European Train Enthusiasts Great Lakes - ETEGL News

NTS Prep Completed- Let the [Train] show begin!

7/5/2018

With apologies to Fats Domino, Kansas City, here we come! The National Train Show is about a month away, and the Great Lakes Chapter of European Train Enthusiasts is ready. The NTS-spec layout was given a 'dry run' at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival in June, and with all modules stored in the trailer the trip to Kansas City can begin. A caravan of vehicles will be making the day-long trek from Detroit on August 7, while several ETEGL members have chosen to take the train to the event.

Here is where you can see the ETEGL layout, and many others:
Kansas City Convention Center Hall
301 West 13th St
Kansas City, MO

The National Train Show is open to the public on the following dates / times:
Friday August 10, 2018 – 12:00 NOON to 6:00 PM
Saturday August 11, 2018 – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday August 12, 2018- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

We look forward to seeing you there in August!

Fun in Frankenmuth

5/8/2018

Consider the following scenario: You are a prepubescent kid about to finish the 8th grade, and in the fall you will be starting high school. Now fast-forward eight years, and you have completed both high school and four years of college and have graduated with a bachelor’s degree. You are about to start your career and begin your life as an adult on your own. Amazing how far you have come in eight years.

Eight years is also how long we have been displaying our layout in Frankenmuth.

To be precise, eight years will happen this JUNE 7-10 when we make our eighth appearance at Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Festival. We will be exhibiting at Fischer Hall as usual, with the following schedule:

Set-up: Thursday, June 7, 12:00 - 18:00
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Friday, June 8, 10:00 – 18:00
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Saturday, June 9, 10:00 – 18:00
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Sunday, June 10, 10:00 – 14:00
Tear-down: Sunday, June 10, 14:00 - 18:00

We look forward to seeing you there!

MEMBERS: With the layout at Frankenmuth identical to the layout at NTS we will be spending part of the exhibit making sure all modules are up to snuff and functioning properly. Feel free to bring any scenicking materials or other accessories to help us spruce up the layout. Of special interest would be Preiserlings, vehicles, and other detail pieces that add ‘life’ to the layout.

Shows, Shows, and more shows!

1/18/2018

Join the ETEGL for two exciting train show displays of our European-themed modular layout in February!

The Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club Annual Train Show
Saline, Michigan February 17 & 18
http://a2trainshow.com/

The Great Train Expo at the Suburban Collection
Novi, Michigan February 24 & 25
http://trainshow.com/novi/

We look forward to seeing you there!

2017 ETEGL annual dinner

11/8/2017

The 2017 ETEGL dinner will take place on Saturday, December 2 at Station 885 in Plymouth, Michigan at 6:00 pm. This year we are mixing up the menu with a new trio of entrees, all of which include a dinner salad and a desert. The entree options are:

* PAN SEARED SALMON finished with a thyme-fused lemon butter and served with roasted herb potatoes
* CHICKEN PARMESAN Breaded chicken breast topped with Italian cheese and served with spaghetti marinara
* PRIME RIB OF BEEF slowly roasted in herbs and spices and served with garlic mashed potatoes

The cost for the dinner is $30 per person. Payment can be made in advance via credit card or Paypal through the form below or by check made out to ETEGL and mailed to:
ETEGL
P.O. Box 226
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127

You may also pay by check or cash at the dinner. No RSVP is necessary!

To pay with credit card or Paypal, please fill in your email address and select the number of people in your party below

Decisions, Decisions...

9/19/2017

February 2018 presents the ETEGL a bit of a challenge with regards to train show attendance. Next year the Great Train Show, a two-day event at the Suburban Collection in Novi, falls the weekend after the Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club's two-day show at Saline Middle School.
In the past the ETEGL has done both shows. In both cases we have brought the full layout to each event. But with the two shows falling so close to each other there is concern that we will not have enough members attend both events to insure smooth setup, operation and tear-down.
We are asking our members who are engaged with the modular layout (along with any visitors to this website who plan to attend one or both shows) to help us decide which event we should attend, or both or neither. Please take a moment to complete the one-question survey below. Based on the responses we receive we will know whether we have enough personnel to attend one or both shows. Although there is no requirement to attend the event(s) you select below we hope you consider participating. These two shows represent our biggest opportunities for outreach in Southeast Michigan and are responsible for a large part of our membership finding us.

