2023 Events

Great Train Show – Indianapolis 2025

Updates from James:

1/31/25: Okay guys, we are just 1 week away from set up. I got my first floor plan print out about 2 weeks ago and it stated set up time for layouts being at 2:00pm. I always double check for updates just before I send this email out. Set up time for layouts has changed to 1:00pm.  So, it will be 1:00pm to 6:00pm on Friday and 8:00am to 10:00am on Saturday for any finishing we need to do.  Please let me know if and when you can make it for set up and or tear down, except for those of you I already know unless your status has changed. Just a heads up for those of you that will be unloading trailer #2, we are only going to use 1 of Andy’s modules, I needed the extra 5 feet to fill in a gap. I have plans on decorating it so it will be okay. I also have 70 freshly printed club brochures with the correct info and some extra newsletters I will have with me.  It looks like the weather is going to be a little better than what we were dealing with a couple of weeks ago. 
 
                       Thanks, James H. Driesbach–MGC

From the Show Organizers:

Show Features‍
‍The Expo Center is packed full of Tables of Trains for Sale
250+ Tables of Trains
Dealers from across the country with merchandise for sale, including: Engines, Rolling Stock, DVD’s,
Hats, Scenery, Material, Track, T-Shirts, Books, Magazines, Tools, Lionel, DCC, Thomas, New, Used, Collectible,
Jackets, Toys, Maps, Memorabilia, Everything Trains!
Huge Operating Model Train Displays
Free Workshops and Demonstrations
Free Test Track – Test Run Your Trains at the Show
Riding Train for Kids!
Plus Much, Much More!

Operating Model Railroads Include:
‍Miami Valley Modular Railway – ’60 x 80’ – HO Scale
Central Indiana N-Trak – 70’ x 70’ – N Scale
Modular Railroad Partners – 40’ x 60’ – O Guage
Indiana Large Scale Railroaders – 43’ x 50’ – G Scale
MiddleFork & CedarRidge Rwy – 25’ x 30’ – N Scale
Lantern Hill Lines – 14’ x 34’ – O Scale
Rose-Hulman Model Railroading Club – 6’ x 12’ – HO & N Scale
Waterman Valley Railroad – 10’ x 36’ – G Scale & LEGO LAYOUT

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‍Riding Train for kids!!‍
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‍Onsite Admission: $13.00 for Adults on Saturday, $12.00 for Adults on Sunday
Cash only at the door. Saturday tickets good for both days!

Discount Tickets Online! – Use the link above and SAVE!
Online price $12.00 for adults on Saturday. $11.00 for adults on Sunday.

KIDS ARE FREE (11 and under) with adult
and do not require a ticket.

August 2023 Events and Updates

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

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!

June 2023 Updates

What great end spring and a great start to summer! And with the start of June, brings a few events and other updates. First don’t forget June 10th is the annual Upland Strawberry Festival! Be sure to check out some new modules on the layout while getting your strawberry fix. June 24th, Lance & Vickie Brock are hosting our first open house of the season. This open house will include a pitch-in lunch! See the event page for details. 

Also of note, there have been a few items and collections posted on the for sale page. Long time member Pauline Sparger is selling her entire collection before moving to Florida. She needs all items picked up by July 15th, so contact her if you are interested.

Great Train Show 2023 Recap and Upcoming Shows

Our next show is in Upland June 10th, set up on Friday the 9th. Then we will be in Franklin Indiana for the NMRA show August 5th and 6th, set up on Friday the 4th. After that we will be in Lebanon for the Back to the fifty’s festival September 16th, set up on Thursday and or Friday 14th and 15th.  

Thanks, James H. Driesbach MGC 

Back to the Fifties Festival 2023

The Modular Layout will be appearing at the Back to the Fifties Festival in the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Members interested in helping setup, cleanup, and run trains are encouraged to reach out to James Driesbach.

