Fox Valley Division of the National Model Railroad Association

Maroon open collar style shirts with a custom embroidered logo as seen at High Wheeler 2013 (and shown in the picture below) are now available to the FVD membership for $25 each. They come in in 6 different sizes. To order yours, click here to open a printable order form to complete and return to the Superintendent. Orders must be received by the end of the June 3, 2013.

FVD Tee Shirt

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Check out the NEW Railroad Related Events web page. Click here or on the 4th tab item in the Table of Contents list at the left.

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Dave Leider discussed the origin of railroad in the Chicago area with a discussion focused on the Chicago Airline Railroad beginning in the 1830's..

David Leider

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See photos of the Midwest Region Spring Convention contest models on the Midwest Region Web Site

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See Jeff Jarr's clinic on the GOLDEN SPIKE APPLICATION

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Check out the latest on-line issue of the Semaphore in its new format with more pages and also in color.

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Check out the new North Shore & Western Modular Group web page! Click to follow the link.

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FVD 2010 Membership Survey Results

Click on the link above to view a PDF files copy
of the survey and its results.

Thanks to all who participated!

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Bring a Friend

Bring a friend to a meet and your friend will have a chance to win a free 6 month Rail Pass membership. One free Rail Pass membership will be offered to a randomly chosen non-member guest at future regular membership meets. This drive will run until further notice.

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The FVD supports youth activities and the division will reimburse members for the limited donation of materials and tools to teach the art and craft of model railroading to young modelers. Recently, the Board of Directors enacted a new Youth Fund Reimbursement Policy. Please click here to read the full policy before initiating a program requiring financial assistance.