New etegl Board Position Approved

9/7/2017

In August the ETEGL Chapter Board voted unanimously to begin the process of creating a new Board Position. This new position will be your Member Advocate. The duties that come with this position include being the interface between membership and the Board; your go-to person for ideas, suggestions, complaints and concerns; our Gleis 1 material whip (helps to gently convince members to contribute material); and show and event coordinator (no small task). The Board was also unanimous in its decision to appoint Larry Reynolds to this position. Larry has graciously accepted this appointment. He will help us work out the bugs and further clarify what this position can do for you. The Member Advocate will eventually become a voting member of the Board. During this “trial period”, it is not. When it makes sense, we will call for candidates and hold an election for the position.

Members with questions, concerns, suggestions and opportunities can reach Larry via lreynolds@etegl.org.

Local Exposure for European Trains...

3/6/2017

Besides member Carsten Ramcke getting his 4 minutes of fame, the ETEGL was prominently featured on this segment of the local news regarding the Great Train Expo in Novi, Michigan on March 4-5, 2017:

Beer, Beer, and more beer! by Carsten Ramcke

12/21/2016

The image above, taken at the 2016 National Train Show in Indianapolis, IN, shows the ETEGL's modular layout staging yard clogged with Marklin (and some other makes) beer cars. On July 9 the ETEGL made a bold statement and threw down the gauntlet to every other ETE chapter with a modular layout- BEAT THIS.

THE RESULT: 65 cars, 130 axles, and an overall length of nearly 28 feet of beer cars making their way around the chapter layout without incident several times. Marklin USA's own Gale Cousins was there to witness the (record-breaking?) event. Well done, ETEGL, and ZUM WOHL!

See us at the Fort Wayne Train SHow December 3-4, 2016

11/16/2016

The ETEGL is finishing off 2016 with one more exhibition of the modular layout in Ft. Wayne, Indiana December 3-4. We have wanted to support our members in the northern Indiana area for some time, and finally have an event that we can attend. Information on the show (and a $2 coupon) can be found here: http://trainshow.com/ftwayne/.

The ETEGL Mourns the loss of George HerRmann

9/20/2016

Picture of George Herrmann

It is with great sadness that the Great Lakes Chapter of ETE and the entire European Train Enthusiasts organization mourns the passing of George Herrmann on September 19, 2016. George was the enthusiastic face of the Chicagoland chapter of ETE. Many of our ETEGL members remember George from the recent National Train Show, our trip to Chicago a few years back, and his attendance at the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest show with his wife Kaye last year. We will always remember George for his overabundant enthusiasm and the perpetual smile on his face, along with the hospitality that he and his wife Kay showed several of us over the years. The world has indeed lost a special person. Please join us in keeping his family in your thoughts and prayers. This is the email we received from George's wife yesterday:

Dear Family and Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of the passing of my beloved husband, George Herrmann. He went peacefully to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 18, 2016. George fought a brave battle against a devastating bone marrow disease (Myelodysplastic Syndrome or MDS). In lieu of flowers and to honor his memory, you may make a charitable contribution to the MDS Foundation. (www.mds-foundation.org)

In keeping with the family's wishes the ETEGL is encouraging our friends and members to donate to the MDS Foundation. If you would like to participate in an ETEGL group donation please use the Paypal form below and make a contribution NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2016 (please talk to your tax professional prior to donating if you wish to have your donation be tax-deductible):

If you prefer to contribute by check please make your check out to 'ETEGL' with 'MDS Donation' in the memo line. Checks should be mailed to our chapter mailing address:

Great Lakes Chapter of European Train Enthusiasts
P.O. Box 226
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127