Wisconsin Chapter meetings are held on the first Friday of every month (except 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.
Our meetings are always open to members and anyone who has an interest in railroad history or today's railroad operations. No admission fee is charged.
We stream our meetings via Zoom for the benefit of anyone who cannot attend in-person. To be advised of Zoom connection information, and to receive occasional chapter updates, become a member today.
Upcoming meetings and events:
Friday, October 2, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT - Steam Locomotive Service and Maintenance Facilities presented by Dave Nelson
One of the biggest reasons why the railroads were so eager to replace even their newest steam locomotives with diesel-electrics was the highly specialized and expensive facilities required just to keep a steam locomotive running. For much of the steam era, a locomotive would run just 100 miles before it needed thorough mechanical service, quite apart from the watering and refueling at terminals and en route. An army of employees, both skilled and unskilled labor, was needed to operate these facilities.
This presentation will look at these specialized buildings and facilities required by the steam locomotive: turntables, roundhouses, engine repair houses, sand towers, water tanks (and water treatment buildings), cinder pits, coaling towers, and oil houses. Few of these facilities are still in railroad use; some have been repurposed, but most are long gone, along with the locomotives themselves of course. For contrast, we will also see photos Mr. Nelson has taken showing the ways modern-day preserved steam is serviced, but most of the presentation will be historical photos in Mr. Nelson's collection.
Next, Keith Schmidt will present a follow up to his fantastic "Birds Eye View" presentation earlier in the year. Keith will show aerial photos of railroads and related subjects. Altitude changes the view on a number of railroad subjects and we’ll see many hidden gems in yards in the Milwaukee area and beyond.
If you are able, please attend in person at our regular meeting venue in Fox Point; doors open before 7:00 pm for social time. Those who cannot attend in person are encouraged to participate remotely, via Zoom. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED to access this event remotely; use this link to register. After successful registration, you will receive an email from Zoom with information on how to join the meeting.