This page was last updated: October 8, 2023
- CALENDAR OF EVENTS -
A listing of all known rail and transit enthusiast events happening in and around the
Chicago-Kenosha-Milwaukee-Rockford area..
(Except where noted, meetings/activites take place in the city of Chicago)
If your organization's meetings/events are not listed -- or if you have any corrections
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2023 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
May 5 (Friday) Blackhawk Chapter -- NRHS meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM)
Location: Gladys Fox Museum (231 E. 9th St).in Lockport, Illinois.
Admission: Free.
Program: "Passenger trains of Spain," by Mike Lee.
Oct 20 (Friday)
Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM)
Location: Chicago Union Station (500 W Jackson Blvd)
Room 107A (There are steps up to this room.) 500 W Jackson Blvd (You must enter the station
between Clinton and Canal.)
Web site: https://rscc.dhke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/railroadshortlinecc
Email: shortlinechicagoHS@hotmail.com
For program announcements by email, send a blank message To: rscc+subscribe@groups.io
Phone number for program announcement: 312 725-0432 Leave a message and your call will
be returned. This number is answered during programs for assistance.
Admission: Free.
Program: "Indiana Harbor Belt," a presentation by Bill Gustason..
Oct 21 (Saturday) Chicago Terminal Chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society meeting (2:00-4:00 PM)
Location: Historical Pullman District Visitors Center (11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave) in Chicago.
Location is accessible to public transportation using CTA bus #4 , #111A or 115 to/from
111th/Cottage Grove Ave or Metra Electric to/from 111/Pullman station (which is not ADA
accessible) or to/from 115/Kensington (which is ADA accessible).
Admission: Free.
Program: "Tom Hollyman’s aerial photographs of the railroads in Chicago," a presentation by Bob Fredland.
This is essentially a modified version of the presentation that Bob gave at one of our local
meetings and then at a following PRRT&HS Annual meeting.
Oct 27 (Friday)
Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM)
Location: 899 S. Plymouth Ct.
For your first visit, you might need a bit of wayfinding:
Though the building is marked “899 South Plymouth,” you can’t actually enter from that street.
The staffed entrance is on 9th St., just west of State St. There you’ll be welcomed by a doorman
and sent up the elevator to the mezzanine-level meeting room.
The building entrance is just 1500 feet from Roosevelt Green/Orange/Red Line stations, or 900
feet from the Polk exit from Harrison Red Line station (but there is no elevator at Harrison).
Buses 29, 62, and 146 stop at the corner of 9th & State.
Parking is available in the buildings on the east side of State Street, and can be prepaid at
discount rates through SpotHero.com or ParkWhiz.com. Several restaurants are quite
convenient, including Chicago Curry House in the same building, Bar Louie in Dearborn Station
and Taco Maya and Lou Malnati’s Pizza, both just across State St.
Admission: Members for the year 2023 (and their spouse) are admitted free. All others are asked to pay a
$5.00 admission. Of course, payment of 2023 membership dues can be made at-the-door.
Program: To be announced.
Dec 1 (Friday) Omnibus Society of America meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM -- Please do not arrive before 6:45 PM)
Location: San Lucas United Church of Christ (Basement), 2914 W North Ave
Enter the basement from the walkway on the side of the building. There are steps into the
basement. The church is on the north side of North Avenue between Francisco and Richmond
(across the street from Humboldt Park).
If using public transit, Get off CTA bus #72 NORTH bus at Francisco, or get off CTA bus #94 --
CALIFORNIA bus at North Ave and walk west.
There is plenty of on-street parking eastbound on the south side of North Ave adjacent to
Humboldt Park, or in a small parking lot behind the church.
Call Adam on 847 215-0180 if there are difficulties.
Admission: Members and their guest are admitted without charge. All other are asked to make a $5.00
contribution.
Program: A presentation by long-time bus photographer Vincent Allen.
Nov 17 (Friday)
Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM)
Location: Chicago Union Station (500 W Jackson Blvd)
Room 107A (There are steps up to this room.) 500 W Jackson Blvd (You must enter the station
between Clinton and Canal.)
Web site: https://rscc.dhke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/railroadshortlinecc
Email: shortlinechicagoHS@hotmail.com
For program announcements by email, send a blank message To: rscc+subscribe@groups.io
Phone number for program announcement: 312 725-0432 Leave a message and your call will
be returned. This number is answered during programs for assistance.
Admission: Free.
Program: "Chicago-St Louis and Chicago-Evansville on the C&EI," a presentation by William Shapotkin.
Nov 24 (Friday)
Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM)
Location: 899 S. Plymouth Ct.
For your first visit, you might need a bit of wayfinding:
Though the building is marked “899 South Plymouth,” you can’t actually enter from that street.
The staffed entrance is on 9th St., just west of State St. There you’ll be welcomed by a doorman
and sent up the elevator to the mezzanine-level meeting room.
The building entrance is just 1500 feet from Roosevelt Green/Orange/Red Line stations, or 900
feet from the Polk exit from Harrison Red Line station (but there is no elevator at Harrison).
Buses 29, 62, and 146 stop at the corner of 9th & State.
Parking is available in the buildings on the east side of State Street, and can be prepaid at
discount rates through SpotHero.com or ParkWhiz.com. Several restaurants are quite
convenient, including Chicago Curry House in the same building, Bar Louie in Dearborn Station
and Taco Maya and Lou Malnati’s Pizza, both just across State St.
Admission: Members for the year 2023 (and their spouse) are admitted free. All others are asked to pay a
$5.00 admission. Of course, payment of 2023 membership dues can be made at-the-door.
