A couple of area modelers had the good fortune to accidentally discover each other and their common interest in the hobby and consequently began to meet with each other in order to share ideas and experiences. The Illinois Valley is, and has been, criss-crossed by a variety of prototype Class 1 and short line railroads over the past century or so. The early desire of the club was to be informal as well as open to all model railroaders in the vast Illinois Valley area, interest-wise as well as geographically. There are no officers nor motions, no minutes or dues - comraderie and enjoyment with those who share our model railroading avocation is our only agenda.
New members receive one complimentary issue of the latest newsletter.
The only other requirement of membership is that at some point during the year you open your home to the club for a get-together. This is only fair so that the same people aren't always getting stuck doing it. We also want to stress that this is a family oriented club. On occasion we will take a trip, either as a group or as a couple of individuals, to various railroad, prototype, or model activities. We ask them to consider joining as a show of support for all they have done, and continue to do in the interests of the hobby.