This page was last updated: September 29, 2025
- CALENDAR OF EVENTS -
A listing of all known rail and transit enthusiast events happening in and around the
Chicago area..
(Except where noted, meetings/activites take place in the city of Chicago)
If your organization's meetings/events are not listed -- or if you have any corrections
to be made to your event, contact Bill Shapotkin at traingg1@aol.com.


                          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  2025 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Oct 17 (Friday) Railroad and Shortlines Club of Chicago meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM -- Please do not arrive                          before 7:15 PM)
Location:       Chicago Union Station (500 W. Jackson) -- Room 107A.
                       Please enter at 500 W Jackson between Clinton and Canal.
                      Call 312-725-0432, if there are difficulties.
Admission:     Free.
Program:        "Railroads and Interurbans of De Kalb County, IL," a presentation by William Shapotkin.
Oct 3 (Friday) Omnibus Society of America meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM -- Please do not arrive before 6:45 PM)
Location:       Henry George School of Social Science, Chicago (333 S Wabash Ave -- Suite 2700).

                      If you are attending a presentation at Omnibus Society of America for the first time, or haven't
                       attended in a while, please let Adam know that are coming to be added to the building's visitor
                       registration system. You will need to show the security guard your ID to obtain a pass for access
                       to the elevator.

                      There is plenty of public transportation nearby. There are numerous bus routes, Van Buren Street
                        Station (Metra Electric and South Shore Line), Jackson stations on the Red and Blue lines, and
                        Adams/Wabash station on the Loop "L". If you must drive, there's public off-street parking in
                        surface lots and indoor parking at 55 E Jackson Blvd (accessed from theramp on the Wabash
                        side).

                       If there are any problems, call Adam on 847 215-0180 (cell phone)
Admission:     Free.
Program:         ​"Trolley buses of Eastern Europe," by Kyle Engstrom.
Questions?     Call Adam Kerman at 847 215-0180.
Oct 25 (Saturday) Chicago Terminal Chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical                                        Society  meeting (2:00-5:00 PM)
Location:      Historical Pullman District Visitors Center (11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave) in Chicago.
                      Location is accessible to public transportation using CTA bus #4 , #111A or 115 to/from
                     111th/Cottage Grove Ave or Metra Electric to/from 111/Pullman station (which is not ADA
                      accessible) or to/from 115/Kensington (which is ADA accessible).
Admission:   Free.
Program:      “The PRR Middle Division in Juniata County,” by George Pierson. We will take a deep dive into
                       22 miles of the Middle Division - its history, changing physical characteristics, trains, towers,
                       stations and connecting lines, culminating with the coal wharf at Denholm..
Information:   ld_mlc43@comcast.netJan 25
Dec 6 (Saturday) Illinois Division meeting -- Milwaukee Road Historical Association. (7:30-9:30 PM --
                      door opens at 1:00 PM) 
 -- NOTE THAT MEETING DATE IS TENTATIVE --
Location:        Itasca Public Library, (500 W Irving Park Rd) in Itasca, IL.
Admission:     Free
Program:        "The Rochelle and Southern," a presentation by William M Shapotkin
Questions:      office@mrha.com
Oct 24 (Friday) Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM)
Location:       To be announced.
Admission:     Members and their guest are admitted without charge. All other are asked to make a $5.00
                        contribution.
Program:        To be announced.
Questions:      ceraoffice@gmail.com
Nov 7 (Friday) Omnibus Society of America meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM -- Please do not arrive before 6:45 PM)
Location:       Henry George School of Social Science, Chicago (333 S Wabash Ave -- Suite 2700).

                      If you are attending a presentation at Omnibus Society of America for the first time, or haven't
                       attended in a while, please let Adam know that are coming to be added to the building's visitor
                       registration system. You will need to show the security guard your ID to obtain a pass for access
                       to the elevator.

                      There is plenty of public transportation nearby. There are numerous bus routes, Van Buren Street
                        Station (Metra Electric and South Shore Line), Jackson stations on the Red and Blue lines, and
                        Adams/Wabash station on the Loop "L". If you must drive, there's public off-street parking in
                        surface lots and indoor parking at 55 E Jackson Blvd (accessed from theramp on the Wabash
                        side).

                       If there are any problems, call Adam on 847 215-0180 (cell phone)
Admission:      Free.
Program:        "From the estate of John LeBeau," by Paul Johnsen. Paul will present a potpouri of photographs
                        either taken by or collected by our late friend, John LeBeau.
Questions?     Call Adam Kerman at 847 215-0180.
Nov 21 (Friday) Railroad and Shortlines Club of Chicago meeting. (7:30-9:30 PM -- Please do not arrive                          before 7:15 PM)
Location:       Chicago Union Station (500 W. Jackson) -- Room 107A.
                       Please enter at 500 W Jackson between Clinton and Canal.
                      Call Adam on 847 215-0180 if there are difficulties.
Admission:     Members and their guest are admitted without charge. All other are asked to make a $5.00
                        contribution.
Program:        To be announced.
Nov 28 (Friday) Central Electric Railfans' Association meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM)
Location:       400 E Randolph St  -- Room 700.
Admission:     Members and their guest are admitted without charge. All other are asked to make a $5.00
                        contribution.
Program:        "Chicago's North Side 'L", by Bruce Moffat.
Questions:      ceraoffice@gmail.com
Dec 5 (Friday) Omnibus Society of America meeting. (7:00-9:00 PM -- Please do not arrive before 6:45 PM)
Location:       Henry George School of Social Science, Chicago (333 S Wabash Ave -- Suite 2700).

                      If you are attending a presentation at Omnibus Society of America for the first time, or haven't
                       attended in a while, please let Adam know that are coming to be added to the building's visitor
                       registration system. You will need to show the security guard your ID to obtain a pass for access
                       to the elevator.

                      There is plenty of public transportation nearby. There are numerous bus routes, Van Buren Street
                        Station (Metra Electric and South Shore Line), Jackson stations on the Red and Blue lines, and
                        Adams/Wabash station on the Loop "L". If you must drive, there's public off-street parking in
                        surface lots and indoor parking at 55 E Jackson Blvd (accessed from theramp on the Wabash
                        side).

                       If there are any problems, call Adam on 847 215-0180 (cell phone)
Admission:     Free.
Program:        "Program to be Announced," by Bruce Moffat.

Jan 24 (Saturday) Chicago Terminal Chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical                                        Society  meeting (2:00-5:00 PM)
Location:      Historical Pullman District Visitors Center (11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave) in Chicago.
                      Location is accessible to public transportation using CTA bus #4 , #111A or 115 to/from
                     111th/Cottage Grove Ave or Metra Electric to/from 111/Pullman station (which is not ADA
                      accessible) or to/from 115/Kensington (which is ADA accessible).
Admission:   Free.
Program:      To be announced.
Information:   ld_mlc43@comcast.netJan 25

                          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  2026 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Apr 25 (Saturday) Chicago Terminal Chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical                                        Society  meeting (2:00-5:00 PM)
Location:      Historical Pullman District Visitors Center (11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave) in Chicago.
                      Location is accessible to public transportation using CTA bus #4 , #111A or 115 to/from
                     111th/Cottage Grove Ave or Metra Electric to/from 111/Pullman station (which is not ADA
                      accessible) or to/from 115/Kensington (which is ADA accessible).
Admission:   Free.
Program:      To be announced.
Information:   ld_mlc43@comcast.netJan 25