ILSR Updates: Dues, Officers, Newsletter, and Great Train Show This Weekend

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We have several important updates to share as we head into the new year. Please take a moment to review the items below and mark your calendars where needed.

📬 Membership Dues Reminder

Membership dues are due to be mailed today.
If you have not yet sent your dues, please be sure to mail them promptly or let Doug Lynn know if your payment is already in the mail. Keeping dues current helps the club continue to operate smoothly and support events throughout the year.

👋 Welcome Our 2026–2027 Club Officers

A new officer term begins this year, and we are thankful for those who have stepped up to serve. Please join us in welcoming the 2026–2027 ILSR Club Officers:

President
James Driesbach

Vice President (Programs)
Lance Brock

Newsletter Editor
Danni Mills

Treasurer / Secretary
Doug Lynn

Membership Chair
Jeff Carter

Thank you to each of you for your willingness to serve the club.

📰 Winter 2026 Newsletter Now Available

The Winter 2026 ILSR Newsletter has been posted and is ready to read. Be sure to check it out for club news, updates, and features.
Also, don’t forget that GRNews has several editions available as well—great reading for any large-scale railroading enthusiast.

🚂 ILSR at the Great Train Show – This Weekend!

ILSR will have its modular G-scale layout set up at the Great Train Show this coming weekend. Members are encouraged to attend and help support the club. Please let James know if you plan to be there to help with the layout.

Great Train Show – Indianapolis
📍 Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Centers
1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205

🗓 February 7–8
⏰ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (both days)

Show Highlights Include:

  • 400+ tables of trains and accessories for sale
  • Dealers from across the country
  • Huge operating model railroad displays
  • Free workshops and demonstrations
  • Free test track
  • Riding train for kids
  • And much more!

Operating layouts include:

  • Indiana Large Scale Railroaders – 40’ x 55’ (G Scale)
  • Plus O, HO, N, and G scale layouts from clubs across the region

🎉 Special for Kids:
The first 300 kids on Saturday receive a FREE Thomas the Tank Engine button!

Admission:

  • Adults: $14 Saturday / $13 Sunday (cash only at the door)
  • Discount tickets available online (save $2)
  • Kids 11 and under are FREE with an adult

Summer Newsletter Now Available and Events Page Updated

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We’re rolling into the second half of summer, and with that comes new events, fresh track time, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow railroaders across Indiana and beyond.

📬 The ILSR Summer Newsletter is now posted, featuring the complete lineup of remaining summer and fall events. Whether you’re planning to attend a local show or catch up on club updates, you’ll find it all inside.

🗓️ Our Events page has also been updated to reflect the latest schedule, so you can mark your calendars and plan your next railroad adventure.

📸 The attached photos in this post are from the recent Railroad Open House and Modular Setup hosted at the home of Ed Reiskamp. A big thank you to Ed for welcoming the club and sharing his layout with everyone. It was a great day of trains, fellowship, and fun.

View the Latest Newsletter
Check Out the Updated Events Schedule

We hope all our Indiana Large Scale Railroaders are having a grand summer out on the high iron, dodging this hot, almost Florida-like weather while keeping those trains running smoothly and steadily.

Stay cool, stay on track, and we’ll see you at the next event!

All Aboard for Summer Fun: Mark Your Calendars, Engineers!

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With the spring behind us and our garden rails itching to breathe again, it’s time to shake off the winter rust and fire up the locomotives — because ILSR is rolling into a busy summer schedule!

If you read the latest newsletter (and if you didn’t, we won’t derail your membership… yet), you already know we’ve got a full load of exciting events just around the bend. So don’t miss your chance to join your fellow railroaders for some trackside fellowship, fun, and maybe a few friendly “That’s not prototypical!” debates.

🚂 June 14 & 15 – Triple Open House at the Reiskamps’

  • 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM – Both Saturday and Sunday

  • Home of Ed & Vickie Reiskamp

  • This layout has so much going on, we’re calling it a Triple Open House — more railroading than you can shake a switchstand at!

  • Come for the trains, stay for the scenery, and bring your favorite railfan stories.

🚋 July 12 – Whitewater Valley Railroad Trip

  • All aboard in Connersville, IN, headed to Metamora and back.

  • A perfect mid-summer rail adventure with real steel rails under your feet, and a great way to support a piece of Indiana’s rail history.

  • Pack your camera, sunscreen, and your best conductor impression.

