Updates

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

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.

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!

Catching up on the news!

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Hello all, I was a bit behind on posting the fall newsletter here on the website. In that time the September/October Garden Railroading News has come out. Please enjoy.

In other news, the next couple of events are just around the corner. First is the November 20 Danville Train Show and (yes it is that time already) Jingle Rails!

Lastly, a shout out to the last Modular Layout setup getting a brief mention in the news shown below.

CANCELED: Modular Setup at the Upland Strawberry Festival

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As you know, we continue to deal with the pandemic and the governors guidelines. I, along with the club president and board members have decided it would be best to not do the Upland show. Also, the Castleton Christian church has cancelled their September festival. At this time, unless we decide to do the Fort Wayne show, possibly in November, we will not be setting up until February of 2021. I have been in contact with Bill Grove (Great Train Expo) and they have been out of their office for the month of May and are just beginning to get back sometime mid to late June. The fall and winter schedule is not yet put together. if at all possible, I would like to try to do the Fort Wayne show to make up for the two we lost this year, provided the date works out and there is enough interest. We would be taking just the one trailer up and putting the layout we use in Upland. Last year they moved the date for the Fort Wayne show out of December and it was the week before Thanksgiving. I am continuing to look for possible new shows, when I find one of interest I will notify you by email. I know Dave Wheelock has been keeping you updated, but I wanted to make sure you guys knew I am working on getting us back on track.
THANKS, JAMES H. DRIESBACH–MODULAR GROUP COORDINATOR

April 2020 Newsletter and Updates

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HI everyone!

I know everything is a bit discouraging right now, so I hope this update will allow you enjoy some trains and be distracted. The April 2020 Newsletter is now posted on the Newsletter page for members. It is filled with activity updates including a spring banquet cancellation/postponement. But there are other good things to enjoy.

Starting today through April 11, Kalmbach Media is ‘unlocking’ all of their premium web content for those who are not yet subscribed. This includes special content from Trains Magazine, Garden Railways, Model Railroader, and Model Railroader Video Plus to name a few. You can read more here.

Also, through April 6, USA Trains/Charles Ro Supply Company is having a special sale since the East Coast Large Scale Train Show was canceled. Be sure to check out the special sale here.

Lastly, if something would come up and you are in need during this time, please reach out let me or the leadership of the club know. If we can, we will help. God bless, Andrew

Latest Newsletters and website issues

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Hi all,

Recently you may have had an issue trying to log in to the website. There was an automatic update that caused some issues to everyone’s account. It has since been resolved (knock on wood). In the process of fixing the issue I had to reset all the passwords for every account. You can regain access to the website with your account after you complete a password reset.

I have also update the Newsletter page with (hopefully) better organization.  Please let me know your thoughts on the new layout.

 

Andrew