition into setup for OPS which will be October 27th. Members and the public are warmly welcome to participate. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to get hands-on experience and contribute to the upcoming operations session. There will be no trains running until the OPS setup is completed.
Feel free to CLICK HERE for more images showcasing our members and their trains. Here is a listing to explore the latest regional train show listing around the Midwest, CLICK HERE. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
NEWS for September 2023
September 29, 2023
They also impart valuable tips on navigating with a large group of fellow enthusiasts. In a heartwarming display of generosity, I observed members not only assisting children in their endeavors but also installing decoders for those who had just received their very first locomotives. In the spirit of continuous improvement, EMRRC is diligently working on updates to our club's Constitution and Bylaws. Among the revisions under consideration is an idea put forth by President Chuck Hart to introduce a new membership category that would afford young visitors the opportunity to become members at an affordable rate, with the provision that a parent or guardian accompanies them. We encourage all members to stay informed by regularly checking the EMRRC groups.io platform for the latest updates regarding these proposed changes prior to our October business meeting. Your input and support are greatly valued as we strive to enhance our club's inclusivity and engagement with young enthusiasts.
Members have been busy with maintenance as the West Wall project continues. Track laying has finished but reconstruction of the wall area and scenery continues. The Elkhart depot has been reconstructed and new lighting and accessories have been added.
Member Matt Glassman has been busy working on several locomotives including Southern 7100 a Proto 2000 originally painted in Conrail colors, added console lights and ditch lights, Southern 7002 a GP40X which has had sound added with a 3D printed speaker box, and Norfolk and Western 4701 which had a rooftop AC added and 3D printed antennas.
Here is the latest schedule for Clinics at EMRRC.
- October 6, 2023: Building Custom Switches by Ken Prager. Discover the art of crafting custom switches using your tools and the ingenious Fast Tracks system. This will be a video presentation. Ken will be available for questions after the video
- November 3, 2023: Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC by Bryan Good. Escape the hassles of wiring and DCC as you learn the transformational approach of the RailPro system.
- December 1, 2023: Safety Equipment and Procedures by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Equip yourself with knowledge about the club's safety gear and emergency protocols, guided by Mike and Jeff.
- January 5, 2024: Basic 3D Printing by Rick Cawley. Journey into the realm of 3D printing as Rick demonstrates the setup of our AnyCubic 3D printer and imparts essential file preparation techniques.
- February 2, 2024: First Aid by Dr. Jeff Cain. Dr. Jeff Cain will lead a fundamental first-aid course tailored for the club's environment.
For our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video, please CLICK HERE. We warmly welcome visitors most Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Refer to the top of this page for a succinct schedule and do check in here weekly for reminders about our meeting schedules.
Commencing at 7:00 PM on October 6, 2023, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club (EMRRC) will host a Clinic at the Club session featuring Ken Prager demonstrating the construction of a custom switch. This informative clinic will be presented on video, and Ken will be present to answer any questions from participants.
Following the clinic, we will transition into a club maintenance night where members and the public are warmly welcomed to participate. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to get hands-on experience and contribute to the upkeep of our club's facilities.
We extend an open invitation to the public to attend the clinic and, should they wish, to join in the maintenance activities immediately afterward. Your presence and involvement are greatly appreciated as we come together to learn and improve our model railroad community.
Feel free to CLICK HERE for more images showcasing our members and their trains. Here is a listing to explore the latest regional train show listing around the Midwest, CLICK HERE. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
September 15, 2023
On Friday, EMRRC convened its regular monthly business meeting, during which various topics were on the agenda for discussion. One of the primary subjects was the ongoing revision of the Constitution and Bylaws. The committee responsible for these revisions is in the final stages of their work, and it is anticipated that the vote on these changes will take place in October.
A friendly reminder was also extended to all club members regarding the requirement for personal cars and engines used at EMRRC to have an assigned color code on the bottom. If you have not yet been assigned a color code, please make sure to provide your preferred color choices to Chuck.
In terms of safety measures, the club is actively working on enhancing safety equipment. This includes the addition of another fire extinguisher, emergency lighting, egress maps, smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, and various other safety items.
Looking ahead to the October meeting, the agenda will include the nomination of club officers. These nominations will be subject to a vote at the November meeting, and those elected will assume their roles, serving a two-year term starting in January 2024.
Looking ahead to 2024, mark your calendars for the 19th Annual Nappanee Train Show, proudly presented by the Elkhart Model Railroad Show. This exciting event is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, 2024, and will be hosted at the Claywood Event Center. For further details about the show, including additional information and updates, please don't hesitate to CLICK HERE for more information on the show.
Join us on Friday, September 22nd for a special occasion at EMRRC – it's Formal OPS night! This time, we'll be transported back to the year 1945, a pivotal moment in history as World War II was drawing to a close. With some troops making their way back home, it's an era when Big Steam locomotives reigned supreme.
We invite you to bring your magnificent Big Boys, Challengers, T1s, and impressive Northern Pacific engines to the event. This is your golden opportunity to experience the thrill of running these colossal steam locomotives on the tracks at EMRRC. However, for those who find themselves assigned to switching duties, we will also need smaller steam engines and diesel locomotives at your disposal (yes, diesel locomotives did exist in 1945) to tackle those tasks. Don't miss this Formal OPS event and the chance to relive the era of Big Steam in 1945. See you there!
In other exciting news, some of our members have been exploring the world of trains beyond EMRRC. Jeff Cain, one of our dedicated members, recently ventured to Denver and had the pleasure of touring the captivating Colorado Model Railroad Museum. The museum boasts an impressive 5,500-square-foot HO-scale model railroad layout, accompanied by a treasure trove of artifacts and exhibits showcasing both model and real-world railroading.. CLICK HERE for a look at the museum.
Ken Prager, Bill Trail, and Jim Ford, members of our club, embarked on a journey to member Jim Kitt's Calumet Railway in the charming town of Chesterton, Indiana, where they had the opportunity to participate in an operations session. During their visit, they had the pleasure of crossing paths with Chummley, the conductor who keeps things running smoothly on the railroad.
For an in-depth look at the fascinating Calumet Railway, we invite you to visit EMRRC's YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE. This remarkable HO-Scale railroad stretches over 10 miles, connecting the towns of Westville and Michigan City, Indiana. What sets it apart is the entire 10-mile route being electrified with a catenary system, adding a unique and captivating dimension to this model railroad experience.
Here is the latest schedule for Clinics at EMRRC.
- October 6, 2023: Building Custom Switches by Ken Prager. Discover the art of crafting custom switches using your tools and the ingenious Fast Tracks system. This will be a video presentation. Ken will be available for questions after the video
- November 3, 2023: Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC by Bryan Good. Escape the hassles of wiring and DCC as you learn the transformational approach of the RailPro system.
- December 1, 2023: Safety Equipment and Procedures by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Equip yourself with knowledge about the club's safety gear and emergency protocols, guided by Mike and Jeff.
- January 5, 2024: Basic 3D Printing by Rick Cawley. Journey into the realm of 3D printing as Rick demonstrates the setup of our AnyCubic 3D printer and imparts essential file preparation techniques.
- February 2, 2024: First Aid by Dr. Jeff Cain. Dr. Jeff Cain will lead a fundamental first-aid course tailored for the club's environment.
For our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video, please CLICK HERE. We warmly welcome visitors most Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Refer to the top of this page for a succinct schedule and do check in here weekly for reminders about our meeting schedules.
We will be open to the public at 7:00 p.m. on September 22, 2023. This will be a Formal OPS session the public is invited to watch or you can be assigned to a train with an experienced crew. Feel free to CLICK HERE for more images showcasing our members and their trains. Here is a listing to explore the latest regional train show listing around the Midwest, CLICK HERE.
September 8, 2023
I hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day holiday! As we transition into the fall season, we're excited to see more members, visitors, and guests joining us at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. We have a bunch of exciting events lined up every month that are open to both our wonderful members and our valued visitors.
On Fridays, we have our main meeting night, and it's not just about trains running! You'll also get to witness ongoing maintenance projects, 3D printing in action, and the bustling operations of our vibrant club community.
For those who love to get hands-on, our members gather on Tuesday nights for maintenance, ensuring everything runs smoothly. And on Sunday afternoons, members come together for a relaxed general run session, where the joy of model railroading takes center stage.
We're thrilled to have you be a part of our club during this exciting season!
This past Friday was an absolute blast at EMRRC! Several of our enthusiastic members brought in their impressive large locomotives for an epic photo shoot. We had Big Boys, Cab Forwards, T1s, and even a Northern Pacific A3, which happens to be one of the heaviest Northern engines ever produced, tipping the scales at a whopping 508,500 pounds!
These magnificent engines were all lined up on the tracks, strategically positioned around our EMRRC roundhouse, just outside of Hammes Yard.
But that's not all - our N-Scale layout had something special too. We were running a captivating Big Boy engine that was originally purchased back in 1980 for just around $115. Believe it or not, the owner still has the original box and certificates, all in excellent condition. It's fascinating to note that similar engines are currently fetching around $400 on eBay, and that's without the box and certificates. It just goes to show that model trains can truly appreciate in value if you make the right choices!
As always, our dedicated members were hard at work with maintenance tasks around EMRRC. Whether it's rebuilding tracks and scenery, performing engine maintenance, or meticulously ballasting, it takes a committed team to keep our nearly 75-year-old layout in top-notch condition.
Additionally, our 3D printer has been working tirelessly, churning out accessories and parts for the club. One of our talented members, Matt Glassman, designed and printed speaker boxes for an Athearn Ready to Roll series GP40X. What's cool is that Matt had to get creative – he not only made the boxes to hold the speakers but also designed them to accommodate wheel weights, effectively adding weight back into the locomotive.
