I belong to the Reading Company Technical and Historical Society. The resources available are a great help with my modeling. In addition, I am active with the Society’s museum.
Nick
I’ve been a member of the Western Maryland Ry Historical Society for about 25 years. Served on the board as secretary and helped out with a couple of conventions back in the late 80’s.
Without a doubt, one of the best outfits of its kind, with over 1000 members including a fair number of them around the world. Not bad for a little regional bridge route…
Lee
I am a long time member of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society, and I regularly buy newstand copies of the Milwaukee Road and Soo Line groups magazines. From time to time I also pick up Rock Island, Burlington, and other groups’ newsletters or magazines if particular articles interest me. I had forgotten how much fund an historical society’s annual convention can be until I attended this year’s C&NWHS meet in Eau Claire WI. The slides, presentations, tours, model displays, company store sales, and conversations with informed fans are a great added benefit of membership.
By the way, the thing about historical society magazines is that old issues are every bit as interesting as the newest ones. And they can frequently be had fairly cheaply at swap meets. I need just a few more issues before I have a complete all-time set of the North Western Lines magazine.
Dave Nelson
Hi, brother! The CNWHS is a very good society and their slick Northwestern Lines quarterly is always a treat, especially when it contains steam era articles, which really interest me. Unfortunately, my Social Security Disability and tiny pension aren’t big enough to allow me to travel to swap meets or even conventions (I even managed to miss the one that was held here in Duluth, a few years ago!), but I hope others will see your mention of picking up back issues. I have a friend who has collected nearly a complete set of Model Railroader this way!
Another constant source of satisfaction is the CNWHS’s online photo section. I love to go look at the old photos of structures there, particularly the depot scenes–and the winter views always snap me into a “railroady” mood! I wish I had something to contribute, but I didn’t get into photography until fairly late in life, at a time when my finances were near rock-bottom.</
Yep! ATSF Ry. Historical and Modeling Society. [:)]
To me, these groups are invaluable resources because as has been said, they preserve information that would otherwise have been lost.
PRRT&HS and founder of the Chicago chapter and you should all visit the PRRT&HS web site and sign up for the free keystone Modeler monthly publication that is free.