April 2004

 Contributed by C. Lloyd Chandler

For Christmas 1969 I got a Tyco train set for my stepson.  As it turned out, I was the one who became hooked on model railroading.  I found a model railroad club in Elmhurst, IL, the Salt Creek Central System, which is still operating today.

In March 1972 my company moved me to Omaha.  I had been told by one of the members at Salt Creek to look up Mr. Bill Kratville in Omaha which I did.   I was somewhat incredulous that an urban area that was Omaha/Council Bluffs did not have a functioning model railroad organization.  In conversations with Mr. Kratville I expressed my desire to bring into being such a facility. 

Of course, finding a space for same was the stumbling block.  When the donation of Omaha Union Station by Union Pacific to the City of Omaha was becoming a reality, simultaneously a group of us met in Dave Dunlap's basement in Ralston to begin the organization of what was to become GOSOME – the Greater Omaha Society of Model Engineers.  

The original use projection for Union Station envisioned a model railroad as part of the museum and Mr. Kratville facilitated our (GOSOME) selection as the implementing organization.  In late 1976 - early 1977 I drew up a constitution and by-laws which were approved by the membership and submitted for charter as a non-profit corporation by the State of Nebraska.  

We began construction after much cleaning of the premises on the counters of the old cafe on the main floor in the east end of the building.  Within two years due to changing needs of the museum we dismantled what we had built and with a new and well designed track plan by John Nahodyl began construction anew in the former Railway Express track level area.   

Unfortunately we were never able to stabilize the environment due to excessive air gaps around the outside doors on both north & south sides of the building, and we had constant problems with shrinking and heaving of the roadbed.   And at that time there was no money forthcoming to correct this problem.  Had there been a solution we might still be there today.  The museum administration requested that we vacate the premises and without a contractual agreement we had no choice but to comply (1984).  

Shortly thereafter the Rock Island depot was acquired (1985) by the City of Council Bluffs and the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County began the creation of a museum therein.  Through the efforts of Bob Whitlatch et. al. the unfinished north half of the structure was dedicated to GOSOME.  

After much sweat the preparation made the site suitable for construction of the layout in the elevated middle area as it exists today.  This base was designed by Jim Linkletter and the construction executed under the supervision of Terry Patience.  The finishing of the inside walls in the upper and lower levels of the north end was accomplished in the mid 1990's. In the mid 1990's Marv Lausen constructed the library shelves and video cabinet to complement our meeting room with an educational facility featuring a big screen TV.  

Many years after our initial incorporation the layout is still a work in progress as we finish detailing the main part that is open for public viewing as part of the museum experience and expand the scope of the railroad in the upper level in the north end.  We are focusing on the simulation of the Rock Island Railroad during the last years of her existence including the interchange with the various roads that operated in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.  There were nine of these: Chicago Burlington & Quincy, Chicago Great Western, Chicago Northwestern, Chicago Rock Island & Pacific, Illinois Central, Milwaukee Road, Missouri Pacific, Union Pacific, and Wabash.  

Recently we were featured on the cover and in a six-page article in the November 2003 issue of Model Railroading. a national railroad hobby magazine.  Mr. Bruce Geiger captured the essence of our layout having spent two days on site with a meticulous job of photo journalism.  

We are very fortunate to have had good leadership during some trying times that has allowed us to persevere and create an operating layout featuring up to date command & control technology (DCC) as well as conventional DC.  

During the life of this organization -- from 5/16/75 to date 247 people have held membership in our society -- we have benefited from the diverse talents and abilities of a host of people, both members and non-members.  Among those are:  Dave Dunlap, Moe Healy, Mason Steinberg, Jim Dovel, Bill Hatch, John & Darlene Nahodyl, Paul Turner, Bob Pierson, Lou Schmitz, Dave Gundersen, Larry Loftus, Bob Neiderheiser, Tom Lauritsen, John & Aaron Blaketer, John Blake, Tim Coyle, John Mclellan, Ron Zadow, Bob Whitlatch, Ron Bean, Paul Barker, Linda & Frank Babka, Leonard Sprague, Larry & Dan Martin, Howard Shepard (whose company, Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning, provided at cost our furnace & a/c system), Tom Wells, & Tom Genung (who did the necessary documentation to establish our status as a 501(c)(3) charitable not for profit corporation).  Also it should be noted that we experienced a vital and constructive relationship with Bob & Marcia Hastings during their tenure as curators of the depot.