Central Electric Railfans Association upcoming events

CERA April 10, 2026 Zoom Presentation: William Edwards: Riding Trains in Europe: Trams to TGV's (Friday, April 10, 2026)

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CERA 2nd Friday Zoom Presentation

CERA’s April 10, 2026 Zoom Presentation

Newer Short Link to Zoom

https://tinyurl.com/2ndFridayCERA

Link to Zoom Meeting

William Edwards

Riding Trains in Europe: From Trams to TGV's

Older Longer Link to Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88929318526?pwd=ICg6ZpFwsa6fpHIQ7PDvgowdyzD1HV.1

Meeting Number 889 2931 8526 Passcode 022656

Bill Edwards has made 18 trips to Western Europe, mostly for business, and made sure to ride as many trains as possible along the way. This presentation covers part of a trip in June, 2016, involving 9 trains for 12 hours over 4 days in Germany and France. Electric trains included are: one monorail, two city trams, one regional bi-level, one Inter-City, two Inter-City Express, and one high-speed French TGV, plus one diesel-powered "Whale". Bill's programs often include images of the infrastructure, a walk inside the train, and a look inside the stations to provide a glimpse of what it is really like to ride a variety of trains - from trams to TGVs - across Europe.

There will also be a short In The News program preceding the regular program.

This program is open to all CERA members, their guests and the public.

Mark this date on your calendar!

If you have not yet paid your 2026 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470

Day at the Archives April 18, 2026 (Saturday, April 18, 2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

CERA Announces its Participation in

A Day for the Archives

A Weekend Event to Benefit Multiple Archive Efforts

A Day for the Archives Flyer

A number of CERA members will be presenting here and a rail trip and dinner are also available on Friday, April 17, 2026

Some proceeds may benefit the CERA

This is a CERA Outreach program to bring more awareness to our membership of other rail related activities

and is a Step Towards Archiving and Digitizing

Our Own Extensive Slide Collection

If you have not yet paid your 2026 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470

CERA's 4th Friday, April 24 2026 In Person and Zoom: Norman Krentel: Midwest Interurban Freight Service (Friday, April 24, 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CERA 4th Friday In Person and Zoom Presentation

CERA In Person and Zoom Meeting

April 24, 2026

at 7:00 p.m. CT

400 E. Randolph St., 7th Floor Hospitality Room

Chicago, IL

Easy Link to ZOOM Here

https://tinyurl.com/4thFridayCERA

Older longer link to Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84655931559?pwd=CJDX4VulLCzaLufaL7cEvQiZ6d8EXQ.1

Zoom meeting Number 846 5593 1559 Passcode 214592

Norman Krentel

Midwest Interurban Freight Service

The major interurban railways of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan had used their connecting network of lines to develop through freight service via the Central Electric Railway Traffic Association. Though short lived because of the early demise of these interurban railways, their member companies did manage to establish a freight car standard whose cars were able to navigate 35 foot radius curves when coupled in trains. We'll also discuss a few other Midwestern interurbans who also handled freight service.

This program will also be presented on Zoom (CERA members only) for those members unable to attend the meeting in person.

If you have not yet paid your 2025 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470

CERA's 4th Friday, May 22, 2026 In Person and Zoom: Richard Aaron: Philadelphia From the 1970's (Friday, May 22, 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CERA 4th Friday In Person and Zoom Presentation

CERA In Person and Zoom Meeting

May 22, 2026

at 7:00 p.m. CT

400 E. Randolph St., 7th Floor Hospitality Room

Chicago, IL

Easy Link to ZOOM Here

https://tinyurl.com/4thFridayCERA

Older longer link to Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84655931559?pwd=CJDX4VulLCzaLufaL7cEvQiZ6d8EXQ.1

Zoom meeting Number 846 5593 1559 Passcode 214592

Richard Aaron

Philadelphia From the 1970's

Tonight’s presenter made his first trip to Philadelphia in 1958 to ride the Red Arrow. Subsequently, he would visit every few years as part of an east coast auto trip. Tonight’s program features all aspects of electric rail transportation in “The City of Brotherly Love.”

Initially, we will examine main line and suburban railroading pioneered by the Reading and Pennsylvania Railroad companies. We also will inspect the Lindenwold line in New Jersey as well as the two heavy-rail subways. Streetcar service on the seven routes that abandoned between 1977 and 1992 will be featured.

But, main emphasis will be on the Red Arrow lines. We will inspect what has taken place on Sharon Hill, Media, and Ardmore lines. On the Norristown Route, we will see Bullet cars and their N-5 replacements. In the transition period between these two types of equipment, we will see ex-CTA 6000-series cars serving the western suburbs of Philadelphia as well as the North Shore Line’s Electroliners.

This program will also be presented on Zoom (CERA members only) for those members unable to attend the meeting in person.

If you have not yet paid your 2026 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470

CERA's FAN TRIP to EAST TROY RAILROAD MUSEUM (Registration Open) (Saturday, June 06, 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

(Registration open)

CERA'S FAN TRIP TO EAST TROY RAILROAD MUSEUM

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Join us as we travel from Chicago

East Troy, Wisconsin

Itinerary Below

9:00 am Bus #1 Departs NW Corner Madison and Clinton arrives at Jefferson Park CTA station 9:30 am

9:30 am Bus #1 Departs Jefferson Park CTA station for East Troy Railroad Museum

9:30 am Bus #2 Departs Skokie Dempster Street Station for East Troy Railroad Museum

11:00 am Arrive at East Troy Railroad Museum; Time to tour grounds

12:00 pm Depart aboard South Shore Dining car for lunch and ride to Indian Park maintenance facility in Mukwonago

1:00 pm Tour Maintenance Facility

1:30 pm Walk 500 feet to Elegant Farmer

2:45 pm Depart aboard the North Shore #761 for ride to East Troy Railroad Museum Car barn tour

3:15 pm Arrive at and tour Car Barn

4:00 pm Depart Car Barn aboard #761 to East Troy Railroad Museum

5:00 pm Bus #1 Depart East troy Raileoad Museum for Jefferosn Park CTA Station, Chicago

5:00 pm Bus #2 Depart East troy Raileoad Museum for Skokie, Dempster Street Station

6:30 pm Bus #1 Arrives Jefferson Park

6:30 pm Bus #2 Arrive Skokie, Dempster Street Station

7:00 pm Bus #1 Arrive NW Corner Madison and Clinton, Chicago

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470