This page was last updated: September 20, 2026
- CALENDAR OF EVENTS -
A listing of all known rail and transit enthusiast events happening in and around theChicago 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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2026 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Oct 24 (Saturday) Chicago Terminal Chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society meeting (2:00-5:00 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.
Information: ld_mlc43@comcast.netJan 25
Sept 25 (Friday) Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting.
Location: )
Admission: ) No meeting scheduled.
Program: ).
Questions: ceraoffice@gmail.com
Oct 2 (Friday) Omnibus Society of America meeting. (6:30-8:30 PM -- Please do not arrive before 6:15 PM)
Location: Skokie Public Library --Business and Community Center( 2nd Floor), 5215 Oakton St in
Skokie, Illinois.
The library is on the south side of Oakton St. west of Lincoln Ave. There is an "L" station at Oakton
St. on the Skokie Swift (Yellow Line). Get Off the 97 Skokie bus or 210 Lincoln Avenue bus at
Lincoln and Oakton, or the 226 Oakton Street bus at Laramie. There is plenty of off-street parking
in lots both east and west of the library.
Admission: Free.
Program: "Streetcars of Japan," by Bruce Moffat.
Contact Info: Call Adam Kerman at 847 215-0180.
Oct 16 (Friday) Railroad and Shortlines Club of Chicago meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM -- Please do not arrive before 7:15 PM)
Location: Chicago Union Station (500 W. Jackson) -- Room 107A.
Please enter at 500 W Jackson between Clinton and Canal.
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.
Contact Info: Call Adam Kerman at 847 215-0180.
Oct 23 (Friday) Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting. (7:00 -9:30 PM.
Location: 400 E Randolph St -- Room 700.
Admission: Members and their guest are admitted without charge. All other are asked to make a $5.00
contribution.
Program: "South Shore Line -- America's Modern Interurban," by William Shapotkin. It has been 100 years
since the re-electrification of the South Shore Line from an AC-powered operation to 1,500 Volt
DC operation and extension of thru trains into Chicago. In the intervening years, street operations
thru East Chicago, Michigan City and South have been eliminated. The railroad has been double-
tracked as far east as Michigan Blvd in Michigan City and the east end-of-line has been changed to
serve South Bend Airport.
Additionally, we will look at the short-lived streetcar operations to Indiana Harbor and Tolleston --
as well as thru train-bus service to Benton Harbor and Detroit, MI.
Join us as we take a look at the changes have happened along "The Little Orange Railroad," as it
transformed itself from a country interurban into a modern suburban operation -- including bi-level
equipment and the creation of the "Monon Corridor" to serve Dyer, IN.
Questions: ceraoffice@gmail.com
