Hi, I am going to Chicago the first weekend in April. What should I go see that is model railroad related? Thank’s
Larry
How much time do you have? Start with the Muesum of Sicence and Industry at 57th and the Lake Shore to view their new layout. You could go to Union to visit the Illinois Railroad Museum which is about 30 miles west. You could ride the South Shore to South Bend and back in about 5 hours. You can get a Metra weekend pass for $5.00 good only on Saturday and Sunday that lets you ride any commuter train within the 48 hour period. See Union station, Lasalle St, Station, CNW station, Randolph Street Station. Ride the Els. Visit Des Plaines hobbies in Des Plaines. That should take you about two weeks!
If you do nothing else, go to the Museum of Science and Industry. The HO scale layout is wonderful with huge sweeping vista’s. It will keep you occupied for quite a while.
The Galena& Chicago Union, Pioneer is display at the Chicago Historical
Society.
Dont forget to check out the Pioneer Zephyr on permanent display at the Museum of Science and Industry, that, the HO layout, and definetly check out the WW2 U-boat on display there also!!!
I didnt know about the Pioneer at the Chicago Historical
Society. Excuss for another trip there!
www.msichicago.org.
Send us an e-mail Pioneer Z post card when you can.
One real cool hobby shop on the South Side…Trost Hobby Shop
3111 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60629-2719 773-925-1000. Also on the North Side
Grayland Station 5514 Devon St. Chicago IL 60646-4021 773-594-1906
http://www.graylandstation.com
underworld
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Do they allow photos at MSI? I"m going there April 2nd.
The U Boat is close for renovation.They’re moving indoors.
do all the above, if you get time go to the Rochelle railroad park. The IRM is definatley worth a visit, they have allsorts to offer, Steam, Diesel, electric traction and all manner of streetcars http://www.irm.org/index.html
They havent finished that YET??? Sheesh! Public works projects[V]…I should have known, I do them too[:0][:p][:o)]
Kyle, they do allow photos, I took plenty(not good one, but plenty), the last time I was there.
Noah
They are having a hard time getting it through the door.
[quote]
Originally posted by mrgstrain
Hi, I am going to Chicago the first weekend in April. What should I go see that is model railroad related? Thank’s
Hi: I am am a volunteer at The Great train Story. I would be happy to show you around the museum.
Hank
Contact me about museum. I am a volunteer at he museum and would be happy to show you around. Hank
The U-505 is scheduled to open 6/5/05
They do allow photography in MSI (I used up more film photographing the model of Chicago on my last trip there than I did photographing the actual city of Chicago!)
The nice thing about the Zephyr these days is that you can actually go inside of it–as a kid I remember seeing it outside, kind of rusty and green, now it is inside and as shiny as the day it came off the factory floor!
Do a Yahoo Yellow Pages search for hobby shops in the Chicagoland area. You’ll find A LOT. My favorites were Chicagoland Hobby, LaGrange Hobby, Des Plaines Hobby and Hill’s Hobby, although I have heard good things about Golden Spike and a few others that I have yet to visit (I get to Chicago once every couple of years to visit family, which generally takes priority over hobby shop visits.)
The Chicago area is great for trainwatching in general–it is still positively riddled with various main lines, industries, yards and other railroady activities. I prefer to ride in on Amtrak to get a first-hand look at that sort of thing.
Next time I want to see if I can get my grandfather to come with me down to the IRM. I was able to bring him to the Railroad Museum, along with my 11 year old cousin, this summer–if you want to have a blast, take an 82 year old and an 11 year old to a railroad museum and see folks awed from two directions in time at once!
With gas price so high, you may want to fly to O’Hare or Midway, then take the EL downtown. THe CTA does have a guide to the city & take you anywhere you want to go, including MSI. For fun, you can’t beat the Chicago lakefront, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, etc… For $1.75-$2.00, you can travel a good distance!
The best hobbyshops are NW of the city in DesPlaines, Chicagoland, & Hills. The Trost shop is a good prototype for those old DPM buildings with big showroom windows.
The RTA website offers a trip planner that uses CTA/Metra/Pace services.
Have fun on your trip!