We will be in Lebanon for the Back to the fifty’s festival September 16th and 17th, set up on Thursday and or Friday 14th and 15th. Thanks, James H. Driesbach MGC | 2/13/23

Franklin Train Show 2023 | CID NMRA

Saturday August 5 from 10AM – 4PM and Sunday August 6 from 10AM- 3 PM, there is a Central Indiana Division of the NMRA Train show at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, 250 Fairgrounds St. Franklin, IN 46131.

Admission is $7.  Our Modular group will also have a layout set up at the show so don’t forget to look for the group.  This show is quite large using multiple buildings so there is a lot to see.

Hope many of you are able to join us.

Organizer information: https://www.cidnmra.org/services

There we will be in Franklin Indiana for the NMRA show August 5th and 6th, set up on Friday the 4th. Thanks, James H. Driesbach MGC | 2/13/23

Annual Upland Strawberry Festival – 2023

The Annual Upland Strawberry Festival and Train Show will be held at the downtown Railroad Depot Park in Upland, IN. from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to participate in this popular summer event to enjoy live music, food, a variety of tempting fresh strawberry desserts, the restored Upland railroad depot, and of course, the great G-scale Train Exhibit put on by our own ILSR Club’s Modular Division in the Exhibit Hall.

This event makes a great “Wander Indiana” road trip drive north to Upland, which is also the home of Taylor University and the ever-popular Ivanhoes. You are welcome to drive through the university campus located on the south edge of town, in case you have never done so on this Saturday as well. This event makes for a fun-filled getaway Saturday for the whole family.

Club members, be sure to watch for an email update from James about setup and operation details.

Our next show is in Upland June 10th, set up on Friday the 9th. Thanks, James H. Driesbach MGC | 2/13/23

Great Train Show – Indiana Fairgrounds

Greetings to all Indiana Larger Scale Railroaders.  The winter months make difficult to do a lot with Garden Railroads in Indiana.  So if your needing some model railroading time you may want to check this out. The Great Train Show is at the Indiana State Fairgrounds,  Saturday February 12, 10AM – 4PM and Sunday February 13, 10AM – 4PM.  Our Modular Railroad group will also have the ILSR modular layout set-up.  So if you have some free time you may want to make a trip out to the State Fairgrounds.  If you are interested in helping set-up the modular layout contact James Driesbach, the set-up will begin on Friday if you are interested.

I look forward seeing you this Spring as we start events for the season with our Spring Banquet – information will be available in our April Newsletter.

Dave Wheelock
President

Great Train Show – Indianapolis 2023

The only coast-to-coast traveling train show, with events each year in dozens of major cities across the country. Each show features hundreds of tables of trains for sale, huge operating displays, activities for kids and more.

2/2/22 – Okay guys, we are just 9 days away till set up for the train show. According to my paperwork, set up times for the layouts is 1:00pm to 6:00pm on Friday and 7:00am to 10:00am on Saturday. We need to try to be there by 12:30pm on Friday to get ourselves measured and ready. Also remember, after I get as many parking passes as possible from the manager on duty, I will take a head count and the club will buy what we need so everyone there on Friday that will be coming back Saturday and or Sunday, especially Sunday will have a parking pass. Tear down is at 4:00pm on Sunday at the close of the show. Please let me know when and what days you can make to the show. Once again, I want to thank all of you for helping to keep this modular layout going. I want to give a special thanks to Geoff Schwartz for being able and willing to help me get the trailers to the fairgrounds. I am bringing trailer #1 from Avon and Geoff is bringing trailer #2 from Marshalls there in McCordsville so we will have the full layout. Thanks, James H. Driesbach–MGC

1/15/23 – Okay guys, we are 26 days away from our next show. This is just a show reminder to help keep us all focused. I will have our set up info in about a week. Show is February 10th, 11th and 12th with the 10th being set up day. I will send out my usual before the show email at the end of January with details. I appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to keep this layout going. Thanks, James H. Driesbach–MGC