And the innovation doesn't stop there! Matt also designed and printed NS remote control antennas that can be used on various GPs for remote control operations in the yards. Our member, Rick Cawley, contributed to this creative streak by 3D printing bottles and cases from transparent resin for a new beer distributorship building that fellow member Jim Metzger is constructing in Mishawaka/Osceola.
Exciting times are always ahead at EMRRC, and we're thrilled to have such a talented and passionate group of members shaping our model railroad world!
Hey there, train enthusiasts! 🚂
We're super excited to share that the 2024 Train Show Committee is hard at work, pulling together what promises to be yet another fantastic Train Show. The buzz is building, and we're getting closer and closer to the moment when we can shout from the rooftops about this amazing event.
If you joined us for the 2023 show, you know it was a hit with a tremendous turnout, but guess what? We're not resting on our laurels! We're gearing up for an even bigger and better show in 2024. Mark your calendars because it's all happening on March 16, 2024, at the Claywood Event Center in beautiful Nappanee, Indiana. The fun kicks off at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 3:00 p.m.
Here's the best part – our admission is still just $5 for adults, and kids 12 and under get in absolutely free with a paid adult! We want this event to be accessible to everyone who shares our love for trains.
Stay tuned, folks! We've got loads more exciting information and updates coming your way very soon. 🎉🚄
Here is the latest schedule for upcoming clinics at EMRRC.
- October 6, 2023: Building Custom Switches by Ken Prager. Discover the art of crafting custom switches using your tools and the ingenious Fast Tracks system. This will be a video presentation. Ken will be available for questions after the video
- November 3, 2023: Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC by Bryan Good. Escape the hassles of wiring and DCC as you learn the transformational approach of the RailPro system.
- December 1, 2023: Safety Equipment and Procedures by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Equip yourself with knowledge about the club's safety gear and emergency protocols, guided by Mike and Jeff.
- January 5, 2024: Basic 3D Printing by Rick Cawley. Journey into the realm of 3D printing as Rick demonstrates the setup of our AnyCubic 3D printer and imparts essential file preparation techniques.
- February 2, 2024: First Aid by Dr. Jeff Cain. Dr. Jeff Cain will lead a fundamental first-aid course tailored for the club's environment.
For our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video, please CLICK HERE. We warmly welcome visitors most Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Refer to the top of this page for a succinct schedule and do check in here weekly for reminders about our meeting schedules.
Members join us on Friday, September 15th, at 7:00 p.m. for our monthly business meeting. We will be open to the public at 8:00 p.m. or as soon as the meeting ends. We will do a quick setup for formal operations and then have informal running of trains. Feel free to CLICK HERE for more images showcasing our members and their trains. Here is a listing to explore the latest regional train show listing around the midwest, CLICK HERE.
Have some fun with Model Railroading.
NEWS for August 2023
August 25, 2023
The recent Operations Night, which took place last Friday, witnessed a strong turnout of our club members. Additionally, we were delighted to have a couple of enthusiastic young operators who were eager to acquaint themselves with the layout and gain insights into operations. Two of our seasoned members, Rick and Aaron, worked with Ava and Domonick to provide an in-depth understanding of large-scale layout operations, particularly when managing multiple trains.
For those already affiliated with EMRRC or those contemplating membership, the club's constitution, articulated in Article II, outlines its fundamental purpose. "The organization aims to foster camaraderie among model railroaders and railfans, to offer education both to the public and enthusiasts about the hobby, to cultivate diverse hobby skills, and ultimately to advance the realm of model railroading."
Shifting focus to Saturday, the 3rd Annual Rockin' the Rails Event, hosted by The National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, was a noteworthy occasion. EMRRC made a substantial presence at the event, showcasing two setups: an outdoor table providing information about the club along with a playing video, and an indoor T-Track setup. The event boasted the participation of nine dedicated club members who were actively engaged, with many more attending as visitors. We extend our gratitude to all members who passionately contributed to championing both the hobby and our club.
As we approach the upcoming Friday, September 1st, please note that there will be no clinic session due to the Labor Day Weekend Holiday. Nonetheless, the evening will feature light maintenance activities and open running. For members of the public, we extend an invitation to join us between 7:00 PM and 10:30 PM. We welcome you to seize the opportunity to connect with us, explore our expansive HO-Scale and N-Scale layouts, and relish a glimpse of our location, nestled just south of the Norfolk Southern Railway’s Elkhart Yard. This yard holds the distinction of being the second-largest railroad freight classification yard situated to the east of the Mississippi River. Our address is 2703 Hawthorne Street in Elkhart, Indiana. For your convenience, you can find a map for directions by CLICKING HERE.
Here is the latest schedule for upcoming clinics at EMRRC.
- September 1, 2023: Labor Day Weekend Holiday - No Clinic.
- October 6, 2023: Building Custom Switches by Ken Prager. Discover the art of crafting custom switches using your tools and the ingenious Fast Tracks system.
- November 3, 2023: Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC by Bryan Good. Escape the hassles of wiring and DCC as you learn the transformational approach of the RailPro system.
- December 1, 2023: Safety Equipment and Procedures by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Equip yourself with knowledge about the club's safety gear and emergency protocols, guided by Mike and Jeff.
- January 5, 2024: Basic 3D Printing by Rick Cawley. Journey into the realm of 3D printing as Rick demonstrates the setup of our AnyCubic 3D printer and imparts essential file preparation techniques.
- February 2, 2024: First Aid by Dr. Jeff Cain. Dr. Jeff Cain will lead a fundamental first-aid course tailored for the club's environment.
For our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video, please CLICK HERE. We warmly welcome visitors most Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Refer to the top of this page for a succinct schedule and do check in here weekly for reminders about our meeting schedules.
Join us on Friday, September 1st, at 7:00 PM for informal open running and light maintenance. Feel free to CLICK HERE for more images showcasing our members and their trains. Here is a listing to explore the latest regional train show listing around the midwest, CLICK HERE.
Have some fun with Model Railroading.
August 18, 2023
EMRRC has been buzzing with summer activity, welcoming both members and guests to its premises. Despite the usual slower pace during the summer, the last two meetings have witnessed a lively gathering of members and visitors who have been relishing the comfort of air conditioning and the captivating display of numerous trains at EMRRC. Every Friday, guests are graciously welcomed, and a growing number of local residents are seizing the opportunity to witness the 73-year-old operational marvel that is an integral part of Elkhart's history.
One intriguing highlight has been the current display of a large framed print above Hammes Yard, depicting an NYC Niagara #607 The print has been with the club since the early 1950s. Despite prior efforts to gather information about this piece, the origins remained elusive, apart from a modest sign attributing it to Weber Mechanical in South Bend, Indiana. However, a recent breakthrough occurred when a letter arrived from an individual who had ties to the artist, William Weber, owner of Weber Mechanical. This gentleman shared that he possessed a sister print to EMRRC's, a sepia-tone print of NYC Hudson #5291 measuring 84" by 24".
The manner in which the club acquired the print remains shrouded in mystery, but EMRRC considers itself fortunate to have this splendid artwork adorning its walls.
The club also had the privilege of hosting the widow of Fred Rapp, a dedicated member from the early 80s to the early 2000s. During her visit, she was accompanied by her daughter and 8-year-old grandson, who was celebrating his birthday. Fred Rapp's significant contribution to the club, such as initiating the annual train show in 2005, left an enduring legacy.
The recent Friday gathering also encompassed the monthly club business meeting, where a range of subjects were discussed. These included the revision of the EMRRC constitution and bylaws, both of which have been made available on the club's groups.io platform for members to review, with a probable vote slated for the September meeting. Club safety updates were also addressed, with plans to allocate a budget and finalize decisions during the forthcoming September meeting.
An essential upcoming event for members and visitors to mark on their calendars is the 3rd annual Rockin' The Rails event scheduled for Saturday, August 26th, from 12 PM to 6 PM. This event, hosted at the New York Central Railroad Museum, presents another distinctive railroad treasure in the Elkhart region. EMRRC is set to make a significant presence at the event, inviting all to explore the abundant attractions and enjoy the kid-friendly zones it has to offer.
Here is the latest schedule for upcoming clinics at EMRRC.
September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Building Custom Switches, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with their own tools and some help from Fast Tracks system. November 3, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. December 1, 2023, Safety Equipment and Procedures, by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Mike and Jeff will run you through what equipment is at the club and what you should do in case of an emergency. January 5, 2024, Basic 3D Printing, by Rick Cawley. Rick will get you set up on our AnyCubic 3D printer and discuss basic file prep. February 2,, 2024, First Aid, by Dr. Jeff Cain. Jeff will present a basic first aid course that applies to the club environmentCLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. Friday, August 25th starting at 7:00 PM will be an Ops
Running Session. The year depicted will be 1995. The public is welcome to join the session. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
August 4, 2023
There have been significant developments at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club since our last update. Recently, we had a delightful ops session on the last Friday of July, with several members showing up at the club to participate.
Moving into August, we finally caught up with a long-awaited clinic on British Locomotives. Thanks to Will Babcoke's excellent presentation, we learned about the rich history of railroading in Britain, and he shared valuable insights into his collection of British Locomotives. If you're looking for an intriguing
In addition to engaging events, major construction has been underway within the club. The main line, running between the coal mine and Moot Pass, has undergone a complete replacement. This extensive project also included the cutoff for the coal mine, the lines to Oceola and Mishawaka, as well as the line to Flushing. Our dedicated members, Ken Prager, and Bill Trail, have invested countless hours as the construction crew, ensuring the project's successful conclusion.