🏡 July 26 – Open House

  • Details coming soon, but expect another fantastic backyard railway experience with all the usual ILSR charm: well-laid track, great conversation, and probably someone forgetting where they parked a boxcar.

Let’s make this summer one to remember. Whether you’re new to the hobby or you’ve got ballast in your boots from 30 years of track-laying, these events are for YOU. So bring your family, invite a friend, and don’t forget to bring your club name badge (and maybe a lawn chair — or two).

Keep those wheels turning and your calendars marked!

– The ILSR Crew

Clearing the Tracks Through the Winter Blues: Happy New Year from ILSR!

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Well folks, the frost is still nipping, the garden is snoozing, and our locomotives are nestled snug in their winter bunkers (or, in my case, under a blanket in the basement next to the water heater). But here at the Indiana Large Scale Railroaders, we know that even if the rails outside are frozen, the love of the hobby keeps chugging along inside.

Let’s be honest—winter is that season where you start missing the smell of crushed limestone, the hum of a transformer, and the thrill of watching your perfectly tuned Shay slowly tip over a plastic goat you forgot to move last fall.

But don’t worry! While the flowers nap and the track heaves like a rollercoaster at Holiday World, we press on:

  • Need a winter project? Now’s the perfect time to clean those wheels—just remember: if your brass track is too clean, your trains might start sliding into 2026.

  • Dreaming of spring? You’re not alone. I caught myself drawing ballast lines on the kitchen counter last week. My spouse was… less enthusiastic.

  • Fighting cabin fever? Try talking to your locomotives like they’re coworkers. Bonus points if you name one “HR” and blame it for the derailments.

In all seriousness, we hope your holidays were joyful, your trains stayed warm, and your controllers didn’t short out from cookie crumbs and stray pine needles.

As we roll into 2025, we want to wish each and every member a blessed and joy-filled New Year. We’re excited for another season of running trains, fixing track, pulling weeds, and making memories with our club family.

🚨 Quick reminder: Club dues are now due! 🚨
Your dues help keep our club running smoother than a freshly-oiled Pacific. They fund events, maintain the layout, and make sure we always have just enough money for emergency rail clamps and donuts.

So please send those in soon—you don’t want to be that car that gets left in the siding come spring.

Stay warm, stay steamy (or battery-powered—we don’t judge), and keep those dreams of green grass and clean track alive.

January 2024 Updates

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A few quick club updates:

The Winter Newsletter is uploaded for your enjoyment. Bud takes us down memory lane (rails?) of past club events to tackle why the (G scale) hobby isn’t derailed, part I of Sean’s trolley project, and more!

Also updated is the first club event of the year at World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour & Great Train Show where our massive modular layout will be setup. Don’t miss it!

PS. Don’t forget to send your dues to Doug Lynn by January 31, 2024!

August 2023 Events and Updates

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August is here and below are some key updates:

First up is a reminder from James about the Franklin show:

Okay guys, one week from today is set up time. They have the set-up time starting at 3:00pm on Friday. We should meet at the Fairgrounds at 2:30pm so we can get pre-staged and ready. Plus, we might be able to sneak in a little early. From talking to Michael Roderick before, the building I believe we will be at is the Fitzpatrick hall. Easy to see and get to from the south entrance of the fairgrounds. We need to meet at the back of that building and I will have our final info at that time. All of you bringing trains to run, remember we are only setting up a 30 x 20 and no yard. So, it would be best to not run a 40 or 50 car freight train. This will be the smallest set up we have ever done for a show. As always, please let me know if and when you will be able to help with set up and tear down. You can email me and call or text.

Thanks, James H. Driesbach – mgc

We need candidates for officers for the fall election. Contact any current officer today!

Club Officers

Those looking to carpool to EnterTrainment Junction, are encouraged to meet at Castleton Christian Church.  Address is 7214 Hague Road Indianapolis at 9:00am. If not, plan to meet at EnterTrainment around 11:00am.

August Events List:

August 2023
No event found!

September Events List:

September 2023
No event found!

July 2023 Updates

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Hey, did you read your copy of the summer newsletter? If not, it is posted on the newsletter page for you enjoyment.

There are several activities that are now on the schedule. Please be sure to note the events in you calendar. Special attention should be given to the July 29 Club Picnic. Also the Modular Layout will be setup August 5-6 at the Franklin Train Show! Be sure to watch for James’ emails for notes about setup times.

Enjoy the summer track time!