This page was last updated: April 26, 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
to be made to your event, contact Bill Shapotkin at traingg1@aol.com.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2023 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -







Apr 28 (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:      "South Shore Line -- the Orange Car Era," by Norman Krental.
Information:  https://www.cera-chicago.org/events
July 22 (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. 
Information:   ld_mlc43@comcast.net
May 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:        "Musing by Muellenbach," a tour of Midwestern transit properties by Michael Muellenbach.
​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.
May 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:      "The North Shore Line," by David Sadowski.
May 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.
Information:  https://www.cera-chicago.org/events
June 2 (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:        "Greyhound Intercity buses," a presentation by William M. Shapotkin.
​June 2 (Friday) Blackhawk Chapter -- NRHS meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM)
Location:        Gladys Fox Museum (231 E. 9th St).in Lockport, Illinois.
Admission:     Free.
Program:        To be announced.
June 16 (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:      "Metra Update and MILW Bloomingdale branch andFinal Days of The Chicago Terminal RR,"
                     by Mark Llanuza.
June 23 (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 Great Third Rail Remembered," a look back at operations of the Chicago Aurora and Elgin,"
                     by William M. Shapotkin.
Information:  https://www.cera-chicago.org/events