Mark your calendars for an exciting upcoming event. The Elkhart Model Railroad Club EMRRC will be participating in the 3rd annual Rockin' The Rails event at the New York Central Railroad Museum on Saturday, August 26th, from 12 PM to 6 PM. The NYC Museum in downtown Elkhart has a great collection of New Central engines and cars to tour along with a play space including a custom-built locomotive and caboose playhouse, expanded Thomas & Friends table, Lego table, gandydancer display, and interactive tablets and games. Don't miss the opportunity to visit EMRRC's table and experience our T-Track layout firsthand.
Here is the latest schedule for upcoming clinics at EMRRC.
September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Building Custom Switches, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with their own tools and some help from Fast Tracks system. November 3, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. December 1, 2023, Safety Equipment and Procedures, by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Mike and Jeff will run you through what equipment is at the club and what you should do in case of an emergency. January 5, 2024, Basic 3D Printing, by Rick Cawley. Rick will get you set up on our AnyCubic 3D printer and discuss basic file prep. 
EMRRC's 3D Printer is keeping busy turning out junk loads for gondolas. If you need a scrap load for a 60' or 40' club gondola car stop by Giuseppe's Junk Yard in Oceola to pick one up. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. Friday, August 11th starting at 7:00 PM will be an O
pen Running Session. The public is welcome to join the session. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
NEWS for July 2023
July 21, 2023
On Friday, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club held its monthly business meeting. The main topic of discussion was the club constitution and by-laws, especially the clause about allowing visitors and guests on Fridays. The club wanted to clarify that Fridays are open to the public and to include this in the by-laws. The club members agreed on the wording and some other minor changes. The constitution and by-laws committee will finalize the document and present it for voting at the next meeting in August. The document will also be posted on the club’s groups.io account as soon as possible so that members can review it before the vote. Mike Miller and Jeff Lepird reported on the progress of the safety updates project. The meeting was mostly focused on the constitution issue, so other matters were quickly resolved and the meeting was adjourned.
Join us for an ops session on Friday, July 28th, where we will travel back to 1981. This was the year when the Staggers Act gave railroads more freedom and flexibility to set their own routes, services, and prices. This sparked a revival of the rail industry. Burlington Northern Inc. changed its name to Burlington Northern Railroad. The Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985, the most powerful steam locomotive in operation at that time, was restored by a team of Union Pacific employees. Bring your 1981 or earlier engines and get ready for a fun and realistic ops session at EMRRC. The session will start at 7 PM sharp. Please arrive by 6:30 pm to get your train assignment.
The Mishawaka, Oceola area is getting some new buildings. Thanks to 3D printing a crane and the inside of the Cawley Machine Shop have been designed and printed. You can see several workers and machines and a small office area in these pictures. These are some of the buildings that are coming soon to our layout.
The long-missing sniper has reappeared on the layout. Here he is see if you can find him on the layout.
Here is our revised upcoming schedule of Clinics at the Club.
August 4, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. Because of the nature of Will's presentation, the Clinic will be taped ahead of time and a video of the clinic will be presented at the club. Will, will be available to answer any questions you may have after the video September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Building Custom Switches, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with their own tools and some help from Fast Tracks system. November 3, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. December 1, 2023, Safety Equipment and Procedures, by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Mike and Jeff will run you through what equipment is at the club and what you should do in case of an emergency. January 5, 2024, Basic 3D Printing, by Rick Cawley. Rick will get you set up on our AnyCubic 3D printer and discuss basic file prep. 
CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. Friday, July 28th starting at 7:00 PM will be EMRRC's monthly Ops Session. The public is welcome to join the session and either watch or be assigned to a train with an experienced operator. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
July 14, 2023
The Elkhart Model Railroad Club members met on July 7th for a British Railroads clinic and a maintenance night. However, the clinic had some technical issues and was rescheduled for August. Instead, the members spent the evening cleaning and organizing the club. They vacuumed the floors, tidied up the areas, and stored the tools and supplies.
After that, members enjoyed running trains on the layout and watching some impressive scenes. They saw two Burlington freight engines pulling a heavy grain train, two of the last Southern Pacific Cab Forwards and a Great Northern 2-8-0 Consolidation with a long freight train, an Alaska Railroad coal train, and two patriotic UP locomotives: #1949 Support our Troops and #5799 Flag.
These were some of the trains that ran at EMRRC that night. Of course, several members got together to discuss railroading, socialize and perform maintenance on engines and cars.
During the week the west wall where the old fan was located was finished with new masonry. The area took more blocks and masonry than was originally thought as more of the older blocks had to be replaced. Ken and the masonry crew took a look at the rest of the building but no other problems were found.
This is part of an ongoing project to improve trackwork and scenery in the entire west wall area. New switches, tracks, roadways, foilage, highways, and buildings will be added to the entire area.
The 3D printer is ready to start printing again. Rick has done maintenance with some parts added and a general tuneup and we will be turning out parts and accessories for the layouts.
One of our junior members was planting some trees around the layout. Nick who has been with the club for several years along with his Dad, picked out some trees and planted them in strategic spots around the layout.
July 14th was an open run night and one of the interesting cars that showed up was a Drover's caboose owned by Gary Pressnell. I had to look it up as I had never seen one. A Drover.s caboose was a car added to a stock train for the herdsman and caretakers of the animals riding on the train. The regular train crew still had a caboose but this extra caboose was added for the stockmen. As you can see from the picture the cars could be large as there could be several stockmen.
Members be sure to check EMRRC's groups.io page for the Constitution and Bylaws. This Friday, July 21st is our monthly business meeting and one of the topics will be changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. This could be the last chance you have for input on the changes as the motion could be put to a vote at this meeting.
Here is our revised upcoming schedule of Clinics at the Club.
August 4, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. Because of the nature of Will's presentation, the Clinic will be taped ahead of time and a video of the clinic will be presented at the club. Will, will be available to answer any questions you may have after the video September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Building Custom Switches, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with their own tools and some help from Fast Tracks system. November 3, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. December 1, 2023, Safety Equipment and Procedures, by Mike Miller and Jeff Lapier. Mike and Jeff will run you through what equipment is at the club and what you should do in case of an emergency. January 5, 2024, Basic 3D Printing, by Rick Cawley. Rick will get you set up on our AnyCubic 3D printer and discuss basic file prep. 
CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. Friday July 21st starting at 7:00 PM will be EMRRC's monthly Business Meeting. EMRRC will not open to the public until 8:00 PM or when the meeting ends. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
NEWS for June 2023
June 30, 2023
Members of the Elkhart Model Railroad Club gathered on Friday, June 23rd for an operations night. Chief Dispatcher Ron Breniser and Matt Glassman guided attendees through the year 1978 when Amtrak was in its 7th year of operation following the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970. CONRAIL, which had been formed by the government in 1976 and had taken over several bankrupt railroads, including Penn Central, was also 2 years old at the time. The session was a mix of new and old units, with no steam trains on the tracks. It was an interesting night for all in attendance.
On Friday, June 30th, EMRRC hosted an open running night for visitors and guests to come and witness the wide variety of trains in action. It was a great opportunity for anyone to watch an eclectic mix of engines and trains. Visitors saw AMTRAK, Northwestern F7A & B units, Burlington freight, Southern Pacific Cab Forwards, coal trains, Alaska trains, British steam, and more all running at the club. The event was perfect for the Fourth of July weekend and one family with several kids came to watch. The clubhouse is air-conditioned, admission and parking are free, and families found it to be a great way to entertain their kids on a Friday evening. Club members were available to answer any questions about the club, its 75-year history, and the trains on the layouts.
Besides running trains, there were several activities happening in the club. Member Paul Ewing gave a presentation with several photos he had taken at the club in 2002, which many members enjoyed.
Maintenance was also going on in the background and during the week, as it takes a lot of commitment from the members to keep a large layout running every week. Scenery, engine maintenance, computer programming, trackwork, and construction are just a few of the areas that need to be covered. The large hole in the wall was courtesy of Ken Prager, with help from Bill Trail. It housed a through-the-wall fan that was used for pre-air conditioning and hadn't been used in the last 20 years. Ken used his favorite tool, "Buzzy," and made short work of removing the fan to gain more room in the area.
Here is our upcoming schedule of Clinics at the Club.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. Because of the nature of Will's presentation, the Clinic will be taped ahead of time and a video of the clinic will be presented at the club. Will, will be available to answer any questions you may have after the video August 4, 2023, Building Custom Switches, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with their own tools and some help from Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. November 3, 2023, Basic 3D Printing, by Rick Cawley. Rick will get you set up on our AnyCubic 3D printer and discuss basic file prep. 
CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. Friday July 7 will be EMRRC's Clinic on British Railways. The Clinic is open to the public and will start at 7:00 PM. Members be sure to check EMRRC's groups.io page for the Constitution and Bylaws. Members we will be open the evening of July 4th for maintenance. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading and Happy Fourth of July.
June 16, 2023
The Elkhart Model Railroad Club held its June business meeting on Friday night. The following items were discussed:
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Constitution & Bylaws Update: The update committee, consisting of Bill Trail, Rich Farrough, and Jeff Lepird, presented an overview of the changes. The full document will be posted on the EMRRC’s groups.io page for members to review before the July business meeting.
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Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Chuck Hart discussed the need to improve the club’s SOPs. A committee was formed to address this issue.
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Safety Review: Mike Miller and Jeff Lepird reviewed several safety items, including fire extinguishers, exit signs, and alarms.
