Wisconsin Chapter meetings are held on the first Friday of every month (except June, July & August), at 7:30 p.m., in the lower level meeting room of the North Shore Congregational Church, 7330 North Santa Monica Boulevard in Fox Point, Wisconsin. Click here for a Bing map and directions.
Important note: In-person chapter gatherings have been canceled for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak. In their place, we will hold virtual meetings. See below for additional information.
Our meetings are always open to members and to anyone who has an interest in railroad history or today's railroad operations. No admission fee is charged. If you find yourself aligned with the goals of the chapter, please consider joining.
Upcoming meetings:
Friday, September 11, 2020 - our annual Members' Favorite Slide Night
In place of our in-person meeting, we will hold a virtual meeting, online, on the Zoom platform. Virtual meeting room will be open by 7:00 p.m.; meeting called to order at 7:30 p.m.
As most of the photographers in our group have switched to digital media, the term "slide" is a bit of a misnomer, but serves to convey the rich tradition and history of our annual start-of-the-season program. The subject matter is up to you - what you did on your summer vacation, a few shots of a unique or out-of-the-way railroad operation, steam action from back in the day, railroads in transition in the 1980s, recent pics of trains or photos from deep in your vault. This is is your chance to shine!
Guidelines for presenters
Members will share their images directly from their computer
You may use a presentation software (such as PowerPoint or Keynote) or show loose pictures
If using a presentation software, avoid transitions such as dissolves, etc. (they don't work well due to limited Zoom screen sharing bandwidth)
You may narrate in real-time or provide a soundtrack
The images you show should be predominately railroad-related, any era
Please limit your presentation to approximately five minutes
A run-through will be held prior to the meeting to ensure there are no technical glitches
President Mike Yuhas will maintain a list of presenters as they sign up, and this page will be updated with the latest information.
Members and other interested individuals are encouraged to download the Zoom software to their computers (or tablets, or smartphones) to "attend." More information can be found in the September issue of the Chapter newsletter, Sparks & Cinders, and via the chapter's email announcements. Zoom connection info will be sent to all who request it. If you would like to be notified of the meeting details, or if you are a member who would like to present, please send a note to president (at-sign) nrhswis (dot) org. Thank you.
Friday, October 2, 2020 - Wisconsin Great Northern
In place of our in-person meeting, we will hold a virtual meeting, online, on the Zoom platform.
Join us in October for a discussion with Greg Vreeland, President of Wisconsin Great Northern. WGN, based in the northwestern Wisconsin town of Trego, is more than a typical short line railroad. Their business model relies on tourist train operations, last-mile freight service to Hayward, Wisconsin, and car storage.
WGN thinks differently. As a tourist hauler, the railroad initiated five-night-a-week dinner train service - and offered optional bed & breakfast accommodations on the train. When faced with the season-ending coronavirus, the railroad used the break to undertake a major trackwork project. And, in July 2020, the railroad announced that it is restoring the original Burlington Mark Twain Zephyr trainset for service. This trainset has languished, exposed to the elements, since its last run on the CB&Q six decades ago. Wisconsin Great Northern's audacious plan is to return it to revenue service on its scenic line along the Namekagon River in 2021.
Greg will share the history of the family-run railroad and his vision for the future of rail freight and historic rail preservation in Wisconsin's northwoods.
Wisconsin Great Northern in Trego, Wisconsin, September 2004
Photo by Rich Peters
Mark Twain Zephyr observation car Tom Sawyer at Gateway Rail Services, Madison, Illinois, July 2020
Photo by Mike Yuhas
Mark Twain Zephyr power car Injun Joe at Gateway Rail Services, Madison, Illinois, July 2020
Photo by Mike Yuhas
Wisconsin Great Northern President Greg Vreeland
Photo by Mike Yuhas
Members and other interested individuals are encouraged to download the Zoom software to their computers (or tablets, or smartphones) to "attend." More information will be found in the October issue of the Chapter newsletter, Sparks & Cinders, and via the chapter's email announcements. Zoom connection info will be sent to all who request it. If you would like to be notified of the meeting details, please send a note to president (at-sign) nrhswis (dot) org. Thank you.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 7:30 PM - Online Slide Show
In order to foster community during the coronavirus pandemic, Wisconsin Chapter NRHS is holding alternate-month online slide shows on the Zoom platform. These are expected to continue even after we resume our regular in-person monthly membership meetings, whenever that might be.
Join us October 20 for the Chapter's first regularly-scheduled online slide show! Less formal than a regular meeting, we envision these online events to feature the work of five railroad photographers, each presenting a 15-minute slide show on a variety of railroad subjects. Unlike our annual Members' Favorite Slide Night, non-members may present at this event (though membership is encouraged!).
The program for tonight's event will be published here once confirmed.
Members are encouraged to download the Zoom software to their computers (or tablets, or smartphones) to participate. More information can be found in Sparks & Cinders and via the chapter's email announcements. If you would like to be notified of the meeting details, or if you would like to present a 15-minute slideshow, please send a note to president (at-sign) nrhswis (dot) org. Thank you.
Friday, November 6, 2020 7:30 PM - Info to come
Friday, December 4, 2020 7:30 PM - Info to come
Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 7:30 PM - Online Slide Show
Info to come.