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BROTHER JAMES WEGESIN TRACTION COLLECTION VIEWED  On Saturday, September 11, Custom Traxx had the privilege to view the vast traction collection of Brother James Wegesin, F.S.C. of  De La Salle Institute in Chicago.  Brother James has been a traction buff  for over 30 years and for much of that time, he was a custom painter for Chicagoland Hobbies, one of the country’s premier traction hobby shops.  Brother James has over 700 cars in both HO and O scales.  What was impressive was his duplicate models. i.e. nine Chicago Nearsides. In a mutual arrangement, Brother James was to develop this large collection, including 14 of the relatively recently issued Corgi PCCs.  His HO scale cars, notably the Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City cars have been featured in many model railroading magazines including Trolley Talk, Traction & Models and others.  Of considerable note were his two painted CNS&M Electroliners, his Chicago Ashland Car house diorama, the Saint Paul East Side Car House module and the Pittsburgh Car House module filled with hand painted models of the colorful PCC cars, including the 1730 Mod Desire,  used in Pittsburgh during the 1960’s.  Brother James in collaborating with Custom Traxx on the development of decals in HO scale for both Chicago CSL and CTA conventional and PCC streetcars, and possibly the interurbans of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin.

 This is one of the largest and most complete train shows, outside of the National Train Shows, seen to date.  Vendors in five buildings (and outside if the weather co-operates) compete for your hobby dollars from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.  There are plenty of Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, Proto 2000, memorabilia, parts and brass in all scales.  In two of the buildings, large model trains, O scale are larger, are running on the floor of the stage areas.  Relatively new items were present in abundance, such as Proto 2000 E-6A/B locomotives.   Trolleyville residents and other traction enthusiasts should know that there was much traction brass both at the show and at Chicagoland Hobbies and there was one less Suydam #5050 Hollywood Car and one less Electroliner model in Illinois by the end of the day. 

 It is highly recommended that any serious model train buff who will needs to visit Chicago time his visit to include this show.  You will not be disappointed.  These shows will be held on the following Saturdays: 

 When you are finished, visit Chicagoland Hobbies and ask for Pete Busack.  They have an excellent traction department in both HO and O scales. They are located in the Norwood Park area adjacent to O’Hare International Airport at 6017 Northwest Highway, Chicago, Illinois 60631 (773) 775-4848.  They have been around for 25 years and are open seven days a week except Sundays during May through September.