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75th Anniversary Committee: Zack Maierle will head this committee.
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Projects: The ongoing track rebuild near the west wall fan area and scenery work near the trestle were discussed, as well as small scenery projects around the layout.
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New Member: Jim Metzger, a former member from the late 70s and early 80s, rejoined the club.
After the meeting, members set up for the 1978 operations session scheduled for June 23rd at 7:00 pm. The public is invited to attend.
Did you know that our club has a rich collection of technical and instructional manuals, as well as many books on railroads? You can also find all of our archival material in the library.
Check out this photo of some of our members from 2008. Can you spot the ones who are still with us today? If you want to borrow any of the books, just ask Jim Ford.
On the silly side of things, during the week, a new record was set during a game we play seeing who has set up their freight car to roll the best, “Rolling Down the Grade,” Here is a video link that shows Bryan's flatcar rolling down the grade.
Here is our upcoming schedule of Clinics at the Club.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. Because of the nature of Will's presentation, the Clinic will be taped ahead of time and a video of the clinic will be presented at the club. Will, will be available to answer any questions you may have after the video August 4, 2023, Building Custom Switches, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with their own tools and some help from Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. November 3, 2023, Basic 3D Printing, by Rick Cawley. Rick will get you set up on our AnyCubic 3D printer and discuss basic file prep. 
CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. Friday the 23rd will be EMRRC's Ops Session. The Ops Session is open to the public and you are invited to watch or be assigned to one of the trains. Members be sure to check EMRRC's groups.io page for the Constitution and Bylaws. Here's a major change to the schedule. There are 5 Fridays in June so our next Public Open Running session is Friday, June 30, 2023, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This the beginning of the 4th of July holiday but we will be open. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
June 9, 2023
On Friday night, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club welcomed many members and guests for open running. The weather was warm, perfect for outdoor activities. But EMRRC still drew a large crowd with its free parking and entry, cool AC, and friendly atmosphere. They enjoyed watching various trains run on the spacious layouts. You can see the action on our website, FaceBook, or YouTube channels under “Friday Night Running at the Club”.
Some of the trains that ran were two stunning Berkshires, #740 and #773, preparing to run on the club’s layout, and a Northern Pacific 4-8-4, #2660. By the 1920s the Northern Pacific Railroad needed bigger passenger locomotives. With the help of the American Locomotive Company's design engineers, NP designed a new locomotive with a massive firebox that had a 115-square-foot grate area supported by a four-wheel trailing truck. It was the first locomotive with a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement. ALCO delivered the first of 12 of these new locomotives in December of 1926, with the balance arriving early in 1927.
Designated Class A, and assigned road numbers 2600 through 2611. There are no surviving Northern Pacific Northerns. The Broadway Limited model features the Paragon3 Sound & Operation System, Synchronized Puffing Smoke with each Chuff, and a Brass body with Die Cast Chassis on both the locomotive and tender. Equipped with traction tires the engine had no problem pulling long freight trains around the layout even on the steepest grades.
An Alaska Railroad passenger train also was running on EMRRC trackage. Pulled by 2 SD70 Macs the long passenger train included several McKinley Explorer full-length dome window cars. These were just a few of the many trains running at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. Our next open run night for the public is Friday, July 14, 2023. This coming Friday, June 16th, is the club's business meeting and we will be closed to the public until 8:00 pm or later.
You can learn how to design your model railroad using AnyRail software with the help of Bill Trail, an experienced user from the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. Bill will guide you through the basics of using AnyRail to create a layout that meets your needs and preferences. With his expertise, you'll be able to create a model railroad that's both fun and functional. EMRRC's latest "Clinic at the Club" is available on our Tech Page and on YouTube. It's a concise look at AnyRail that will get you up and running with the versatile design software.
The track crew has been hard at work.
They removed all the scenery on the west wall to reach the track. They will replace the track from the Oceola interchange to the North Wall, including the tunnel siding to Flushing. The tunnel area to Flushing has always been problematic, and we found old glue on the track from the last renovation over two decades ago. Kudos to Bill and Ken for tackling this. The ballasting and scenery crews will have more work to do.
Here is the schedule for our upcoming clinics on the first Friday of every month starting at 7:00 PM. The club's train clinics are open to the public and offer a chance to learn about model railroading from experienced club members
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. Because of the nature of Will's presentation, the Clinic will be taped ahead of time and a video of the clinic will be presented at the club. Will, will be available to answer any questions you may have after the video August 4, 2023, Building Custom Switches, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with their own tools and some help from Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. Friday 16th will be EMRRC's monthly business meeting. It will be an interesting meeting as there are several topics to discuss including the Constitution and Bylaws Committee recommendations on upcoming changes. The meeting is closed to the public and is likely to run overtime. Members be sure to check EMRRC's groups.io page for the agenda. EMRRC's next Public Open Running session is Friday, July 14, 2023, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
June 2, 2023
The EMRRC monthly instructive clinic on an aspect of model railroading is always well-attended by members and guests. This month, Bill Trail presented a clinic on AnyRail, a $59 (lifetime) piece of software that allows you to design your future model railroad or redesign the model railroad you have.
AnyRail has extensive libraries of track (EMRRC has set a standard of Code 100 Peco on the mainline) and libraries of buildings from major manufacturers. Bill did a concise overview of AnyRail that built a quick 4 x 8 sheet railroad with a parts list of what you would need to buy.
In his presentation, Bill covered the following topics:
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What AnyRail is and why I chose it.
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Designing a layout and figuring out a track plan before you buy materials and start the work.
- The different tools and features of AnyRail
- How to create a new layout
- How to add track, buildings, and scenery
- Value of AnyRail
Bill's presentation was well-received by the audience, and many people left with a newfound interest in AnyRail. If you are interested in learning more about AnyRail, watch this page to find out when our Clinic at the Club on "Basics of AnyRail will be online here and on our YouTube page.
I encourage you to attend an upcoming clinic at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. The next clinic will be held on Friday, July 7th at 7:00 PM. There is no cost, and the club is air-conditioned and has free parking. The clubhouse is located at 2703 Hawthorne Street in Elkhart, Indiana.
The clinic will feature an instructive presentation on an aspect of model railroading. There will also be many experienced model railroaders on hand to answer any questions you may have. This is a great opportunity to learn more about model railroading and to meet other people who share your interest.
Older model railroad layouts can be a lot of fun to operate, but they can also be a lot of work to maintain. EMRRC started out in the late 1940s and early 1950s running portable layouts of the Rocky River Line at libraries, schools, and events around Elkhart. In the early 1950s, the club built an HO-scale layout, and in the 1990s, we added an N-scale layout. As the layouts grew, maintenance became increasingly important to ensure smooth operations. Over the years, the club has made many updates to the layouts, including major changes to the electronics.
After the monthly clinic, multiple members got to work on scenery, buildings, and electronics. Maintenance is an ongoing process for large, older layouts. EMRRC has maintenance nights every Tuesday evening and once a month on the first Friday of the month. It takes an experienced and dedicated group of members to keep up with maintenance. If you have an interest in scenery, construction, art, computers, electronics, animation, or working with a piece of history in the Elkhart area, come by and visit us! EMRRC is open to the public Friday, June 9th at 7:00 PM.
Here is the schedule for our upcoming clinics on the first Friday of every month starting at 7:00 PM. The club's train clinics are open to the public and offer a chance to learn about model railroading from experienced club members
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. . August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. EMRRC's next Public Open Running session is Friday, June 9, 2023, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
NEWS for May 2023
May 26, 2023
Nearly 75 years ago the Elkhart Model Railroad Club (EMRRC) was organized. In 1952 a building was built to house EMRRC. The club and the HO-Scale layout have been in the same building (with additions) since those opening dates. In the 1980s, the club began hosting an operations night once a month. Model railroad club operations can be a great way to learn about model railroading and meet other people who share your interest. Clubs can also provide you with access to resources that you might not be able to afford or find on your own. EMRRC invites you to its next operations session on June 23, 2023. The session will run from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, or later at the club's clubhouse, located at 2703 Hawthorne Street in Elkhart, Indiana.
At the operations session, you will have the opportunity to watch the trains on the club's layouts. The club has a variety of layouts to choose from, including HO-Scale and N-Scale.
In addition to watching operating trains, you will also have the opportunity to learn about model railroading from other club members. The club has a number of experienced modelers who are happy to share their knowledge and skills with others.
EMRRC is a friendly and welcoming club. Everyone is welcome to attend the operations sessions, regardless of their experience level. If you are interested in learning more about model railroading or meeting other people who share your interest, then EMRRC is the place for you. To learn more about the EMRRC please explore the club's website or our FaceBook page. There are also several videos including instructional clinics on YouTube.
On the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, we had a lot of members at the club for operations. Unfortunately, we had some technical issues during our operations.
Luckily, we have a great maintenance crew who are experienced in handling any issues that come up. We have mainlines of over 1100 feet, so sometimes things can go wrong even though we have air conditioning and air filters to keep the air clean. There are also electronics under the layout that can sometimes cause problems. We have a group of dedicated guys who work behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly at the club.
Here is the schedule for our upcoming clinics on the first Friday of every month starting at 7:00 PM. The club's train clinics are open to the public and offer a chance to learn about model railroading from experienced club members
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail AnyRail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. EMRRC's next Public Open Running session is Friday, June 9, 2023, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading and Happy Memorial Day.
May 19, 2023
The Elkhart Model Railroad Club (EMRRC) held its monthly business meeting on Friday, May 20, 2023. The meeting was called to order by VP Matt Glassman at 7:00 PM, the members settled in, and the secretary and treasurer's reports were read.
