SAUK TRAIL CAMP-O-REE

OCTOBER 9,10, 11, 1998

The CLRC went camping with the Boy Scouts, Sauk Trail District, Chicago Area Council to present the Railroading Merit Badge. Over 300 Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and their Parents attended. Initially we reviewed the requirements with the Scout Leaders and confirmed that it could be earned in a weekend. The Requirements include RR safety, RR occupations/responsibilities, model railroad planning, the functions and benefits of the Railroads among others. A worksheet was developed so that the requirements could be administered with six of the troops. Each one was designated as a station. The Station names were picked to reflect known area railroad stations, such as Union Station and for Scouting such as Raton Station, which is near the Boy Scout Ranch Philmont, in New Mexico.

The Scouts visited each station where the specific requirement was presented, reviewed and tested. For example, part of requirement 7 asks, "What types of specialized freight trains are used and how are they more efficient than mixed freights?" When the Scout passed the requirement, their worksheet was signed. When all of the worksheets were completed, they were presented to one of the Railroading Merit badge Counselors. The counselor would verify that the worksheets were complete and then would sign off that the Railroading Merit Badge was earned.

Earning this merit badge was only one of the highlights of the weekend. The Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club had our HANDS-ON, 24" high layout set up. It gives an excellent view to all, young and old while running trains. Everyone, including Cub Scouts and their parents were given the coveted CLRC engineers certificate when they completed running the train, with cab controls, and successfully operated the assigned accessory. There were many that came back for repeated runs. A very popular part of the weekend.

One of our talented members, Jeff Mills, put together a "field train". It consisted of cardboard boxes painted as railroad cars and a mowed in-the-grass roadbed. The Cub Scouts position themselves inside each car and followed the instructions of the engineer. The route started at the turntable where the engine would come out to pick up the cars. The railroad cars were assembled at the yard and coupled to the engine. The consist would pull out past the crossing gates, stopping all traffic. The crossing gates were built from scratch using trailer lights and an auto flasher. At the water tower they would take on water, by giving "bug juice" to all the train members. A miniature seven-foot high tower shrouded the water jug. Since it was a steam engine, they also needed coal. The train members were given oreo cookies for fuel. Next came the downed bridge, four 2' X 4' sheets with tracks painted on them. The train has to stop to repair the bridge. The train members would then get out and "repair" the bridge by lining up the tracks. As the repair was going on, one of the dads would have a super soaker water gun and simulate the rough river and rain that took the bridge down. When the bridge was repaired, the train continued to the "Y", it turned around and returned to the yard. The trip took about twenty minutes. Young and old got a kick out of the adventure.

The weekend was highlighted by the support of Lionel Trains. For every Camp-O-Ree of this magnitude, there is a campout activity patch that the Scouts earn with their participation. We wanted this event to be special. We asked Lionel if we could use their name or logo. Gary Moreau, an Eagle Scout himself, thought so much of this activity that he had Michael Stanard design the patch for us. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only patch Lionel has designed for the Boy Scouts. In addition to the patches that were given out to those who attended, the Station "Conductors" and CLRC members were given railroad hats with the patch attached for their participation.

The Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club was founded in the spring of 1994 by a group of railroad enthusiasts. Our current roster numbers above 400 members nationwide with one thing in common, THE LOVE OF MODEL RAILROADING. We meet regularly, to run trains, exchange ideas and stories, and carrying on necessary business.

The modular layout was built and continually enhanced by our members. Our layout has traveled and been exhibited at various shows and shopping malls, including LOTS and LCCA conventions. We have delighted children of all ages, including those thirty years and older. When we produced the Shedd Aquarium Car with Chicago's Shedd Aquarium in 1996, we had the privilege to run the train around their twenty-five foot Christmas Tree.

Regarding this activity, we became interested in working with the Boy Scouts by discovering that many of our members have a duel interest of Scouting and Trains. It was a natural to propose the Railroading Merit Badge for a weekend activity. The Scouting leaders also saw the overlap of interests and supported it with greater participation than thought possible. Input, participation and reaction made it one of the best Camp-O-Ree's ever. The food prepared by the Boy Scouts was outdoor gourmet. Breakfast included pancakes, sausage, dutch oven potatoes and eggs. Lunch was soup and sandwich. Dinner started with roasted turkey in an aluminum tent/oven and all of the fixings. The Scouts fed us well. The Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club will be working with Chicagoland Scouters annually.

If anyone is interested in more information, they can Email or write to:

Many helped and thanks to all that supported our camping railroad activity.

Herbert W. Koch

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