Ernie Noa, one of the Division’s members who is into live steam, has been building a HO layout in his basement. He has sent a couple of videos, one of a brass NYC steamer and the other of a built and running MDC Shay. Enjoy!
Decatur Spring 2022 Train Show? It’s Not Us
I heard there was a rumor going around that the Illinois Terminal Division, NMRA, was taking over organizing the Spring Train Show in Decatur. That is not the case with the Decatur show, which typically has occurred a weekend or two after the Urbana Lincoln Square Train Show, which we have scheduled for March 26…
Sherman Scale Train Show, Oct. 17, Springfield Area
Coming up on Sunday, Oct. 17 in Sherman, Illinois (Springfield area) is the 3rd Annual Sherman Scale Train Show. It is scale trains ONLY from 10am to 3pm, with all tables already sold out! Admission is $5 (children under 1o are free), but you can also get an Early Bird admission for $10 at 9am…
Registration Open for Midwest Region Convention, May 18-22, 2022, Indianapolis
Hello! We’ve promised you Registration would be open soon. Well at long last, soon is NOW. Registration is OPEN. You can register for the Convention, and while you’re on the website, make a room reservation. GO HERE now – https://www.indyjunction2022.org/ If you’ve registered for a lot of conventions, you can probably wing it. But if…
Blessed Past, Bright Future: Visiting Rossville with Shane Wilson of Scaletrains.com
In a passionate and sometimes emotional presentation, Shane Wilson, CEO of Scaletrains.com returned to Rossville, Illinois on a hot afternoon in August. Shane discussed the origins of the company, a relatively new, but already well-regarded manufacturer of HO and N scale model railroad equipment, right here in Central Illinois. Held at the Danville Junction Chapter…
Video: In a Land Far Away, Steam Still Runs
Last Wednesday’s Central Illinois Train Talk brought a return of one of the regular guests from vacation. Craig lives in New Zealand and it was his first real time off in about 20 years. He made the best of it, visiting with various kin and his daughter, who now works on the South Island. There…
ScaleTrains.com CEO Return Road Trip to Rossville Roots, August 28
As ScaleTrains.com looks down the road, their late summer and fall Road Trip dates are starting to come into view. In a recent note to its mailing list, ScaleTrains.com announced a major model railroading event in Central Illinois. The Danville Junction Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) in Rossville, IL holds a special…
Anyone Remember Jack Jareo?
My wife found this old pic somewhere. It’s from either the Champaign News-Gazette or the Urbana Courier on 16 November 1962. The top part is missing that could have settled that. It shows Jack Jareo of 32 Baker Drive in Urbana in his basement train room. Mr. Jareo seems to have been quite the fan…
Live Steaming Videos from Ernie
Ernie Noa sent us a couple of videos of recent live steam action. You may see many of these locos and trains in September during the festival at Monticello Railway Museum, when ITD members will help with manning the tables during the event. The second video even has a Big Boy running pulling a long…
ITD Steams Up for RR Days at Monticello, Sept. 18-19
During the June ITD monthly meeting, Ernie Noa noted the live steam group he works with will be at Monticello Railway Museum’s Railroad Days in September and could use some help. ITD, on the other hand, could use an opportunity to promote the 2022 Lincoln Square Train Show as well as the Illinois Terminal Division…