The first item on the agenda was the upcoming operations session on Friday, May 26th.
Starting promptly at 7:00 pm Elkhart Model Railroad Club will bring back one of the Summers of Love from the late 1960s. From California to Woodstock the counterculture was meeting and on Friday, May 26th EMRRC will have locomotives from 1969. Bring your Peace Trains, Soul Trains, and Penn Central, SBC. There was no steam but plenty of classic diesel running. EMRRC had a great turnout for the last operations session so be sure to arrive by at least 6:30 PM to get an assignment. Some other items discussed included HO-Scale budgets, and members volunteering for scenery assignments. and ongoing projects.
Ballasting was also discussed. Members Zac Maierle and Jim Kitt are working on ballasting the HO-Scale layout. Zac brought in a Bachmann ballast spreader, which is helping to speed up the process. Several members are also working on buildings for the GT Exchange. The trackwork in the GT area is now operational.
3D printing was also discussed. Member Rick Cawley is working on a sniper project and is also designing older staved barrels. He is available to give lessons and help with any 3D printing projects that members want to do for the club.
The next item on the agenda was hours of operation and availability to the public. The hours are posted on the website, FaceBook, and various announcements. Members have 24/7 access to the club and its facilities.
The next item on the agenda was the club constitution and bylaws. The committee charged with updating these documents will present their recommendations at the next meeting. Members are encouraged to submit their suggestions as soon as possible.
The meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM. After the meeting, several members worked on setting up for the upcoming operations session.
A group of model railroaders from the Elkhart Model Railroad Club traveled to the Three Rivers, Michigan area recently and disassembled and moved a fellow model railroader's layout to a new location. The layout, which the donor built and enjoyed for 40 years, was carefully disassembled and transported to its new location, where it was reassembled with care. The donor was pleased to know that his layout would continue to be enjoyed by another generation of model railroaders.
The move was a major undertaking, but the model railroaders were up for the challenge. They carefully removed the layout from the donor's home and transported it to the new location by van and trailer. Once at the new location, they carefully reassembled the layout, making sure that all of the pieces were in the correct place.
The donor was very impressed with the group of Elkhart Model Railroad Clubs members. He was grateful that they had taken the time and effort to move his layout to a new location, where it would be enjoyed by others. He was also proud to know that his layout would continue to be enjoyed by another generation of model railroaders.
The EMRRC members were happy to help the donor. They enjoyed working on the layout and were glad that they could help preserve it for future generations. They were also proud to know that they were helping to keep the hobby of model railroading alive.
The move of the layout was a success. The donor was happy, the EMRRC model railroaders were happy, and the hobby of model railroading was preserved. It was a win-win-win situation.
Here is the schedule for our upcoming clinics on the first Friday of every month starting at 7:00 PM. The club's train clinics are open to the public and offer a chance to learn about model railroading from experienced club members
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
May 12, 2023
On Friday, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club held an open running event. Over 25 members and 3 guests attended to watch beautiful passenger trains run on the layout including a Milwaukee Road passenger train that has unique oval and round windows on the passenger cars. You can see it in EMRRC's "Friday Night Running at the Club" video. The video also has a Seaboard passenger train called the "Silver Meteor" and a weird runaway car that passes by on an upper track. There were also several modern and classic freight trains running on the layout. In the background, people socialized and caught up with old friends while discussing railroading.
During the event, some members arrived early to work on maintenance projects. Matt Glassman is one of the members who is working on improving the layout wiring. This is an ongoing project that will continue for months to come. The latest work includes splitting the layout into 4 power districts with a Digitrax PM42 Quad Power Manager. This will limit shutdowns to one district when a train derails and runs through a switch. The installation of the PM42 involved adding a breakout board and extensive rewiring, as well as removing some old wiring that dates back to the 1950s.
Another interesting project at EMRRC is 3D printing. The club has an Anycubic Mono X 6K resin printer and some members who know how to use it. The worker shown was mentioned last week as a new project. Rick has printed off a few samples and has painted one. If you need workers for your scenery, Rick is going to print several more in different poses and you can order them now.
Also, there’s a surprise coming for the members: the sniper has been missing for a few years now, or at least we can’t find him. A new sniper is coming, so keep an eye out for him.
Here is the schedule for our upcoming clinics on the first Friday of every month starting at 7:00 PM. The club's train clinics are open to the public and offer a chance to learn about model railroading from experienced club members
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
May 5, 2023
The month of May started as a busy month for us at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. We kicked it off with a clinic where we looked at a low-angle video of the tracks from the cab view.
This helped us spot the strengths and weaknesses of our layout. We noticed some things that needed improvement, like scenery, buildings, ballasting, and trackwork. Some tracks were new but not finished yet. Some buildings were just placeholders for the real ones. With over 1200 feet of mainline and several tunnels, passes, and high areas it gave members a different perspective they had never seen before. The clinic was a great way to get inspired to work on the scenery of our HO-Scale layout.
After the clinic, we had a maintenance night. Our main priority is to make sure the mainlines are reliable mechanically and electrically. We have made some progress by upgrading or replacing some tracks. Ken, Bill, and several other members have put in long hours making running at EMRRC more reliable. Matt has been doing a great job with the power and wiring of the command station and boosters. He has also been updating the 12-volt and 5-volt power supplies for the layout. Some of the wiring was very old and needed to be changed.
We still have a lot of work to do with over 1200 feet of mainline. That's why we have maintenance nights every Tuesday, in addition to the first Friday of each month. Maintenance is ongoing both on and off the track.
The club owns several hundred cars and engines. They are constantly being maintained and upgraded. If you are interested in model railroading or want a new hobby that constantly challenges you with enjoyable problems we are having an open run on May 12th at the clubhouse. The public is invited from 7:00 PM till 10:00 PM. Stop by and see if there is a fit between us.
Rick Cawley is a talented modeler who is working to create realistic scenes for the new machine shop he is building. He has been working hard on making some figures to populate his new structure. Here's a sneak peek at one of his workers. The first photo shows how he started with a basic figure, and the second one shows how he has smoothed out details. The 3D printer at the club will be busy printing out variations of this figure. He plans to place them around the building to make it look busy and lively.
Ben Brubaker is another club member who enjoys 3D printing. He has been away for a while, volunteering at a food pantry in Pennsylvania with his wife. He also joined a local model railroad club there, the Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum. They have the same 3D printer as we do, and Ben has been using it to make some cool items for their layout. He showed us some washers and dryers he 3D printed, as well as a custom 2-bay cement hopper that he is designing and building as a club car. It was based on a prototype that was used by the CNJ railroad. It was great to see Ben again, and we hope he is back at EMRRC soon.
Here is the schedule for our upcoming clinics on the first Friday of every month starting at 7:00 PM. The club's train clinics are open to the public and offer a chance to learn about model railroading from experienced club members
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading. NEWS for April 2023April 28, 2023
On the last Friday of April 2023, a large group gathered at the Elkhart Model Railroad clubhouse for Operations night. More than 20 members and guests enjoyed the 1953 operations, which featured steam passenger trains and classic diesel locomotives.
Jeff Cain showcased a new Northern-type Union Pacific locomotive. The locomotives were delivered along with 10 additional 4-8-4 locomotives equipped with low-backpressure double stacks and designated FEF-3 in December 1944. These locomotives were capable of developing 63,800 lbs of tractive effort and were equipped with 80-inch drivers and larger 14-wheel centipede-style tenders with a 23,500-gallon capacity. They were classified as FEF-2. Union Pacific passenger cars were pulled by this beautiful locomotive, which was admired by many club members.
Thanks to Chief Dispatcher Ron Breniser, the session ran smoothly despite the large turnout. Check out this week's "Friday Night Running at the Club" to see all the action.
At EMRRC, model railroading is not just about running trains. Our club has a diverse group of experts who share their skills in carpentry, electronics, scenery building, and other disciplines related to the hobby.
We have tool and die makers who use our 3D printer to create model railroad accessories for the club, such as the recently replaced milepost markers along our tracks. If you're interested in model railroading, we invite you to visit us on a Friday night and experience a piece of Elkhart's history that has been around for over 75 years. Who knows? You might discover a new hobby and make some new friends.
Maintenance and scenery are always happening in the background at the club.
The 1st Friday of every month and Tuesday nights are set aside for maintenance at the club. This includes everything from cleaning, (the members own the clubhouse and grounds) to major and minor scenery and construction on the layouts. We also have clinics on the 1st Friday of every month. May's clinic fits right in with maintenance as we are going to take a look at ground level, and front of the cab videos to look for maintenance that can be done along the right-of-way. Here's our upcoming clinic schedule.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
April 21, 2023
On April 21st, EMRRC had a brief monthly meeting. We talked about the construction that replaced the tracks and switches at the west curves and the junction for Chicago/Toledo/Flushing.
The project is done with the construction stage and will move on to scenery construction next.
Some weird things happened during the construction. A mysterious visitor appeared. She was taken outside safely.
There's a new switch that goes nowhere. The members are curious about what this switch does. Thanks to Ken & Bill and all the others who helped with the construction.
We also reviewed the Train Show and wrapped up any final details from the 2023 show. We reminded everyone that the next show will be on March 16, 2024, at the Claywood Event Center. We have already started preparing for the show. Member Paul Ewing has begun printing the brochure and vendor application for the 19th Annual Nappanee Train Show. It was also brought up that the Elkhart Model Railroad Club will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2025 and we will start planning for that event in 2024. The club started in April of 1950 and has been running ever since. The club built its first clubhouse (with several additions later) at the Hawthorne Street address in 1952. The club is one of the oldest model railroad clubs in the US that still operates in its original location.
