Newsletter of the Nor-Cal Division of the Train Collectors Assn.

Transcription

1 Newsletter of the Nor-Cal Division of the Train Collectors Assn. Richard White, Editor March 2014 Congratulations, long-time Nor-Cal members! The pictured Nor-Cal members received Certificates of Membership from TCA at the December meet: Front row (L to R): Jack Rogers (40 years), Dennis Ilog (35), Paul Canton (25), Bob Remley (25), Mike Raymond (20). Second row: Richard Ridgeway (25), Mike Desing (40), Stan Salzman (25), Bob Mowbray (20), John Grannucci (25), Craig Owens (20) Third row: Doug McWilliams (25), Henry Hiebert (20), Jim Granucci (25), Mark Landes (40) Congratulations to all of the above members! -from the Officers and Members of Nor-Cal Division PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Cal Stewart (for the first time in about 25 years) because of illness. As expected, Meet Chairperson Michael Andrews, ably assisted by Mark Boyd, Cliff Jarrard and Jack D Angelo made sure everything worked smoothly. According to Mark Boyd: Attendance was incredible approximately 600 people on Saturday and another 600 on Sunday, not counting the kids, which probably added an additional 500 to the count, bringing the total (continued on Page 2) See the newsletter in Full Color at:

2 IN MEMORIAM Rene R. Quihillalt TCA # Rene, a long-time Nor-Cal member, died on October 22, Rene was well-known for his hillside riding railroad in Lafayette. This featured a live-steam locomotive and coach, as well as a dinky gasoline-powered loco and work cars. The track route made its way up the hillside mountain by way of switchbacks. (there was an article on Rene and his railroad in the June 2003 Express). The officers and members of Nor-Cal offer their condolences to Rene s son David and brother Michel. Page 2 At left: This is Bob Remley, from San Jose, and his accessory-packed O -gauge switching layout. He is shown here operating a diesel switcher for some young railroad fans, at the March 1-2 Cal-Stewart President s Message (continued from previous page) to somewhere in excess of 2,500, including members and layout operators. Because we no longer have formal registration, we don t have an exact count of who attended. So, it looks like the new format and reduced overall costs may allow the Cal-Stewart to continue in Santa Clara. We will know more when all the attendance and financial results are tabulated. Layouts were diversified and interesting, including Z, N, S, 0 and G gauges, plus Erector Sets, an Outdoor Garden Layout and a variety of accessories. Mark Boyd ran three successful clinics on Saturday and two more by popular demand on Sunday Layouts of Germany. Train & Auto Museums of Europe Nuremberg Toy Fair. Dinner at Birk s was described as excellent. Apparently there was a misunderstanding by a small number of non-nor Cal members who believed that National TCA membership should entitle them to free Cal-Stewart admission. The Cal- Stewart is a benefit for our Nor-Cal members and is one good reason for belonging. We thank all of you have continued to support the Division. Finally, a special thank you goes to those members who helped with staffing the admission/ information desk. Your assistance was critical to the Meet s success. At left: This is Bob Spivock s Marx Grand Central Station, Catalog No. 2940, from It has an illuminated interior, removable roof, and swinging front doors. Unfortunately, in the photo, the words Grand Central Station are partly obscured by the roof overhang. That s flash reflection in the middle of the photo.

3 PHOTOS FROM THE MARCH 1-2 CAL-STEWART MEET Bob Burke s BBF&F RR 0- gauge layout with operating accessories. Some of the crowd in the hall. The Golden Gate Model RR Club O-gauge layout. This shows part of the modular layout of the SF Bay Area Z gaugers. The Diablo Pacific Short Line G-scale layout, with admirers. These Standard Gauge trains are for sale. A portion of the Peninsula N-Trak layout. Gerald Wagners s Lionel factory prototype Std. Gauge 381U

4 PHOTOS FROM THE DECEMBER 14 MEET A scene in the train hall Above: Dorfan O set, 1930 s, with set box (Bob Morris). Bing O-gauge loco, circa 1910-XX (Espinosa) An assortment of foreign trains (Chuck Brasher) Above: a very small Bing coach, O-gauge, 1920 s (Gary Espinosa). At right: Lionel #124 Standard Gauge station (early version), (Chuck Stone). Also at right: Marklin O -gauge cars from the 30 s (Gary Espinosa) Trains offered for sale by Fred Auda: Hafner truck (upper left), Kingsbury orange Birney car, JEP boxcar, Bing trolley, Penny Train, etc.. This large friction motor floor trolley car is from Schieble, and is from the 1930 s. Ira Keeler is going to restore this for the owner, Craig Miller.

