ne Friday evening in the summer of 1980 I walked to the
park at the corner of my street. I had read an article in Chicago
Magazine about an obscure model railroad club in a room in the field
house. What I first saw was amazing. Of course at that time the mainline
went from west loop to Bridgeport and looped around on a section of flex
track to return to the only area with any discernible scenery, at
Williamsport. Bob Jaycox’s tracklaying in Georgetown yard was still
years away; the big bridge to Summit was still on Al Fask’s drawing
board; track power was distributed by hundreds of 24 volt relays. Some
of the old-timers would love to see what has happened since.
Over the next year I returned many times. Occasionally
someone would look up from his work and say hello. After about a year I
received an application for membership.
I began to attend club meetings every Friday night. I
tried to apprentice with as many old timers as I could and learned much
about track laying, scenery and wiring. For many years my young
daughters would accompany me for a chance to play on the park swings and
then hang out under the layout while dad worked on projects. They
outgrew their interest; I never did. I have gone from the most junior
member to the most senior.
I have been asked to be president for the fourth time in
the past thirty years. I have met many wonderful friends and continue to
do so. I hope I can continue for newer members the tradition that has
given me good company and a good hobby for all that time. During earlier
years we have found inexpensive local restaurants for annual club
dinners, we have taken group trips to visit an operate other club
layouts, we have sponsored park district events and instituted the still
popular Christmas parties.
Times and the train layout change. As new people join
and take charge, I look for new ideas to make the experience of the
GCMRR current and continue to be fun.
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Previous Messages From Club President