After the meeting setup was accomplished for Friday, April 28th Formal Operations Night. The year will be 1953 so steam is running and lots of classic diesel. The public is invited to either watch or be paired up with an experienced operator. Please be at the club promptly as operations start at 7:00 PM.
Here is the latest information on upcoming clinics.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
April 14, 2023
On Friday the 14th, the club hosted an open running session for members and visitors to enjoy. Check out our latest "Friday Night Running at the Club" to see trains running through detailed landscapes. Model railroading is a beloved hobby for many, and our next public open running session is on Friday, May 12th from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
We take great care in maintaining the scenery and track work, and our latest project involved replacing trackwork and switches at the west double curves and the cut-off for Chicago/Toledo/Flushing. This was a multi-day project that required the hard work of members Bill Trail and Ken Prager, who worked long hours into the evening. Their goal was to ensure that our mainline is in top-notch condition.
Thanks to their efforts, we now have improved benchwork and smooth track and switches on the mainline. It's interesting working on a layout that was started in 1952 and has been modified several times over the years. You run into modified wiring and benchwork that may have been in place since the 1950s. Ken and Bill get a lot of puzzles to solve they may not have counted on.
A vendor at our recent show donated a 3D Printed Terex Rock Crusher. The Tenex has been moved to the quarry and as soon as we find out who the vendor is we will properly thank him.
Our 3D printer has been busy creating accessories for the layouts thanks to member Rick Crawly.
The latest Clinic at the Club Catenary with Jim Kitt is online at this website and on YouTube. Click either of the links to find this interesting clinic with a member who has built several electrified layouts with catenary. Here is the latest information on upcoming clinics.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. This coming Friday April 21st is EMRRC's monthly business meeting for members only. No visitors or guests, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Afterward, we will set up for formal operations on Friday April 28th. The Public is invited from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
April 7, 2023
Hi everyone,
Just a quick update for Good Friday and Easter weekend 2023. Friday members and visitors enjoyed a clinic at the club on catenary by Jim Kitt.
Jim is a former dispatcher and engineer with the South Shore Line, the electric railroad that runs from South Bend to Chicago. The South Shore Line is operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District a government agency that consists of the four counties served by the South Shore (St. Joseph, LaPorte, Porter, and Lake counties). The South Shore serves about 1.5 million passengers a year and is undergoing major upgrades between South Bend and Chicago.
The Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad is the Class III freight railroad running between Chicago and South Bend. The CSS is owned by Anacostia Rail Holdings Company.
Jim who is retired has always had an interest in electric railroads and operates his own HO-Scale Calumet Railway which of course has catenary along the entire route. Calumet Railway is a 10-mile shortline between Westville, Indiana, and Michigan City, Indiana. CLICK HERE for our video on the Calumet Railway and watch here for more information on when the clinic for catenary is posted.
EMRRC has several clinics online at YouTube the latest being Yards and Yard Limits by Chuck Hart. It's an interesting clinic on how yard limits and yards work with extensive references to documentation. After all of the clinic information club members spent the rest of the evening with layout and building maintenance. The members of the club own the grounds and building and of course the layouts. With over 30 members, and numerous visitors and guests each week the smooth operation of the club depends on maintenance.
Everything from the mundane, cleaning restrooms, vacuuming, and dusting, to major maintenance on the HO-Scale and N-Scale layouts scenery, trackwork, and electrical happen on Tuesday nights and the 1st Friday of every month. Membership has its perks but it also comes with a responsibility to the club's well-being. We are always looking for new members who share our passion for model railroading and want to contribute to our community. If you are interested in joining us or just want to check us out, feel free to stop by on Friday night from 7 pm to 10 pm (please check the top of the page for open Fridays and hours) or contact us through our website or social media. We hope to see you soon and wish you all a happy Easter!
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. This coming Friday is open running at the club. Run what you bring. Visitors and guests are invited starting at 7:00 PM CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading. March 31, 2023
Since we're right up against April Fools Day we thought you would enjoy a look at some of the mishaps and mistakes that happen at EMRRC. Gremlins and problems plague every model railroad. Switches are thrown wrong, cars derail, and engines stop. Well, engines stop except for Bryan Good's engines. Bryan runs a RailPro System with a battery car and his own separate engine communications system which does not rely on the EMRRC Digitrax DCC system. He just uses our environment and track. Bryan of course would miss the comradeship. bantering, and maintenance involved at the club.
We thought this week's "Friday Night Running at the Club" should show you what really goes on behind the scenes without a lot of editing. So be sure to check out this week's video.
The scenery keeps moving along at the Chicago/ Toledo cutoff thanks to Matt Glassman. Matt is using Woodland Scenics Plaster Cloth to form a hard shell to add molded rocks, colors, and other scenery details. 
Friday night we had open running at the club and a good crowd showed up in rainy, stormy weather for running trains and fellowship.
This coming GOOD Friday, April 7th we will start with a clinic on building catenary. Jim Kitt will show you how he built a catenary system for his electrified Calumet Railways layout. Jim has a long history with railroading as a former dispatcher and engineer for the South Shore, the electrified railroad between South Bend, Indiana, and Chicago. Jim will show you how he uses both N-Scale and HO-Scale parts to build HO-Scale catenary. Please join us for this interesting clinic on Friday, April 7th, and watch for when the video is posted. The public is invited and the clinic starts promptly at 7:00 PM.
We had some great clinics lately. The latest posted on our website and on YouTube is Chuck Hart's Clinic on Yards and Yard Limits. If you want to add and run through Yard Limits on your model railroad be sure to watch this clinic on Yards and Yard Limits. Most people have a misconception about how these areas work in railroad systems. The video is up, go and watch it. You will gain some valuable knowledge from it.
Here's our upcoming schedule for clinics.
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading. 
cutoff thanks to Matt Glassman.
As we roll toward the end of March, EMRRC had a great turnout for Chuck Hart's Yards and Yard Limits Clinic. This clinic clarified a complicated subject in an easy-to-understand way. For example, Yard Limits have nothing to do with Yards. Members, had a lot of questions as it was surprising how many preconceptions just the names Yards and Yard Limits bring about. Want to know more? Watch here for upcoming info on when the clinic will be posted on this website.
Later, we had even more visitors at Elkhart Model Railroad Club's open running. At one point we had over a dozen trains running and the great thing was there were no hiccups. The Digitrax system handled all of the trains, there were no slot errors, shutdowns, or loss of control. We were having to deal with a malfunctioning switch near the town of Liberty and had to reroute Thanks the mainline to a siding until the track maintenance crew gets the time to fix it. Want to help out on this and chores? Tuesday night is maintenance night. Several members have spent hours on electrical and trackwork. Also Tuesday night before this session several of the members spent a lot of time cleaning the track with track cleaning cars and by hand.
Here is our latest clinic schedule.
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome. Friday, March 24th would have been EMRRC's Operations Night but in order to keep the schedule moving we will have the Freight Yards and Yards Limits clinic and Operations will resume the 4th Friday in April.
CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
March 24, 2023
Another year in the books for our annual train show in the middle of Amish Country in Nappanee, Indiana, and what a train show it was. Lots of vendors with lots to sell, a ton of operating layouts for the visitors to enjoy, and a tremendous amount of attendees. No official numbers yet, but since I was working the door I'm guessing the most amount of people we have had at a show. We'll see later in the week when we get some official numbers.
Thanks to all the hard-working club members who put in a lot of hours to prep and get everything set up for the vendors and guests. Thanks, to the visitors who came through the door on a cold day and left with a lot of merchandise in their hot little hands. The vendors for their hard work in setting up and providing a great variety of merchandise. And thanks to the area clubs and organizations who brought in operating layouts and displays for the enjoyment of the public.
A big thanks to the Claywood Event Center who had their usual great environment ready to go and had great Amish food on site for all the attendees to buy when they got hungry. Enjoy some of the photos and drone footage from the show here and on our "Friday Night Running at the Club" page, YouTube, and FaceBook.
Here's our latest Clinic at the Club Schedule.
March 24, 2023, Freight Yards and Yard Limits, by Chuck Hart. We had to reschedule this much-anticipated clinic due to weather problems. Chuck tackles the mystery of Yards and Yard Limits. These are complex areas to deal with and the rules can be as confusing as herding cats. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks. August 4, 2023, Building Switches with Fast Tracks, by Ken Prager. Learn how model railroaders are building their own custom switches with the Fast Tracks system. September 1, 2023, LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOLIDAY NO CLINIC. October 6, 2023, Running the RailPro Control System Instead of DCC, by Bryan Good. No wiring, and no DCC headaches. Learn how to convert a model railroad with the RailPro system.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome. Friday, March 24th would have been EMRRC's Operations Night but in order to keep the schedule moving we will have the Freight Yards and Yards Limits clinic and Operations will resume the 4th Friday in April.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
March 10, 2023
EMRRC had our monthly Business Meeting on March 10th. We installed a new member Rick Cawley. Rick has been very valuable during his probation, working maintenance on Tuesday nights and has been to our member's Sunday runnings several times. He has developed an interest in our 3D printing and is a former tool & dye maker/machinist with CAD experience which allows him to design many of our 3D print files. Congratulations Rick and welcome to the club. Our other big announcement concerning members was the announcement of our EMRRC Member of the Year for 2022, Ken Prager. Ken has been involved in or spearheaded every big construction project for the club. Ken also has developed an interest in older pieces of rolling stock and how to get them to stay on track and roll easily around the track. Ken has passed along the knowledge he has gained to the other members and members are happy when trains are running smoothly. Congratulations Ken and enjoy your gift certificate.