5 PHOTOS FROM THE JANUARY 11 MEET Richard Zanotti brought in these Marklin models based on the prototype of the Swiss Gotthard Railway. The upper locomotives are Gauge 1, clockwork at the left and 20V AC at the right. The electric version is more detailed, with handrails and working buffers and pantographs. The lower loco is in O-gauge and is 20V AC. The Gotthard Railway runs in what was once the world s longest railway tunnel between Immensee, Switzerland, and Chiasso, Italy. Mike Andrews brought in these tiny boxed sets of autos (top) and a train (lower). They are made in Japan. This is Dave Pfeifer s Lionel Prospector train set, currently offered through L.C.C.A. Based on Lionel s prewar Flying Yankee, it is beautifully finished in metallic bronze and silver. (Dave s version has Protosounds 3). The prototype Prospector was a Budd-built multiple unit set of streamlined railcars operated by the D&RGW between Denver and Salt Lake City between 1941 and This is Mark Landes prewar Marx machine gun, in O-gauge. Mark Boyd brought in these two prewar German O-gauge train sets. Leeds (LMC) English locos in O-gauge. (Richard White)

6 By Richard White # with photos and assistance from the Rev. Phil Smith # I took the photo at the right in 1951, at the Camden (NJ) yard of the Pennsylvania- Reading Seashore Lines. It shows Reading RR G-3 Pacific #216. The G-3 s, were updated versions of the G- 1sa and G-2, and were built in There is another G-3 in the background, to the left of the #216 s tender. A PRR K-4 Pacific is at the right. The PRSL was a joint operation of the two railroads.

7 ROUNDHOUSE HO GAUGE DIECAST FREIGHT CARS By Richard White These are some of the HO gauge Roundhouse (Model Die Castings Co.) die cast metal kits that I have constructed or obtained over the years. These car kits from the 1950 s have all diecast (zamac) parts, that are screwed together. They make nice, although rather heavy, cars. Other diecast MDC cars of this era that are not shown include high-side gondolas, hopper cars, ore cars, various types of boxcar, and various types of caboose. MDC also made die cast kits for a Southern Pacific 0-6-0,Santa Fe Atlantic and Prairie and an 0-6-0T tank engine. Kits or built-up cars and locos are often available on ebay. Of course, the newer Roundhouse plastic kits are currently manufactured. I find it entertaining to bid on these old diecast kits on ebay, and to paint and assemble them. I obtained this flatcar already assembled at the Cal- Stewart in Ontario a year ago. It has glued on paper sides with the road name, etc., and four sprung trucks. I need to add brake wheels. Note old NMRA couplers. Also obtained in Ontario was this built-up plug-door refrigerator car, with pre-painted sides. The seller had dozens of nicely built-up Roundhouse cars for sale. I originally constructed this Florida East Coast RR boxcar as a teenager in the 1950 s. It has pre-painted sides. Over the years the diecast floor casting warped beyond use. A few years ago I replaced the floor casting and trucks, repainted the car, and added Kadees. I constructed this Swifts plug-door reefer. I airbrushed the car in satin caboose red, with a white stripe, and black (the underside), and applied the 30-year old decals from the kit, then oversprayed it. It s from ebay. I obtained this low-side gondola car, already built-up, on ebay. It has pre-painted sides. I constructed this stock car several years ago. The sides are pre-painted, except that the card stock road name placards are glued onto the sides. I painted the car in satin black. The kit was purchased on ebay. This Missouri-Kansas-Texas RR outsidebraced caboose has pre-painted sides. I airbrushed the balance of the car reefer yellow, roof brown, and engine black (the underside). At right: This shows a stock car kit, with the prepainted side castings and the unpainted castings for roof, doors, underbody and ends. Trucks are included.

8 Just Trains Largest Selection in the East Bay Friendly help for the young and the young at heart O-scale, O Hi-Rail and Tinplate, G, HO, N and Z 9650-H Imhoff Drive, Concord Tuesday-Saturday 10-5:00 PM Joan Saunders, Owner Sunday 12-4:00 PM Website: (925) FAX: (925) Submit address and changes to Mark Boyd, mark.boyd54@att.net