By Edward Carter

Pictures by Mary Ness-Bross

Food, fun, and trains were the orders of the day on June 27 as more than 100 CLRC members and their families, some from as far away as Texas and Michigan, converged on the backyards of president Herb Koch and his neighbors in Palos Park, Illinois for the second annual Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club picnic. The picnic was free to all members. Trains began to roll at 11:00 A.M. as early birds arrived to run trains on the Club’s modular layout.

This year, as last year, the Club’s modular layout was set up under a tent and available to any member who brought trains to run. The layout featured many of the Club’s accessories as well as some of the scenic modules that had been entered in the Club’s module building contest last March. An exciting addition to the module this year was the train camera which provided an "engineer’s eye view" of the layout on a monitor under the tent.

Drawings were held throughout the day for more than $1,200 worth of prizes. Prizes included a dinner cruise for two, won be Ted Cwik, a Thomas the Tank Engine train set, won be Wally Dietzen, several CLRC club cars, three sets of Beanie Babies, boxcars, and other items. Member Bob Ciolino officiated over the prize drawings.

Lunch was served around 2:00 PM and this year featured charcoal roast beef, hot dogs hamburgers, and assorted salads.

The day also saw engine drag races in steam and diesel categories. Member Jeff Mills ran these races which saw Nathan Bross win in the diesel category and Bob Gleason win in the steam category. New this year, was a glider contest which was won by Eddie Carter. Trophies were awarded to the winners of these contests. This year’s picnic also featured a face painter for the children and a water balloon toss.

The picnic represented a major effort by the Club and it’s members. In addition to planning and food arrangements, there were the logistics of set-up and tear-down. Set-up for the picnic began three days before the event when the set-up committee met at Herb Koch’s house to erect the tent that would house the modular layout and install lights and fans. Early on the morning of the picnic other members arrived to set up the modular layout. Tear down was done the following day.

The Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club, Inc. would like to thank the following persons and businesses who donated prizes or equipment for the picnic.

The Club would also like to thank those member who assisted in planning, setting up, and tearing down. And in particular the Club would like to extend a thank you to Herb Koch, his wife, Deb, and his neighbors.

Photos by Mary Ness-Bross.

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