NWI CHAPTER
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
October 2025 from
Jerry Pyfer

NWI on the Road to Savanna, IL
Saturday morning the 25th of September I awoke to a dimly lit room. What was I thinking, as a retiree, I seldom rise before the crack of 10am. Driving to Savanna, Illinois when the meeting could have taken place in Rockford and in the afternoon to boot.

I have driven to Savanna quite a few times on my own routings. I decided to give Goggle maps the compass. It directed me to drive Montague Road west out of Rockford. What a pleasant surprise.

I missed every town until I passed thru Shannon. I felt like I was deadheading to Savanna for a relief crew on the Milwaukee Road. I had to make a pit-stop in Shannon at the Casey’s as a front tire was begging for air. The air compressor machine would only take a credit card to pump the air. Am I that far behind the times?

Arriving in Savanna in great time, I had to stop in Dollar General, which set atop the roundhouse site. A set of CP units dared me to photograph them, I did as a BNSF northbound auto-rack train passed over the diamonds.

I arrived at the Savanna Museum and Cultural Center in the pleasant autumn morning. The Iowa guys were finishing setting up. The room was set to seat about 50 folks, far more than we needed but you are better to have too many than not enough. The Iowa Chapter conducted their annual meeting business. We didn’t have any NWI Chapter business to conduct.

I followed with my “The Latter Day Milwaukee Road” show. After which we toured the museum and with great interest, the model railroad upstairs. It was quite an extensive railroad with a great deal of completed scenery and details. The main idea was to replicate Savanna with both railroads represented. One had to do quite a bit of eye squinting to make it so. But I give them a heaping helping of credit for a fine flawlessly operating layout anyway. The model railroad is open to visitors on Saturdays from Noon until 4pm.

Lunch was across the street and down a block or two. It made for a nice afternoon stroll.

Arriving back, we took in NWI slide shows featuring the Savanna area from Jeremy Schrader, Jason Leverton, Gilbert Sebenste and Dan Fredrickson. I had hoped the Iowa guys would have contributed a show or two. It is always nice to see photographic work of others.

As for a head count, the Iowa Chapter hosted about eight of their members. The NWI Chapter saw about seventeen members come and go thru the day. We had a respectable showing considering the drive.

In the end, I must say I had a pleasant day despite the early morning get-up-time. And I was home by 5:00pm.

NWI Holiday Party Returns
New NWI Board Director Todd Aspling was interested in restarting the old NWI tradition of a Christmas dinner in December. Expenses and lack of enthusiasm ended the long tradition of old.

Todd has been working diligently to find a venue and meal deals for several months. Here now are the results.

The NWI Chapter will host a Holiday Party on Sunday December 14, 2025. We will party at the Lynn-Scott-Rock Fire Department building in beautiful “downtown” Davis Junction. If you are wondering, the name comes from the Ogle county townships they protect.

Doors will officially open at 1pm for socializing and a railfan base of operations. Slide shows are slated to begin at 2pm. Dinner is set for 3pm. Now Todd says he will be on hand at the station by 10:00am if you want a railfan base of operation.

Dinner will be catered by Hoffman House of Rockford. The menu list will feature Roast Beef-Roast Turkey & Dressing, Rosemary Red Potatoes-Mashed Potatoes & Gravy -Green Beans - Corn O’Brien-Salad-Bread & butter. Beverages will be provided by Friends the NWI Chapter.

Reservations are $28 per person. Still, this is quite a dinner spread.

You are invited to share up to 20 slides of either digital or traditional film slides. You pick the topic. Additional show time will be after dinner for sharing slides. If you are so inclined to present a multi-media show, please limit to 15-minutes or less. If you are presenting, please notify Jerry Pyfer to create the list. Due to lighting, traditional film slides will appear after dinner.

We must be cleaned up and out by 8pm. Here we can really use your help.

We will have an area to display your favorite model train or two. I have a 6-foot two track diorama on which to share track space.

The party registration form will be in the October and November NWL and must be returned with your check payable to the NWI Chapter by the November 29th Chapter meeting in person or via the PO Box. No refunds. You don’t have to be a chapter associate to join the fun.

I say you can’t beat 40 attendees, prove me wrong.

Election off year
When the chapter went to two-year terms of office, the election occurs in the even-numbered years. See you eager candidates next year.

Dues renewal Season nearly here
The NWI Chapter dues renewal season kicks off in November. A renewal form will be enclosed within that issue. Dues will remain the same for both the NWI and the NRHS National dues.

NWI Roster Update Time
The NWI Chapter roster will be updated for inclusion in the November NWL. If you need anything updated, now is the time. Contacting me after November 1st will be too late.

On a personal note: My “Milwaukee Road - The Rest of the Story” book sequel has seemed like it began a year ago, wait, it was started a year ago. Anyway, the book should be about ready for the proof-reading very soon.

I hope to have it revealed by Thanksgiving, at least for Christmas. Where the first book had a run of 1,000 copies, this book will only have 250 copies.

I don’t have a price yet.
If this edition sells well, I might be able to finally get my Illinois Central Gulf book underway.

Railfanning is…
Railfanning is, believe it or not, attending a grandson’s junior league school football game. When the sound rang out signaling the end of a quarter, it sounded real familiar.

By the second game it became clear. Zooming the camera toward the top of the media box, there it set, a Nathan K5LA horn

For more information about the Chapter, see Meetings and Join.