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Did you know that both the Fox Valley Division and the Midwest Region have budgeted funds for "Make & Take" model building programs?? If you know of, or are involved with, an organized group of children in the age range of about 7 through 16, who are located in McHenry, Cook, Lake, and or Kane counties in northeastern Illinois give this activity consideration. We'll send some experienced modelers, as well as tools and a carton of easy-to-build kits to your meeting. The program takes about an hour or so of hands-on creative activity. We'll provide a short introduction to model trains and then take your group through the steps of making their own model train cars to take home. The division donates the cars, a short piece of display track and brings tools to make the event a success. We have found that children thoroughly enjoy this easy introduction to model railroading. "Where can I get more track?" is the most frequently asked question. We can support one or two of these programs a year depending on the group size. Contact us if you are interested.

~~~ Meeting & Activity Timetable ~~~

Regular meetings are held from 1:30 PM thru 4:30 PM, at the Gary Morava Recreation Center, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights, IL 60070. All activities and dates are subject to change, so please check meeting listings regularly for any change in activity, location or time. Click here to display a map to the Gary Morava Recreation Center. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are free and guests are always welcome.

August 24, 2013 -- FVD annual Outing
Enjoy a day with friends watching trains at Rochelle Railroad Park. We will bring a grill, plenty of food and drinks for everyone. (Train run bys provided by UP & BNSF) 10 am until 4 pm (or maybe even later) Free to members and their guests. Contact Jeff Jarr at jjarr@comcast.net with your name, telephone number, e-mail address and the number of guests if you plan to attend.

Rochelle Park

September 15, 2013
This is the first meet of the 2013/2014 modeling season. Clinic TBA. Contest: Show off you favorite road power in a Steam or Diesel Locomotive Contest. Consists limited to a maximum of 3 power units. Contest awards and refreshments.

October 20, 2013
Clinic TBA. Contest: Make up a Caboose Train with a maximum of 6 units. Contest awards and refreshments.

November 17, 2013
Clinic TBA. Contest: Bring you varnish, stainless or whatever your people transport is made of for a Passenger Car Contest -- Maximum of 4 cars. Contest awards and refreshments.

December 15, 2013 -- Note: this meet is a 1:00 pm start!
Clinic TBA. Contest: Tank cars are a major vehicle of a variety of commodities moved by the rail system. This month's contest is Tank Cars -- with a maximum of 6 units. Contest awards, lunch and refreshments.

January 19, 2014
Clinic TBA. Contest: Did you ever wonder what happens to rolling stock after its useful rail life is over? Show us your thoughts in the Rescue the Rolling Stock contest. Think beyond the ubiquitious diner scene with something unique. Contest awards and refreshments.

February 16 , 2014
Clinic TBA. Contest: Many important commodities are transported in hopper cars. Bring a Hopper Train with a maximum of 6 cars to compete. Contest awards and refreshments.

March 1 & 2 , 2014 -- High Wheeler 2014
This is our 36th consecutive show. FVD members - Join in on the planning fun as volunteers are necessary to make these shows happen.
Contact Jeff Jarr to fill a volunteer slot.

High Wheeler

March 16 , 2014
High Wheeler 2014 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Join us for a big thank you for your volunteer efforts to help the show go on.

April 13 , 2014 -- Note: 1 pm start time
This meet is our Annual Meeting of Members and election of officers. We will be electing a Superintendent & Chief Clerk at the meet. Clinic TBA. Contest: For something different enter the contest with a Diorama associated with railroading. Contest awards, lunch and refreshments.

May 16, 17 & 18, 2014 -- RailFun 2014
The Midwest Region Spring Convention will be hosted by the FVD in Schaumburg, IL. This year we are planning a great line up of layout & prototype tours, clinics, non-rail activities plus model & photo contest opportunities. There will be something for everyone to participate in and enjoy. Special planning focus will keep the attendee cost as low as possible but not sacrifice convention content. Join in on the fun. Click on RailFun 2014 for all the details.

Note there will be no regular May meeting scheduled in lieu of the convention.

May 2013

Category: Whimsical Car Loads
Proving Model Trains Are Really Fun!

Thanks to all participants.
Everybody is a winner!!

Click here to see all the entries

	1st Place Jim Allen's HO Scale Super Size Me Breakfast
	2nd Place Ingrid Drozdak's Z Scale Painless Dental Loads
	3rd Place Bob DiDomenico's O Scale Please Let Me Out Load
Click here to see all the entries Photos courtesy of Jim Osborn	Have train or layout photos you would like to share? Send them to FVDwebsite@comcast.net

Train Photos from the FVD Membership

Click on a photo to see more in the series

	FVD members Bill Boyd & Art Jones Hosted "The Festival of Passenger Trains" on February 6th, 2011 on Art's Connellsville Division of the B & O RR. 11 engineer/owners honored 13 great passenger trains. Thanks to Bill and Art for organizing the event. Photos courtesy of Jim Osborn.
	Missing the snow? Check out these beautiful East Broad Top RR winter train photos courtesy of David Crement.
	Walter Radtke hosted a railroad open house in August. Click here to see a few pictures of his garden railroad if you missed the event.
	Click on the photograph to the left to get a tour of David Crement's On3 recreation of the East Broad Top Railroad. David's On3 pike is featured in the December 2008 issue of the Semaphore.
	David Leider's "Waupaca 1947" layout is featured in the October Semaphore's "Track Treks" series. Click on the picture for an tour of David's pike filled with highly detailed structures.
	The May issue of the Semaphore will feature another "Track Treks" local area layout tour. Click the thumbnail for an advanced picture tour of Don Cook's scenic Great Northern, Cascade Division pike.
	Follow the thumbnail link to see several pictures of Tom Schweiss' Milwaukee Road -- Superior Division Layout. Learn details about Tom's pike in this month's Semaphore.
	Click on this photo of Liberty, NY to visit a few scenes of Harry Schildkraut's NY, O&W model railroad. Photos courtesy of Jim Osborn.
	The Caernafon, Wales, UK narrow gauge railroad. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann.
	The Porthmadog, Wales, UK narrow gauge railroad. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann.
	The Snowdon, Wales, UK narrow gauge cog railroad. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann.
	A Welsh narrow gauge railroad serving a slate mine. Courtesy of Kurt Youngmann.
	Have train or layout photos you would like to share? Send them to FVDwebsite@comcast.net

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The Fox Valley Division Superintendent
P.O. Box 1535
Arlington Heights, IL 60005-1535
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