The other big item covered at the meeting was of course the 18th Annual Train Show coming up on March 18th, at the Claywood Event Center in Nappanee, Indiana. The vendors are all set, the event center is ready with plenty of free parking, a clean modern 14,000 sq. foot space full of vendors and operating layouts, and a restaurant on-site in case you get hungry.
Here's our latest Clinic at the Club Schedule.
March 24, 2023, Freight Yards and Yard Limits, by Chuck Hart. We had to reschedule this much-anticipated clinic due to weather problems. Chuck tackles the mystery of Yards and Yard Limits. These are complex areas to deal with and the rules can be as confusing as herding cats. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains. August and September 2023 Clinics are being scheduled and we will update the schedule in the coming weeks.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome. Friday, March 24th would have been EMRRC's Operations Night but in order to keep the schedule moving we will have the Freight Yards and Yards Limits clinic and Operations will resume the 4th Friday in April.
The meeting Friday, March 17th will be limited due to the Train Show on Saturday, March 18th. There will be some last-minute prep for the show and open running will be allowed.
The 3D printer is busy churning out items. People and an overhead crane are the latest. Members if you need items for an area you are working on please see Rick.
One other item of importance if you are a YouTube member please go to YouTube and subscribe to the Elkhart Model Railroad Club page. We have over 750 subscribers and once we reach 1000 subscribers the club will earn a bit of money off of the page. There is an icon at the top of this page to the right. It looks like an arrow next to the F icon for Facebook. That icon will take you right to the EMRRC YouTube page.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule and check in to this page for weekly reminders on meeting schedules. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
March 3, 2023
Northern Indiana opened up in March with bad weather. The weather was so bad President Chuck Hart decided to call the meeting off for Friday the 3rd. Our next meeting will be on March 10th. That meeting will start with our monthly business meeting at 7:00 PM. The meeting was moved up due to our annual train show on March 18th. The public is welcome after the meeting but the majority of the evening will be taken up with train show prep and maintenance.
We had a clinic scheduled for March 3rd on Yards and Yard Limits. That clinic will be rescheduled after the business meeting or we may move the clinic schedule down a month. More news to come on that.
Tuesday.s maintenance session found Chuck working on the N-Scale layout solving a bug and adding a new freight yard near the grain mill.
Ken was in his element under the layout tearing out a section of track in a tunnel that had been riddled with problems. The section has been in service for years probably since the 1980s and has had problems with the switches located at both ends along with a patchwork of tracks that had been modified over the years. Hopefully, that section will be up by next Friday as it has shut down the entire layout.
While we were in Northern Indiana suffering from the weather members Eden & Aaron Marshall were in Florida. visiting the Gold Coast Railroad Museum. (I'm kidding they were there a couple of weeks ago and got back in time to share in the snowy weather with the rest of us). While there Aaron drove an SW-1500 an Ex-NASA locomotive #2. The locomotive is a former Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway unit and was donated to the museum in 2014. Its sister locomotive #3 is at the Madison Railroad in Madison, Indiana, where it is used for regular freight service and passenger excursion train service.
Member Rick Cawley has been working on a machine shop for the north wall. Here's a look at it with the 3D-printed lathes posed for a test look.
We are less than 2 weeks away from Northern Indiana's largest train show. We will have the same 14,000-square-foot event center that has hosted our train shows the last few years, the Claywood Event Center. The event center is approximately 3 miles southwest of Nappanee, Indiana at 13924 N 1100 W (County Line Road). The building has all the amenities and the show will have over 150 tables, operating layouts, and much more. You can find your way there no matter where you are coming from thanks to plenty of direction signs. The 2023 EMRRC Train Show will be from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm EDT. The Elkhart Model Railroad Show is a long-term premier event for the hobbyist and collector. Bring the family, kids under 12 are free and it's just $5 for adults with plenty of free parking.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open most Fridays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
February 24, 2023
We need to catch up to the end of February. The month has gone quickly and several things have happened at EMRRC. Friday the 17th was the monthly business meeting at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club and several items were discussed. The vendor tables have been sold out for the March 18th Train Show in Nappanee, Indiana. Vendors if you send in an application you will be put on a waiting list. The Vendor Information Pack has been mailed to all the vendors attending the show. Thanks to all of the vendors for your continuing support. The March Business Meeting has been moved to Friday, March 10, due to the upcoming train show. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00 PM. We are closed to the public until 8:00 PM or until the meeting ends. We are still having some throttle connection problems, but we seem to be getting a handle on the problem. Please clear/release engines when done running.
Matt made some other changes that seem to have helped with the issue. The switch machine power supply was running very hot last week. It was decided to buy a larger power supply. New buildings and track work are progressing on the N-Scale layout. Michael Wenzelmaier has passed his probationary status and has been voted in as a new member. Congratulations Michael. Michael also owns Michael's Trains located in the Old Bag Factory in Goshen, Indiana. Michael's carries a large selection of N-Scale and HO-Scale items.
Upcoming clinics include;
March 3, 2023, Freight Yards and Yard Limits, by Chuck Hart. Chuck tackles the mystery of Yards and Yard Limits. These are complex areas to deal with and the rules can be as confusing as herding cats. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
May 5, 2023, Ground Level Review of the HO-Scale Layout, by Jim Ford. We will watch videos of the layout taken from the cab view of a locomotive and will discuss improvements to be made to the layout as we find items from a different view of the layout that needs to be repaired.
June 2, 2023, Design a Layout Using AnyRail, by Bill Trail Anyrail is software that allows you to design model railways on a computer. Bill will discuss the ins and outs of using this software for your projects.
July 7, 2023, British Railways, by Will Babcoke. Blimey! Our British Railway aficionado discusses and shows his collection of British trains.The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome. Friday, March 24th was EMRRC's Operations Night.
We had a good turnout of members for operations and 2 members, Ken Prager and Bryan Good continue to experiment with the engineer being at a remote location while the conductor is with the train. This time they mounted a camera up high above Wood Creek so Ken could watch train movements and listen to Bryan as he gave instructions. They used Discord for messaging with a video call so they could see and talk on their phones. It's an experiment in progress and again there was a lot of interest in the process. The 3D printer continues to churn out projects.
Rick has put a call out to all members on The Elkhart Model Railroad Clubs groups.io page for any accessories you need for the layout. He will be glad to work with you on any project you have.
Matt Glassman is always busy with projects here are a few of his latest.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open every Friday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
February 10, 2023
Friday the 10th was open running at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. We had several visitors, guests, and members running a lot of engines and trains. The HO-Scale layout was started in 1952 and of course over the years has had many changes. Members of the club work to keep an over 70-year-old old layout running in top shape. We have a regular maintenance group that meets on Tuesday nights and the first Friday of the month is reserved for maintenance.
Our major maintenance project is the cutoff and roundabout. A crew has put in several man-hours over the last few weeks and work continues with track and switch adjustments. Ken uses a unique tool to find track maintenance problems, a Broadway Limited PRR T1. This is a huge engine, a 4-4-4-4 and of course, it had to have a 16-wheel tender with it. The main problem with this engine is a rigid frame, no articulation here. This makes it a great engine to find track problems. Any deviation and this beast will find it.
Also, the thing is built like a tank. The chassis is diecast if it gets away from you or a switch is thrown the wrong way disaster is not far away. By the way after this wreck only a scratch on the front shroud to the T1. We're going to do a video on wrecks at EMRRC and the T1 is doing its part for the video. As always the 3D printer keeps churning out parts. The latest is some anhydrous ammonia tanks for the local COOP and more covers for Digitrax throttles. The 18th Annual Train Show is sold out of vendor tables. Thanks to everyone as we work towards another successful train show.
Clinics upcoming include ;
March 3, 2023, Freight Yards and Yard Limits, by Chuck Hart. Chuck tackles the mystery of Yards and Yard Limits. These are complex areas to deal with and the rules can be as confusing as herding cats. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open every Friday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
February 3, 2023
EMRRC starts off the dreary, cold but short month of February toasty and warm in the clubhouse with a clinic presented by Jim Ford covering the history of the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. EMRRC started in 1950 and has been in the same building since 1952 building a massive HO-Scale layout along with a new N-Scale layout. Thanks to members Gary Pressnell ( a member since the 1970s. Jim Metzger another member from the 70s who recently rejoined and Jim Kitt a member from the 80s makes a 90-mile round trip to come and run and hang out at EMRRC. All 3 of these members provided valuable information about the club and its past. Hundreds of members over the years with a lot of creativity and foresight allow the members of today to enjoy the layouts and club in a facility owned by the members. CLICK HERE to check out the history of the Elkhart Model Railroad Club.
Even with a great history things have to change in a club to keep that history alive and growing. After the clinic, members Matt Glassman, Ken Prager, Bill Trail, Joseph Cipolla, Bryan Good, and several others tore out the bypass to Chicago and rebuilt it. Since the runaround had been added into the bypass in the early 2000s the area had been a source of problems. Derailments, power problems, and several other gremlins had made the area a pain to get through. The guys finished the work Saturday and the area is operational. There is scenery work and minor cleanup still to do but the hard work is finished. Thanks so much, guys from all the members.
In news from the 18th Annual Train Show coming up on March 18th, the vendor tables are sold out. 150 tables have been sold for the show and we will have a premier event for the hobbyist and collectors. Bring the family, kids under 12 are free and it's just $5 for adults with plenty of free parking. There will be a restaurant on-site with hot Amish sandwiches, desserts, sides, and soft drinks. Be sure to join us on Saturday, March 18th at the Claywood Event Center. We are planning a bigger and better show for 2023, you won't be disappointed. Vendors if you still want to send an application in please do so (just send the application, if we have an opening we will be in contact to bill you) and we will put you on a waiting list.