Program: "The streetcars of Lafayette and Logansport, IN," by William Shapotkin.
Nov 3 (Friday) Omnibus Society of America meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM -- Please do not arrive before 6:45 PM)
Location: San Lucas United Church of Christ (Basement), 2914 W North Ave
Enter the basement from the walkway on the side of the building. There are steps into the
basement. The church is on the north side of North Avenue between Francisco and Richmond
(across the street from Humboldt Park).
If using public transit, Get off CTA bus #72 NORTH bus at Francisco, or get off CTA bus #94 --
CALIFORNIA bus at North Ave and walk west.
There is plenty of on-street parking eastbound on the south side of North Ave adjacent to
Humboldt Park, or in a small parking lot behind the church.
Call Adam on 847 215-0180 if there are difficulties.
Admission: Members and their guest are admitted without charge. All other are asked to make a $5.00
contribution.
Program: "Badger State Buses and other Midwest Properties," by Michael Muellenbch.
Dec 15 (Friday)
Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM)
Location: Chicago Union Station (500 W Jackson Blvd)
Room 107A (There are steps up to this room.) 500 W Jackson Blvd (You must enter the station
between Clinton and Canal.)
Web site: https://rscc.dhke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/railroadshortlinecc
Email: shortlinechicagoHS@hotmail.com
For program announcements by email, send a blank message To: rscc+subscribe@groups.io
Phone number for program announcement: 312 725-0432 Leave a message and your call will
be returned. This number is answered during programs for assistance.
Admission: Free.
Program: Program to be announced.
Dec 22 (Friday)
Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM)
Location: 899 S. Plymouth Ct.
For your first visit, you might need a bit of wayfinding:
Though the building is marked “899 South Plymouth,” you can’t actually enter from that street.
The staffed entrance is on 9th St., just west of State St. There you’ll be welcomed by a doorman
and sent up the elevator to the mezzanine-level meeting room.
The building entrance is just 1500 feet from Roosevelt Green/Orange/Red Line stations, or 900
feet from the Polk exit from Harrison Red Line station (but there is no elevator at Harrison).
Buses 29, 62, and 146 stop at the corner of 9th & State.
Parking is available in the buildings on the east side of State Street, and can be prepaid at
discount rates through SpotHero.com or ParkWhiz.com. Several restaurants are quite
convenient, including Chicago Curry House in the same building, Bar Louie in Dearborn Station
and Taco Maya and Lou Malnati’s Pizza, both just across State St.
Admission: Members for the year 2023 (and their spouse) are admitted free. All others are asked to pay a
$5.00 admission. Of course, payment of 2023 membership dues can be made at-the-door.
Program: To be announced.
Jan 5 (Friday) Omnibus Society of America meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM -- Please do not arrive before 6:45 PM)
Location: San Lucas United Church of Christ (Basement), 2914 W North Ave
Enter the basement from the walkway on the side of the building. There are steps into the
basement. The church is on the north side of North Avenue between Francisco and Richmond
(across the street from Humboldt Park).
If using public transit, Get off CTA bus #72 NORTH bus at Francisco, or get off CTA bus #94 --
CALIFORNIA bus at North Ave and walk west.
There is plenty of on-street parking eastbound on the south side of North Ave adjacent to
Humboldt Park, or in a small parking lot behind the church.
Call Adam on 847 215-0180 if there are difficulties.
Admission: Members and their guest are admitted without charge. All other are asked to make a $5.00
contribution.
Program: To be announced.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2024 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jan20 (Saturday) Chicago Terminal Chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society meeting (2:00-4:00 PM)
Location: Historical Pullman District Visitors Center (11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave) in Chicago.
Location is accessible to public transportation using CTA bus #4 , #111A or 115 to/from
111th/Cottage Grove Ave or Metra Electric to/from 111/Pullman station (which is not ADA
accessible) or to/from 115/Kensington (which is ADA accessible).
Admission: Free.
Program: To be announced.
Jan 19 (Friday)
Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM)
Location: Chicago Union Station (500 W Jackson Blvd)
Room 107A (There are steps up to this room.) 500 W Jackson Blvd (You must enter the station
between Clinton and Canal.)
Web site: https://rscc.dhke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/railroadshortlinecc
Email: shortlinechicagoHS@hotmail.com
For program announcements by email, send a blank message To: rscc+subscribe@groups.io
Phone number for program announcement: 312 725-0432 Leave a message and your call will
be returned. This number is answered during programs for assistance.
Admission: Free.
Program: Program to be announced.
Jan 26 (Friday)
Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM)
Location: 899 S. Plymouth Ct.
For your first visit, you might need a bit of wayfinding:
Though the building is marked “899 South Plymouth,” you can’t actually enter from that street.
The staffed entrance is on 9th St., just west of State St. There you’ll be welcomed by a doorman
and sent up the elevator to the mezzanine-level meeting room.
The building entrance is just 1500 feet from Roosevelt Green/Orange/Red Line stations, or 900
feet from the Polk exit from Harrison Red Line station (but there is no elevator at Harrison).
Buses 29, 62, and 146 stop at the corner of 9th & State.
Parking is available in the buildings on the east side of State Street, and can be prepaid at
discount rates through SpotHero.com or ParkWhiz.com. Several restaurants are quite
convenient, including Chicago Curry House in the same building, Bar Louie in Dearborn Station
and Taco Maya and Lou Malnati’s Pizza, both just across State St.
Admission: Members for the year 2023 (and their spouse) are admitted free. All others are asked to pay a
$5.00 admission. Of course, payment of 2023 membership dues can be made at-the-door.
Program: To be announced.