THE LAKE SHORE MODEL RAILROAD ASSC IS THE RESULT OF A HALF DOZEN NEWLY DISCHARGED GI'S MEETING IN THE REAR OF A HOBBY SHOP ON EAST 79TH STREET IN CHICAGO. BY THE END OF THE SUMMER OF 1946 WE HAD FOUND A 20X20 FOOT ROOM IN THE WOOD SHOP OF THE CALUMET PARK FIELD HOUSE. WE WROTE A CONSTITUTION AND WITHIN TWO YEARS HAD INCORPORATED AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION UNDER ILLINOIS LAW.
OUR FIRST LAYOUT, WHICH WAS DONATED, MEASURED 4X8 FEET. THIS LAYOUT USED A COMMON RAIL POWER SYSTEM. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INCORPORATED INTO A LARGER LAYOUT WHEN THE ROOM WAS ENLARGED TO 20X40 FEET.
IN APRIL OF 1955 A 50% COMPLETED LAYOUT HAD TO BE TORN DOWN BECAUSE THE WOOD SHOP REQUIRED MORE SPACE. AT THAT TIME THE PARK DISTRICT ALSO REQUESTED US TO RELOCATE TO AN 18X88 FOOT ROOM IN ANOTHER PART OF THE BUILDING. AT THAT TIME WE BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF OUR THIRD LAYOUT. A PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL LAYOUT ALSO BECAME PART OF THE THIRD LAYOUT.
IN THE INTERVENING YEARS SINCE THEN WE WE WERE FEATURED IN MODEL RAILROAD CRAFTSMAN MAGAZINE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WERE ON THE 1976 NATIONAL MODEL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION CONVENTION TOUR. OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS THE MODEL RAILROAD HAS HOSTED THE LOCAL NMRA DIVISION MEETS MANY TIMES, BEEN VISITED BY VARIOUS SCOUT OUTINGS AND OTHER SOCIAL GROUPS, SPONSORED RAILFAN TRIPS, AND HELD OPEN HOUSES FOR THE PUBLIC ANNUALLY.
WE CONSTANTLY SEEK TO IMPROVE THE LAYOUT AND ITS OPERATION. IN THE LAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE REBUILT FROM THE FRAMEWORK UP ABOUT 1/4 OF THE LAYOUT, 75% OF THE TRACK WORK HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH CODE 83 TRACK INCLUDING SOME HAND LAID TRACK AND SUPER ELEVATED CURVES. WE HAVE ADDED 4 NEW STAGING YARDS, IMPLEMENTED WALK AROUND THROTTLE CONTROLS, REBUILT 3 CONTROL PANELS AND REPLACED 100% OF THE SWITCH MACHINES WITH SLOW MOTION TYPES. CURRENTLY WE ARE INSTALLING AN OPERATING SIGNAL SYSTEM, HAVE IMPLEMENTED DCC CONTROL CAPABILITY, AND A NEW SWITCHING DISTRICT IS ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
IN 1996 WE CELEBRATED OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN MODEL RAILROADING AND ARE ONE OF THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING CLUBS IN THE GREATER CHICAGOLAND AREA. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP THAT ARE OPEN TO ANYONE:
VOTING MEMBERSHIP $15.00/MONTH OR $150.00/ANNUALLY
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP $100.00/ANNUALLY
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP (8-18) $4.50/MONTH OR $45.00/ANNUALLY
