Downers Grove Venture Crew Needs Help to Replace Broken Trailer

On the road to a model railroad show in Big Rock, Illinois, earlier this month, the 1953 bread truck that had been converted to a trailer for Venture Crew 57 to haul its modular layout around rusted through.

The damage is beyond repair.

The members of Crew 57, which is based in Downers Grove, have turned to the community to raise funds for a new club trailer and rack system, so they can continue sharing their model railroad hobby with others.

The campaign aims to raise $5,000, and it had collected more than one-fifth of that goal after 15 days.

Crew 57 is the only youth based, Boy Scout’s of America model railroad club in the Chicago Metropolitan area, according to Andrew Bobis, an adult committee member who started the online campaign. The members are 10 to 21 years old, and they bring the modular layout to several shows a year.

“The club is a good place for youth to learn certain skills, such as carpentry and electricity,” Bobis wrote on the campaign page. “We hope to continue displaying our layout and gaining youth members for years to come with your help getting a new trailer.”

For more information about Crew 57, visit its website at crew57.org and its Facebook page at facebook.com/crew57