NWI CHAPTER
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
September 2024 from
Jerry Pyfer

NWI Chapter Business

NWI Chapter is on the Road Again

The NWI Chapter September 28th meeting will be on the road.

We have been invited and will take part in a joint meeting with the Iowa Chapter in Clinton, Iowa. We are meeting at the Clinton County Historical Society Museum at 607 South First St.

The joint meeting will begin with business meetings, the first held by the Iowa Chapter at 10am. The NWI chapter business meeting will begin following the Iowa Chapter.

A lunch break will follow the business meetings on your own.

We will resume the meeting with slide presentations at 12:30pm. NWI members have been invited to offer our collection of slides relative to the Clinton, Iowa area. You can sign-up with me if you have a slide show either digital or film slides to present. We are not looking for multi-media shows for this meeting. Thus far, we have three confirmed show contributors.

We are looking at wrapping up the meeting by 4pm.

The museum can accommodate up to 40 participants.

NWI Chapter Oregon Depot Meeting

August 24th saw the NWI Chapter meet once again at the restored CB&Q depot in Oregon, Illinois.

As you may know it, most of the prior week the weather was quite comfortable, until Saturday. It was hot and humid, but the depot air conditioner was working perfectly. We had 32 attendees.

Over the course of our time there, the BNSF offered up only six passing trains and no meets. Last year was much busier including two meets.

The Twin Zephyr dome observation car, “Silver View” was opened for our inspection by the car owner, Mike Abernethy. Mike told us about how he acquired the car and had it moved to the Oregon depot grounds.

Most of the folks joining us opted for pizza. I didn’t have to bring out the grill. Which is what I might do next year, leave the grill at home.

Jason Leverton volunteered to lead the Nominating Committee for NWI officers. He will seek an additional assistant to enlist potential candidates. I am aware two positions will be open. Please consider running for an office.

The depot folks have been adding new electronic gear to the point I might only have to bring my laptop and the film slide projector next year.

The depot also received a donated paved parking lot since we last met.

Rockford O-Scalers Open House

The Rockford O-Scalers will host their bi-annual open house Saturday, November 2nd between 12 Noon and 6:00pm.

The layout is at 3886 Lookout Drive, Rockford, Illinois. This is on Rockford’s far south side near Jefferson High School.

You will never cease to be amazed by both the basement and first floor O-gauge model train displays.

Railfanning is…

Railfanning is being stopped at the Windsor Road grade crossing in Loves Park blocked by the UP train standing still, and not turning around.

Can You Help Me

This story began with a telephone call from NWI subscriber George Strombeck.

His family believes George, who was living on his own, would be better cared for in an assisted living center. The problem would be fitting a two-story house worth of collectables, with basement to fit into a two-room apartment.

George was afraid the family was leaning toward the quick and easy solution, a dumpster. This has happened more than once to friends whose family took the easy way out.

Thus, George gave me a call that he would have to move in three weeks, stuff or no stuff. I told George to let me think a bit about his dilemma to find a better solution.

This chapter once handled the railroad books of Dana Dawes upon his demise. It took about three years before Ron Lundstrom was able to clear his house of the books.

The proceeds went to the chapter, but the effort was not worth the time. We would not do this again. We can certainly help people find solutions to their problem.

And that is what I did for George. I thought about Lake States Railway Preservation Society and called Paul Swanson.

Yes, they were interested. Paul and I arrived at George’s home to begin the task of reducing the massive collection of books and slides.

In the end Paul received 20 banker boxes of books and eight banker boxes of Logan box slide trays. And then there were more Logans than would fit in the boxes available.

Books that can find a spot on their shelves will be available just like a library. The duplicate copies will be put up for sale to help fund Lake State’s operations.

The slides will be eventually scanned with a new website page devoted to the George Strombeck collection.

We helped save a wealth of railroad history by George calling and seeking advice. Please think about your collections and make it known to someone what to do with all your material upon your demise. And please do it while you are of sound mind..

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