CENTRAL ELECTRIC RAILFANS' ASSOCIATION
Upcoming Programs
-
Friday, April 24, 2026 7:00 PM • 400 E. Randolph St., 7th Floor Hospitality Room and Virtual zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84039965430?pwd=NjVaWU1iaGs2bXpXRVRVbzdpQ3Yydz09 Meeting ID 840 3996 5430 Passcode 572661
-
Saturday, May 30, 2026 8:30 AM • East Try, Wisconsin
IN MEMORIAM: Long time CERA member, Martin Van Horn of Towson, Maryland has passed away and his family asked we share his obituary. Our condolences have been shared with his family. Martin Kenly Van Horn II, 86, of Towson, Maryland, passed away on October 25, 2025. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late John and Elaine Van Horn. A 1957 graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, he served the City of Baltimore for decades, retiring from the Department of Public Works in 1996. A lifelong railroad enthusiast and historian, he was active with the Baltimore Streetcar Museum and the National Railway Historical Society. He loved animals, especially cats, and generously supported many charities. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Antoinette "Toni" (Layne) Van Horn; his son, William Joseph Van Horn; and daughters, Marlene Van Horn and Karen Van Horn. Services were private with his immediate family. Memorial donations may be made to the Baltimore Streetcar Museum (Car #7303) or the Maryland SPCA. To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store. Published by Baltimore Sun from Nov. 2 to Nov. 3, 2025. I |
What's new at CERA?
| RENEW NOW 2026 Click 2026 Membership Renewal Form.docx to get a hard copy of the 2026 Membership Form for mailing Click 2026 Membership Renewal On Line Credit Card to renew with a credit card
JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY Renew at above link Year In Review: Since 1938, Central Electric Railfans’ Association has presented programs, published books, and hosted fan trips. In 2025 CERA Published B153, The Illini Trai, and continued its successful online programs on Zoom, offering both “open-to-all” Zoom programs and programs marketed exclusively to members and prospective members. We also returned to our in-person programming at a new location and hosted a fan trip to the Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota where we had personal guided tours of two Trolley Museums and conducted our Fourth Friday In Person meeting and dinner. In 2026 we have a Fan Trip planned for the East Troy Railroad Museum. Publications: Since falling behind schedule in 2020 due to the Corona virus issues, we have been strenuously striving to get caught up with our membership entitlements issuing B153, The Illini Trail, to our 2020 Membership, getting ready to distribute three Shore Line Dispatches (a $90 value) to our 2021 Members this month and publishing B154, The Pittsburgh Harmony Line for our 2025 Members, scheduled to be mailed out in early 2026 and yet another entitlement for our 2022 Members before June of 2026. That means we will have made FOUR entitlement commitments in the space of less than a year. Historical Slides: The board has authorized exploring digitizing our extensive CERA Historical slide collection at considerable expense. Please consider an extra donation to help cover this or consider a one year bump up in your membership level . |
