Updated January 24, 2026
2nd Year LAYOUT ON TOUR
Marty Trakis
John DeWaters
Ted Schnepf – Elgin, IL
126 Will Scarlett Ln; Elgin, IL 60120 Phone: 847-452-5031
Entering Protocol: Walk in when you arrive.
Thursday March 19, 2026 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM OPERATING SESSION *****
Saturday March 21, 2026 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM OPEN HOUSE
*****Reservations Required for operating session, but not for the Open House Saturday.
For Thursday Reservations: EMAIL: railsunlimited2@gmail.com
2-RAIL 4,100 Sq Ft Milwaukee Road Dubuque / Iowa and Dakota Divisions
60% scenicked mult-ideck layout designed for operation. Northeast Iowa along the Mississippi River, in 1954 with a 900 foot mainline. Five yard jobs and various local switching jobs. Passenger trains and through-freights hauling a variety of products, such as meat and perishable goods, grain, coal, and oil. 1:2 SLOW clock. NCE DCC Control system. Operations via Train Dispatcher Authority using telephone line and train order signals. Car movements handled by car cards. Ideal operations require 20 operators.
More information: http://railsunlimited.ribbonrail.com/FoxValley/layout.html
Dan & Amy Dawdy – Dwight, IL
Thursday March 19, 2025 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday March 20, 2025 10:00 AM- 2:30 PM
Richmond, Danielle & Southern.
The Richmond, Danville & Southern exists, running from Richmond, VA to Memphis, TN, and move on from there.
All DCC with sound running JMRI turnouts and wi-fi and the one and only “widowmaker” or as we call it, “The Tennessee Saluda”. Bring a DCC locomotive with you? Try it out against the grade.
George Kanary – Hinsdale, IL
Thursday March 19, 2026 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
PLEASE NOTE: THURSDAY ONLY
2-RAIL Steam powered freight and passenger trains. Chicago themed streetcar line with scratch-built Chicago Surface Lines cars.
Marty Trakis – Palos Hills, IL
Thursday March 19, 2026 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sunday March 22, 2026 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
No Particular Road. Just a love of trains and watching trains in interesting surroundings and having fun creating.
Carey Williams – Glenview, IL
Saturday March 21, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
2-Rail and OUTSIDE Third Rail. Vintage O Scale collection and layouts pre 1955. Many examples of early manufactured and scratch-built O Scale trains from the 1920’s to mid 1950’s.
Frank McCabe / Rockford “O” Scalers – Rockford, IL
Sunday March 22, 2026 Noon -5:00 PM
PLEASE NOTE: SUNDAY ONLY
2-Rail Many different passenger and freight trains. Mostly steam to diesel “transition era” with occasional “modern era” trains with various railroads represented. Both standard DC and DCC operate in two separate sections with many highly detailed scenes.
John DeWaters – Rockford, IL
Sunday March 22, 2026 Noon – 5:00 PM
Simplified Rockford freight yards ca 1950. Steam, diesel. CNW, CBQ, MILW (and an odd SOO train). Layout is in very early stages, with basic carpentry and track just completed. Inner and outer loops separated by view block, with a steep, prototypical ramp connecting upper CNW with MILW/CBQ yards. Box cars limited to 40′.
Steve Karlson – Dekalb, IL
Thursday March 19, 2026 7:00 PM -10:00 PM
Sunday March 22, 2026 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
2-Rail. The Gloucester Branch is a layout under construction of the Gloucester Branch of the Boston and Maine, but under different ownership, and with some modeler’s license in the lineside industries. There is also an upper level for British and Soviet prototype trains or just for running trains.