Clinics upcoming include ;
March 3, 2023, Freight Yards and Yard Limits, by Chuck Hart. Chuck tackles the mystery of Yards and Yard Limits. These are complex areas to deal with and the rules can be as confusing as herding cats. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open every Friday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
NEWS for January 2023 January 20, 2023 
Cold weather moved in for the last meeting in January 2023 at the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. It was toasty in the clubhouse as we had a good turnout of members and guests running trains and socializing during the evening. We had a mix of modern and classic on the layout with plenty of steam and diesel running. Members were also looking at the new Athearn Big Boy running on the layout. Member Ken Prager has been working on some modifications to the drawbar helping to keep the centipede tender on our tracks. We'll cover this more in an upcoming post.
We had some dark running during the evening with several lighted engines and passenger cars moving through. The club has a lot of buildings and the streets lite but with a large layout, we have a lot of work to do adding LEDs and replacing older incandescent bulbs along the layout.
The members and visitors enjoy the night running. One unusual sighting was Steve Storey our treasurer running a train. Steve is always kept busy with a multitude of accounting functions for the club and doesn't get a chance to run too often. Unfortunately, he was running in the dark running session but I think I see a smile.
We also had members running on the N-Scale layout. A new ScaleTrains GE ET44C4 Tier 4 GEVo, BNSF/Heritage III coal train along with a Nickel Plate Berkshire pulling a 6-car passenger train were both running on the N-Scale layout.
The 3D Printer has been busy as always. We have DigiTrax throttles and have lost or broken some of the back covers. 3D print Rick to the rescue. New covers no problem. Also, Rick has been printing out a ton of lathes and bench grinders for the machine shops around the layout.
Here are a couple of interesting finds. If you have an interest in rebuilds this is a link to an album of photographs and notes showing damaged and repaired locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Really interesting reading. There is a link to download the entire album in zip files if you want. CLICK HERE for the album. For all of you, S-Scalers ScaleTrains has some S-Scale freight cars listed on their website based on MTH tooling. CLICK HERE for the link to their homepage. I was looking for a KATO motor. Here is a link to Kato's accessory page with a variety of items including the motor I was looking for. CLICK HERE for the KATO accessory page.
February starts out with a clinic on Friday the 3rd. Afterward is a maintenance night for the club until 9 pm.
February 3, 2023, Photos of EMRRC Through the Years presented by Jim Ford with a lot of help from Gary Pressnell, Jim Metzger, and Jim Kitt. (these 3 members have roots in the club going back to the 1970s). We will be looking at pictures of the club from every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s. Take a look at the picture to the left. Can anyone tell me where this is on the layout? It is from the 1970s. The club has been in business since 1950 (2 years till the 75th anniversary) so we have a lot of pictures from the past.
March 3, 2023, Freight Yards and Yard Limits, by Chuck Hart. Chuck tackles the mystery of Yards and Yard Limits. These are complex areas to deal with and the rules can be as confusing as herding cats. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open every Friday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
January 20, 2023
Friday the 20th was EMRRC's monthly business meeting. Items discussed included Maintenance, MAINTENANCE, AND MORE MAINTENANCE!. EMRRC is a large club with over 30 members and 2 large layouts and a 70-year-old building to maintain. Tuesday nights are our scheduled maintenance nights and we need members to show up. There are more than enough jobs to go around. If you're not sure what to do see Chuck or Jim. They have a list of several pleasant jobs to do. Also, the first Friday of the month after the Clinic is a maintenance night the same duties needed to be performed. Other items discussed included the upcoming clinics.
February 3, 2023, Photos of EMRRC Through the Years presented by Jim Ford with a lot of help from Gary Pressnell, Jim Metzger, and Jim Kitt. (these 3 members have roots in the club going back to the 1970s). We will be looking at pictures of the club from every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s. Take a look at the picture to the left. Can anyone tell me where this is on the layout? It is from the 1970s. The club has been in business since 1950 (2 years till the 75th anniversary) so we have a lot of pictures from the past.
March 3, 2023, Freight Yards and Yard Limits, by Chuck Hart. Chuck tackles the mystery of Yards and Yard Limits. These are complex areas to deal with and the rules can be as confusing as herding cats. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
April 7, 2023, Making Catenary, by Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and his passion is building Catenary. Join us for this clinic and learn how to string overhead wire like a master.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome.
A new Locobuffer from RR-Circuits was purchased to replace the Digitrax PR4. The PR4 seems to have problems with our system so we decided to go in a different direction with the latest RR-Circuits USB Locobuffer.
Friday the 27th Formal Operations have been postponed to February.
After the Business Meeting, a Train Show Meeting was held. 116 tables have been sold for the show and marketing continues on track for The March 18th Train Show.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open every Friday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
January 13, 2023
When you're dealing with a large layout, some of which is over 70 years old, maintenance is a continuing process. Engine & car maintenance, track cleaning, and electronics updates all happen so that members, guests, and visitors can enjoy a worry-free operating session. We have had large groups operating trains the last two Fridays with over 20 engines with large trains all drawing lots of power from the system. Control is with DigiTrax and JMRI. A lot of phones, tablets, Digitrax throttles, and a RailPro throttle are all running through EMRRC's WiFi. While this is happening on the layout there are several people sitting, watching, talking, and looking at information on their phones. The Elkhart Model Railroad Club is chewing up some bandwidth on Friday Nights. At this point, we are still looking for members. We are getting close to our limit of members for the club, but if you have an interest in model railroading, in particular electronics, scenery, computer apps and programs come by and give us a look. The schedule for the public is posted at the top of the page.
3D printing is still running strong. Members Matt Glassman & Rick Crawley are turning out projects for the club. Rick is working on multiple accessories including anhydrous ammonia tanks for the local Co-Op and EMRRC uncoupling tools. Matt is working on diesel cabs, mile markers, and a floor for a Norfolk & Western auxiliary water tender. Water tender shells for the N & W are available but the floor is not included, so Matt is making his own.
It's the time of year we want to remind everyone about the EMRRC 2023 Train Show that is coming up. We have sold over 100 tables for the event so vendors if you want to make the cut for tables don't forget to get your application in soon.
The EMRRC monthly meeting is this coming Friday till 8:00 pm. The public is welcome from 8:00 PM till 10:00 PM or later.
Upcoming Clinics include;
- 3 Feb – Photos of EMRRC Through the Years – Jim F. This is a pictorial look at the club from the 1950s to the mid-2000s. The club has been in business since 1950 (2 years till the 75th anniversary) so we have a lot of pictures from the past.
- 3 Mar – Freight Yards and Yard Limits – Chuck H. Yard Limits are a mystery to many model railroaders and trying to get through a yard can try the patience of any model railroader. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
- 7 Apr – Making Catenary – Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and has mastered stringing catenary on overhead electrified model railroads. One of his secrets is using some N-Scale parts when building an HO-scale catenary.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome.
At this point, we are going to postpone Elkhart Model Railroad Club's Formal Operations Sessions for January due to track maintenance. Look for more information to come on the website.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open every Friday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.
January 6, 2023
We're back with our first update for the new year. Since the weather has been cold there has been time for working on the layouts and running trains. We started out with a clinic by member Gary Pressnell. Gary has an extensive slide collection and over 30 members, guests, and visitors enjoyed a slide show taking a look at railroading in Northern Ohio and Indiana in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. We also had visitors from the Naptown & White River Model Railroad Club bringing the club a nice Naptown & White River boxcar. Thanks, fellows.
The 3D printer has been busy turning out everything from water tender floors to accessories for the layouts.
This is a kitty litter load Ken Prager made for an ore car. Ken has a lot of ore cars and has been experimenting with loads for the cars trying everything from 3D-printed loads to commercially available ore carloads. The kitty litter may be the winner as it's cheap and Ken may have hit on the right colors. Ken loads the cars with BBs underneath the kitty litter for weight.
The March 18th, 2023 Train Show is coming up. We have sold just over 100 tables for the event so vendors if you want to make the cut for tables don't forget to get your application in soon.
We have open running coming up for the 2nd Friday in January the public is welcome from 7:00 PM till 10:00 PM or later.
Upcoming Clinics include;
- 3 Feb – Photos of EMRRC Through the Years – Jim F. This is a pictorial look at the club from the 1950s to the mid-2000s. The club has been in business since 1950 (2 years till the 75th anniversary) so we have a lot of pictures from the past.
- 3 Mar – Freight Yards and Yard Limits – Chuck H. Yard Limits are a mystery to many model railroaders and trying to get through a yard can try the patience of any model railroader. Learn how to master both of these areas in the March clinic
- 7 Apr – Making Cantenay – Jim Kitt. Jim is a retired South Shore Conductor and has mastered stringing catenary on overhead electrified model railroads. One of his secrets is using some N-Scale parts when building an HO-scale catenary.
The clinics begin promptly at 7:00 PM and the public is welcome.
Elkhart Model Railroad Club's Formal Operations Sessions are tentatively set to start on January 27, 2023. Look for more information to come on the website.
CLICK HERE for the latest information on the 2023 Train Show. CLICK HERE for our latest "Friday Running at the Club" video. If you would like to visit the club we are open every Friday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the public. Check out the top of this page for a more concise schedule. CLICK HERE If you want to see more pictures of the members and their trains. CLICK HERE to see the latest regional train show listing. Have some fun with Model Railroading.