European Train Enthusiasts Great Lakes - ETEGL News

The New Layout Shines at Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival

6/19/2022

The layout performed flawlessly, with dirty track being the only impairment to flawless operation. Thanks to running only one train per track, we didn't have to worry about trains running into each other. We also didn't have operational catenary, so we didn't run off the overhead wire. Our next show is Oktoberfest, again in Fisher Hall in Frankenmuth, in September. Our plan is to have all modules scenicked and full catenary operational on both main lines.

We did it. After several years of thinking, testing, rethinking, retesting, arguing, debating, compromising and finally building, the new ETEGL modular layout was presented to the public at the Frankenmuth, Michigan Bavarian Festival the weekend of June 10-12, 2022. Thanks to an excellent turnout by a dozen ETEGL members, along with optimization thanks to the new spec, the layout went up quickly with little issue. Marty Blessing's new tester worked amazingly well, identifying the only electrical issue, amazing when you consider that there were twenty(!) new modules in attendance.

TWO etegl meetings a month? Be still, my heart!

8/21/2021

It's true! Although in-person luncheons have returned, an overwhelming majority of our members wanted to continue the virtual meetings, too! If you'd like to join the online meetings (on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.), you can find the link in the email section of the ETEGL Groups.io email group, or email us here.

The ETEGL Returns to in-person luncheons!

8/5/2021

After a long hiatus, the ETEGL is returning to in-person luncheons! We'll be meeting at The Sidetrack Bar & Grill in Ypsilanti, Michigan on the first Saturday of the month at noon, starting this month.
That being said, we are continuing the ZOOM virtual meetings as well. These meetings will now take place on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
All members are encouraged to join both get-togethers! Please reach out to your ETEGL board if you have any questions.

If you are a non-member and wish to confirm that we're not all a bunch of whackos before joining the chapter, reach out to Carsten Ramcke at cramcke@etegl.org for details on how to join us for either event.

Welcome to 2021!

1/11/2021

It's 2021, and the ETEGL is ready to return to normal! That's not to say we haven't made the most of the changes 2020 has brought. For example, our monthly chapter meetings have continued, with an average of more than a dozen members joining since July. The development of the new module specification continues, and we have set a date for launching the new layout: Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival in June 2022.

We look forward to resuming our in-person lunches this summer (fingers crossed), as well as continuing the virtual meetings to allow members near and far to join. We also look forward to setting up an 'assembly line' to build the frames for our new modular layout.

Please stay safe, and we look forward to being together again soon!

Bye Bye Yahoo Groups, Hello groups.io

12/8/2020

Want to stay a part of the ETEGL newsgroup? Trying to find us on Yahoo Groups? Well, with Yahoo announcing the end of Yahoo Groups we have moved the chapter email server to groups.io.

If you would like to join us at groups.io, please follow this link to enroll.

Virtual luncheons continue...

8/25/2020

With the Coronavirus not letting up anytime soon, the ETEGL is continuing to meet via ZOOM likely through the end of the year. We have had several meetings already and have even begun recording the presentations and publishing them to the ETEGL YouTube channel (NOTE: these videos are not public-facing. Reach out to Carsten for a copy of the link).

Our virtual meetings take place on the first Saturday of the month at noon, lasting about an hour. We are open to presentations by our members, so please reach out if you have a topic you'd like to present, whether it's a layout tour, a pictorial of your trip across the Alps on the Albula line, or my personal favorite, a slideshow entitled 'KOPLOPERS IN ACTION'.

ETEGL members, keep an eye on your email inbox for call-in and log-in information for our next monthly get-together. We hope to see you in an upcoming Zoom meeting soon!

ETEGL Monthly Meetings are now VIRTUAL

4/28/2020

That's right, just because we can't meet at The Sidetrack Bar doesn't mean we can't get together as a group. All members should have received an email with an invitation to join the May luncheon on Saturday, May 2 at noon. If not, just shoot an email to one of your board members or ask on the email group. You can also let us know you didn't receive an email by clicking here.

We will be using this new virtual format for the foreseeable future. On the bright side, it gives all our remote members the opportunity to join us. The service we have chosen is the popular ZOOM. If you are not familiar with ZOOM and need to install it on your phone, tablet or computer, a detailed set of instructions is available here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697

We look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday at noon!

Great Train Show at Suburban Collection to Feature ETEGL

2/11/2020

The Taj Mahal. The Arc de Triumph. The World's Biggest Ball of Twine. These destinations pale in comparison to the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan when the Great Train Show is in town. That goes double when the Great Lakes Chapter of ETE is exhibiting their H.O. scale European-themed layout. Come out and see us the weekend of February 22-23, 2020 and enjoy trains galore!

You can even get a discount on admission by ordering your admission ticket on their website: http://trainshow.com/novi/

We look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Holidays from the ETEGL!

12/5/2019

The Great Lakes Chapter of European Train Enthusiasts wishes all railroad fans around the world a very happy and healthy Holiday Season! May your time with family and friends be merry, and the only ice you encounter be of the variety shown above...

2019 Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival CANCELLATION

6/6/2019

For only the second time in its history, the ETEGL will not be attending the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival this year. Fischer Hall is usually filled with trains during the coming weekend, but unforeseen issues have caused us to have to cancel our attendance. At this time we still plan to display the layout at Oktoberfest in September, as we usually do. We apologize to anyone who was looking forward to enjoying the display, but look forward to seeing you in September and at next year's Bavarian Festival!