History of the ETEGL

The Great Lakes Chapter of ETE was formed in 1999 by Kurt Miska after scouring the roster of the now defunkt Märklin Mailing List and the Märklin Enthusiasts of America directory.  Our first meeting in December of 1998 included 12 people, many of whom are members to this day.  We now boast over 40 members, with the majority of members participating in the modular layout special interest group (SIG).  

Members of the ETE Great Lakes outside the Marklin Museum in Goeppingen, Germany
A group of ETEGLers in front of the Märklin Museum in Göppingen, Germany 2001
Our History:  we'll let founder Kurt Miska tell the story himself:
"In 1998, I joined European Train Enthusiasts (ETE), the California based group of avid, what I might call, Eurorail modelers. Their website is www.ete.org.
 It wasn't long after joining ETE, that I had the idea of forming a local chapter. Using the membership directory of Märklin Enthusiasts of America, I sent out letters and in short order found out that an extremely enthusiastic modeler of German railroads lives no more than a mile and half from our house. Of course, you all know him. He's the one and only Carsten Ramcke  (www.greateventtours.com). Soon after my mailing, a number of us model railroaders interested in European trains met and formed the ETE Great Lakes Chapter (ETEGL).​"
Kurt on the ETE national newsletter:
​"In early 2002, I became one of the editors of the ETE EXPRESS, the group's national, quarterly magazine. Working closely with a professional graphic designer, we work continually to make the EXPRESS a more professional publication. Of course, it's all a labor of love but then that's what the model train hobby is all about." 
Kurt on the ETEGL newsletter:
"Well, a local chapter should have a newsletter. So, I started one and with Carsten Ramcke's enthusiastic cooperation, it was named Gleis Eins- Track One. In 2002 we changed the name to Gleis 1 and with the help of our professional graphic designer and European train enthusiast Dan Driessche, the newsletter was completely redesigned. While we don't have a regular publication date we deliver four issues a year."

Today we are a group of roughly 40 like-minded enthusiasts who enjoy their mutual interest in European trains and don't take themselves too seriously!

We encourage you to join one of our monthly luncheons or reach out for more information.

Heard enough?  Then join the ETEGL by clicking on the link below...