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One Year Ago Today

SantaFeJimSantaFeJimOGR Forum Member

I posted this:

 

September 1, 2014 1:47 PM

It is official, the Independent Hi-Railers Midwest Division is no more.

 
Born nearly 20 years ago and started with only five members we did shows all around the midwest.
 
We did the NMRA Conventions in St Paul MN, St Loius MO, Grand Rapids MI. and Cleveland OH.
 
In Illinois, we many shows at the following locations: La Grange, Rosemont, Naperville, The Illinois Railway Museum and Oak Lawn.
 
We set up at Owosso MI. for SteamFest.
 
We have been a regular at Trainfest in West Allis Wisconsin for the past 17 years. 
 
From 2004-2011 we were the largest Hi-Rail modular layout in the World.
 
Over the years we have made countless friends and met people from all over the world that love this hobby as much as we do.  
 
As an original member I have seen about 30 members come and go.  Our membership never exceed 12 guys at any time. I never expected our club to end so suddenly, nobody did.  But sometimes things happen that could not have been predicted.  Several of us will still get together as often as we can.  But we just won't be traveling with a modular club.
 
Thanks to all.  I wish you the best and hope you get many, many years of joy from your trains, layouts and fellow modelers. 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
I am happy to say that most of us have moved on.  Four of us joined the HiRail Modular Club in Griffith Indiana and honestly, we couldn't be happier.  GREAT guys, an awesome layout and a perminent location.  No more packing up, transporting, unloading and setting up only to tear down 3-4 days later and wait several months before doing it all over again. 
 
I want to say thank you once again to the members of the Griffith Club for accepting us and making us feel right at home.  We know that we have made a positive impact on this club by largely financing and building our 20-track staging yard.  Last weekend Jim Williams spent many hours installing and testing the control panel (below) that he built for us.  
 
 
 
Thank you Jim.  Because of your efforts we will have a first class functioning control panel for our BIGGEST Show of the year, this weekend.  
 
To our former members (Jerry, Jim, Mike, Marty, Ed, Rich, John and Paul) that went their separate ways we wish you all the best and we know that most of you are still active and enjoying this great hobby.
 
 
 
 
If anybody cares to read the original topic,(some pretty nice pictures) here is the link,  
 
Last edited by SantaFeJim
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TRAINMANTIMTRAINMANTIMOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
I'm not lost for words about this topic. I'm surprised that it's been a year since it was made official. But one thing is for sure and that is that everyone (like yourself) has come a long way from the days of being with IHMD. Jim(SantaFeJim), Jack(hotwater), Lou S. and Mark H. have found a new home, friends and layout to run their/your trains. Modules have been bought by members of a different club. But there are still some great experiences and memories that will be with us forever. Like the 100 car train on the layout at Trainfest 2007.
 
I've found myself to have moved on/into the scale side of 3-rail after being around and seeing your guys layout and trains for nine years at various shows. So, I thank you guys for that. I know one day that I'll make it out to Griffith to see the layout and you guys. Basically I just want to thank you and everyone else for making me feel welcomed when I operated your guy's trains, teaching and showing me what 3-rail scale is and what its about. 
 
Until next time, Happy Railroading.
Last edited by TRAINMANTIM
N NYCJimOGR Forum Member

As SantaFeJim points out, the rest of us have moved on.  For those wondering what became of the layout, most of it did not get sold to other clubs.  My portion, the 52 foot passenger terminal moved to south Florida with me several years ago.  Jerry's(gnnpnut) portion is also now in Florida as I bought it.  Last month I closed on a 3000 square foot building air-conditioned with 14 foot doors on either end (hard to come by in Naples or at least on that is hurricane resistant).  For the last several months gnnpnut, Mike Robellard(my son) and I have been designing a new permanent layout utilizing Jerry and my modules in a more operational style layout all within the constraint of a 30x100 building.  You can see the current thinking below.  As we had at many shows, my passenger yard dovetails into Jerry's engine service facility.  The existing modules are going to be raised to 48" from 36" for convenience and to allow a second level below those modules for staging.  This drawing is primarily the mainlines as the center peninsula will be urban oriented industry switching and the top peninsula more rural.  The design team of Mike, Jerry and I are debating single track versus double track helix below the upper left portion down to the staging to make the layout a true point to point.  For those that never saw the layout, the passenger yard and engine facility are totally controlled by two sophisticated matrix-diode control panels that Mike designed and the three of us built.  It seemed a shame to let all of that work go away, hence the possible design compromises to "fit" the modules into a layout.  So for those who enjoyed the layout at the many shows over the years, thanks. but rest assured the bulk of the layout is alive and well here in Naples.  Best to all.

Mannix Dr Unit 413 JRR 2.12

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SantaFeJimSantaFeJimOGR Forum Member

Jim your new layout design looks spectacular!  I commend you for taking on such a huge task.  I hope that get many years of enjoyment from your layout and look forward to seeing it as a featured layout in OGR or a TM video. 

 

As far as I can tell just about everybody that was in our club when it collapsed (with one exception) is still in the hobby.  It is not something that people give up on very easily.

 

Go with a 2-track main, the grandkids will love it.  

 

Enjoy.

 

Jim

 

 

Last edited by SantaFeJim

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