Many years ago, thought to be in the early 1970's, the Chippewa Valley Model Railroad Club was formed. They held their first train show in 1975. Some time in the 1980's it was reorganized and named the Indianhead Model Railroad Club. We met at various locations in Eau Claire, WI and about 5 or so years ago found a home on Western Avenue. It was never considered a permanent site so no permanent layout could be constructed. Starting in January, 2015, events took place that lead to the another reorganization of the club and the adoption of its first Bylaws. This same site has now become our "home". On March 24, 2015 a new name was adopted, West Wisconsin Railroad Club.
We now have a formal organization described in detail in our new Bylaws. Officers are President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer, and a Board of Directors. Election of officers is held once per year. Committees are created as needed. The Bylaws will be published on this web site soon.
Regular meetings are monthly except for December. They consist of a short business session which is usually followed by a "show and tell" time, a clinic on some topic of interest, perhaps a train related video, or other train related activity. Snacks normally accompany a meeting. Of course there is always some social time to catch up on what's happening in our lives.
Each January we have a banquet with a speaker. Summer weather brings a picnic in July.
The groups that build and maintain the layouts gets together as needed to work on the them. Our new Kernels and Sanders Line layout group has been meeting on the first Thursday and third Tuesday of each month for work sessions.
We host a train show once a year, the second weekend in October. It will be at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center at least thru 2015. There is an Events Committee that plans the show. All members help to conduct the show. Tasks include marking the floor for layouts and vendors, assist with unloading and loading as needed, selling tickets, taking pictures, clean up, etc.
The club participates in several shows each year exhibiting one of our portable layouts. In 2014 we had our first opportunity to participate in the huge Trainfest show in the Milwaukee area.
West Wisconsin Railroad Club name was selected to describe our new organization and vision. The word "Model" is no longer part of the name as our expanded vision goes beyond just modeling although modeling is still an important activity. In addition to identifying the geographical area where our members live, the name also is a historical reference to the "West Wisconsin Railway" which came into existance in 1863. It ran from Tomah to Hudson, WI via Eau Claire. Here is a brief history of it.
| 1863 | Chartered | |
| 1866 | Assumed control of the Tomah & Lake St. Croix Railroad | |
| 1868 | Began operations | |
| 1870 | Completed the wooden high bridge over the Chippewa River | |
| 1871 | Expanded its Eau Claire shops | |
| 1871 | Began regular passenger train service to Eau Claire | |
| 1871 | Purchased three new locomotives | |
| 1871 | Purchased four new locomotives | |
| 1872 | Expanded its Eau Claire shops again | |
| 1872 | Purchased five new locomotives | |
| 1872 | Opened a connection to the St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylors Falls Railroad | |
| 1875 | Entered receivership after failing to pay the interest on bonds | |
| 1878 | Reorganized as the Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis Railroad | |
| 1880 | Merged with 3 other railroads to form the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway |
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West Wisconsin Railroad Club
Last update:
2015-05-02 01:56
