Chicago, IL trip

I'm sure others will chime in but I like to visit Chicagoland Hobby On Northwest Hwy. I don't know what part of town you'll be in but there are others. If you like train museums, there's the Illinois Railroad Museum in Union, Il. NW of Chicago. Maybe someone will also chime in if there's something going on at the Dupage fairgrounds. Being from Missouri, the locals would know much more than I.

Lou

 

 

Berwyn's Toy Trains & Models

7025 Ogden Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402

(708) 484-4384

 

America's Best Train, Toy & Hobby Shop

865 Maplewood Dr Itasca, IL 60143
(630) 467-1102

 

Chicagoland Toy and Hobbies

6017 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago IL 60631

773-775-4848

 

I shop all 3 of them.  Berwyn’s is focused more on MTH and America’s Best sells only Lionel.  Chicagoland Toy and Hobbies have both MTH & Lionel, but I only occasionally shop their because of distance. 

Unfortunately, I don't have layout...just carpet layout. 

 

My Club, North Central O Gaugers, has running session on Saturday 8th, but appears you won't be in Chicago area until 10th. 

 

Ken

 

Yep all 3 of these places are really well stocked for O gauge.  I now its earlier than your planned trip, but this weekend june 2 is the BIG train swop meet in dupage county.

 

Walt's Hobbies in Crest Hill, IL (40 minutes west of the city) also has an impressive stock of O gauge. And if your in the area on the weekends, you have the Lionel club in New Lenox, IL (nearby Crest Hill).  There website for contact info - http://www.clrctrains.com/index_user.asp

 

If your stuck downtown, the museum of science and industry has a killer HO layout on display.

 

I now its not O scale, but my dads friend is the president of the club so a plug for him, you have on the southside of the city (40 minutes SW) in Homer Glen/Orland Park the Illinois Live Steamers.  Heres there site for info - http://www.illinoislivesteamers.com/

Actually the Museum is more on the south shore of the lakefront than downtown and generally requires a cab ride to get there.  But not only does it have a great HO layout (which in days of yore used to be O scale), it also has the original 9900 Burlington Pioneer Zephyr:

 

 

There is an interesting thread on this forum about the guy who is responsible for maintaining the Museum's train layout; it's here - https://ogrforum.com/t...p-industry-train-guy

Foxchaaser:

 

2 weeks is a nice amount of time, I will assume you have a car, if not then other plans will need to be made.

 

In no order of importance, a train guy should try to see the following:

 

The three shops mentioned.

 

Museum of Science and Industry, minimum half day, if your into history other then trains, just schedule yourself a full day.

 

One weekend day at Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in Union, Illinois.

 

Visit the Skydeck at the John Hancock building at dusk. Arrive before the sun goes down, but stay long enough to see the lights - Downtown

 

There is much more to do, but a little more information from you about where you’re staying and how many in your group would help.

 

Also, what other interests do you have? I think a much-overlooked museum is the Chicago History Museum, but you may have some in your group that would not want to do stuff like that.

 

Just a start, other will have additional suggestions as well.

 

Charlie

Please check the Ill. railway museum website, as you just may be in for a real treat.  A special ride on the CTA  (it's called "Back to the 60's) It's a great time, and you'll see most of the city by rail.         Have fun,  Bruce

Be prepared.  My daughter-in-law is there now--gas is $ 4.10.

The Chicago Botanic Gardens near North Chicago has a large garden train layout.

 

Open May 11 through October 27, 2013 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting Wednesdays until 8 p.m., June 5 – August 28, 2013

 

I have seen the layout a number of times and have enjoyed it.

 

Their website has a slide show of the layout.

 

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/railroad/

 

Although you asked only about train shops and layouts, in two weeks, I'd surely think it possible that you might also want to watch and/or ride some real trains.  If that's the case, you can be well-prepared by carrying the Swajkart Guide and map.

 

If he still has any for sale, John Swajkart's Train Watcher's Guide to Chicago is a great resource for watching real trains. He also published a map. These are a bit dated but will still be useful in finding interesting places to watch or ride trains.  I would not think of traveling to Chicago without mine, and I have both the first and second editions.

 

He has a web site:  http://home.earthlink.net/~szwajkartj/

 

Tom

Lou,

 

Would be happy to have you tour my basement layout. Contact me by email....address is in my profile.   Joe

Des Plaines Hobbies, in Des Plaines, IL (near O'Hare airport) carries some current O stock (scale & gauge) and quite a bit of used postwar stock.  Also, lots of used and new books and magazines.  They are open 7 days a week, year round, except for some of the major holidays.  I almost always find something I "need" when I make it up that way.

You can ride all over the METRA system all weekend long for 7 bucks. Its a great way to see the City, suburbs and exurbs.

 

http://metrarail.com/metra/en/...6486500#5WeekendPass

Chicagoland hobby is a toy store for the most part anymore.  The trains are on the back burner now.

Hey...when'd it come down?!

Everyone nows you drive to Indiana for gas, smokes, food, well anything.    Illinois taxes are insane right now.  Amazing we do have so many good hobby shops that havnt moved across the boarder yet.