My family and I are travelling to Chicagoland for Thanksgiving this week. We’re hoping to catch some great model railroad displays in action while we’re there. We’ve heard about the layout at the Morton Arboretum. In addition, we plan on stopping out to the Elmhurst Model Railroad Club on Friday night.
Has anyone heard about the layout at the top of the John Hancock Center? I heard there was an article in the Tribune about it last week. Any ideas? Is it worth the trek? What scale is it?
It’s not a holdiday-only layout, but you will probably want to include the Museum of Science and Industry’s layout also. It south of the loop a ways, but well worth a visit.
I’d suggest the MIDWEST ‘N’ PIONEER Model Railroad, but it looks like they made a recent move and are under construction. You can read more here: http://www.midwestnpioneer.org/index.html
They appear to be what was left of the N-scale group at the Elmhurst MRR that broke away in 1989. I used to vist that club as a kid in the late 70’s and remember the N-scale layout they used to have.
The Illinois Tech Model Railroad: Not sure if this one is open to the public, but you can contact them to see: http://www.iit.edu/~itmr.org/
We visited the Morton Arboretum layout today. It is a large “G” scale garden railroad (indoors). Multiple trains running and an impressive layout design. Working block signals, crossing gates, etc… Very impressive.
We’re off to the Hancock Center tomorrow. We did the MSI layout a couple of months ago so we’re going to skip that one for now. We were going to try and get out to the Elmhurst Model Railroad Club open house tonight, but we never made it.
I’ll report back on the Hancock Center layout tomorrow.
The largest display may be the Great Midwest Train Show at the DuPage fairgrounds in Wheaton. Worth a visit on your next trip. In 2006 it has dates the 2nd sunday of the month; Nov 12,Dec 10. Go to their website to get a coupon & directions.
The Illinois Railway Museum in Union is worth a visit, but is closed for the season.
If you have time, the Des Plaines hobby shop on Lee street is worth a visit. At least it’s near the tollway to make it convenient to get back North & home. It’s not near any big mall.
Thanks Wdlgln005… Has DuPage started incorporating bigger operating layouts? The last few years I’ve been there they haven’t been having as many operating layouts. Even the main stage layout in the big building hasn’t had the bigger layouts lately? The flea market aspect of the show is FANTASTIC! I’ll be there in February…
What about the John Hancock building and their large G-scale display – it was featured on a PBS Tracks Ahead episode a couple of years ago and is supposedly an annual event.
Just got back from the John Hancock display. It was decorated beautifully, but it’s simply a bunch of simple “O” scale and “G” scale loops. Most of the trains weren’t running. Operationally, it wasn’t much to see. Just trains running in circles.
There is a HUGE “G” scale layout at Daley Plaza this year. Just two large “G” scale loops that are independent of each other - running one train each. That was a pretty neat surprise. Macy’s doesn’t have a train layout in their “toy department.” Not much to speak of there as far as trains are concerned.
Not sure at all how big the “display” may be. Last time I was there, they had the “little Q” on the stage in the large hall. Another had several Lionel tinplate & other trains going. Normally, it’s a good place to get model RR supplies. Just about anything in the pages of MR or T could be found. The Jan & Feb shows could be great for closeout deals. I’ve seen vendors from Ohio to Iowa & beyond at the show.
AFAIK, the largest pure “displays” may be the NMRA division meets held in March. S/b plenty of flyers for DuPage & Palatine div meets.
With the demise of GATS, I don’t know if there will be a traveling train show here in Nashville or not. I’ve seen it go steadily downhill the last few years. With a high state sales tax, the modelers here tend to go out of state to get our MR fix.
What Nashville does have is a new Music City Star commuter train. Last week was the first chance to ride a train to the Titan game vs Baltimore. C&NW fans will feel at home riding our cars pulled by ex-Amtrak F40’s. That’s plenty of power to pull a 2 car gallery set!