September 2013 NOR-CAL DIVISION ELECTION RESULTS PRESIDENT S MESSAGE. Richard White Editor. See the Nor-Cal Express in FULL

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1 Richard White Editor September 2013 The Newsletter of the Northern California Division of the Train Collectors Association Check out the latest Tinplate Times at NOR-CAL DIVISION ELECTION RESULTS The newly elected Nor-Cal Division officers, who officially took office July 1, are: President: Bob Nichelini 67 Write ins 2 Vice President: Michael Andrews 69 Secretary Mark Boyd 69 Treasurer Jack D Angelo 68 Write ins 1 Congratulations to the new officers! Summer is almost over and we are about to resume our monthly meets. As many of you know, we decided to cancel the summer meets due to years of low attendance (I guess it s hard to compete with the train at Disneyland) and the cost of renting the Veterans Hall. So, far, we have had few complaints, but many of us are anxious to resume our normal monthly meetings. I also want to welcome these new Nor Cal officers: Vice President Michael Andrews Without Michael (and Bob Spivock) there would be no Cal-Stewart (more on that later). Secretary Mark Boyd As you all know, without Mark nothing would ever get posted, ed, distributed or read. Treasurer Jack D Angelo Jack replaces longterm Treasurer Pete Goodier who now becomes Treasurer Emeritus. Pete has been a great Treasurer and has watched the money like a hawk. Pete you will be missed. I also want to thank Rob Cornell for his service as President. Rod is the consummate train collector and added a lot to our knowledge of the hobby. Every room in his house has trains in it like most of us would want, but spouses won t allow. In June, I attended the TCA National Board Meeting, the primary topic of which was TCA National Dues. See the Nor-Cal Express in FULL There were no Nor-Cal meetings in July or August. There is a meeting on September 14 at the Lafayette Veterans Hall. There will also be meetings at the Veterans Hall on October 12, November 9 and December 14. PRESIDENT S MESSAGE By Bob Nichelini # Many Division Presidents (acting as National TCA Directors) fought like crazy to keep the dues at existing levels or severely limit the increase. I voted with the majority to raise the dues because, like any business, you can t provide $50 worth of merchandise (TCA publications, operate the museum, etc.) for $40 and stay open. I am satisfied that the National TCA Office has cut costs wherever possible and, without the dues increase, there would be no money for needed maintenance and minimum staff support. We are working on Cal-Stewart issues now and plans have not been finalized. In spite of increased interest and early public admission, meet costs are becoming prohibitive. We were able to get two Santa Clara Convention Center halls at a discount in 2013, but the Center is unwilling to continue that discount into We have looked at other venues, but simply have not found anything suitable. We will continue to examine alternatives for the future. Final decisions will rest on Convention Center pricing and the prospect that there may be parking charges imposed in the future. I think the next few years will show a significant decline in the number of people participating in our hobby. We are all getting older and not being replaced by younger members. However, only time will tell. Bob Nichelini

2 CAL-STEWART MEET - MAY 2014 By Bob Spivock # We are now just about six months away from the Spring 2014 Cal-Stewart Meet. The setup day will be February 28 and the meet will be in full swing on March 1 and 2. In a moment of insanity (or was it only a moment?), I volunteered to be the Meet Chairman. The meet will be run in a very similar manner to the 2013 meet; extensive advertising to attract many members of the public to attend and thereby generate a lot of activity. This approach was generally regarded as being a great success in this year s meet; there were many more operating layouts and much more selling, which made our sellers happy. Overall, a very good vibe to carry over to the 2014 Meet. Planning is now underway in an effort to make the meet another success. Financial success, however, is another issue. As Bob Nichelini mentioned in his President s Message, the Santa Clara Convention Center is unwilling to continue a discount for 2014 or any future years. I prepared a budget for the meet that estimated a small loss. However, when the Convention Center raised our rent by about $4,500, the previously estimated small loss became and estimated large loss. What will happen in 2015 is unknown; good ideas are always welcome. As always, we need many volunteers to assist with the numerous tasks involved to putting this large event together. There is a need for workers at the registration desk; your commitment of just an hour or two will make a big difference. There are needs in other areas too. Please let me know if you are willing to help make the meet a success. GEORGE LOPES PASSES Long time Nor-Cal and TCA member George Lopes # passed away Wednesday August 7th. He was 89 years old. He is survived by his bride Toni, after 67 years of marriage. George was a career Navy man and retired to the Bay Area. He became Postmaster in Mill Valley, then moved to Discovery Bay in retirement before finally settling in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he and his bride had a wonderful house built and customized just for them. With beautiful cabinetry throughout the house and two train rooms for George and a sewing room for Toni, they both enjoyed their sunset years together. George had a G gauge train room that was landscaped from floor to ceiling. It was an old west scene where you walked through the canyons of the desert. I remember him telling me his home contractor came back amazed after they had moved in to notice the sweeping smooth curved corners that George had the contractor meticulously customize in the train room to create a perfect sky and avoid the appearance of lines behind the mountains. "So that's why you wanted those corners so perfect," commented the contractor! His other train room was a remarkable comprehensive pre-war American Flyer 0 gauge collection as well as Hafner trains. He loved the Nation Wide sets and other limited-production rarities. He published several authoritative texts on his areas of expertise.. Outdoors, he ran a 3½-inch gauge ride-on, battery powered train set that he loved to give visitors rides on up until just a few years ago. The desert sun was always causing problems with the right-of-way and it caused a good amount of work to keep it operational. When my kids were little, they got a ride on the train and I photographed my wife Patty, daughter Emily, and son Aaron getting a ride around the property. I never did get that ride for myself! The train track was customized to pull right into the garage for storage when it wasn t operating. At the other end of the garage was an oversized garage door so he could pull their camper into the bay when they weren t off to a train meet or national convention. George and Toni made every Cal-Stewart and National Convention, but they never made it to York. George was regularly one of the first registrations received for our Spring Cal-Stewart Meet. He was either registration number 3 or number 5, and never missed, not even once. George was happy with a regular routine of shows they attended. They drove everywhere. The last national convention they attended was Atlanta. When he did not appear in St. Louis, I suspected something was up, and now thanks to Max Mizuhara, and after receiving a note from Toni, I learn of George s passing. George will surely be missed and I am saddened. I will think of him at every Cal Stewart Meet. By Mark C. Boyd

3 ITEMS SEEN AT THE JUNE 2 BATHS MEETING At right and below: This Bing passenger set is O gauge and electricpowered. It dates from the late twenties and is owned by Rod Cornell. This Bing 1 gauge live steam loco and coaches are owned by Gary Espinosa. It is not really a set, as the loco is lettered for the Great Western Rwy. while the cars are lettered Great Northern. Gary Espinosa owns this Bing 1 gauge live steam Great Western Railway County Class County of Northampton. It is probably from just after World War 1. Gary acquired this at a recent York meet. Mike Seibert brought in a boxed 347E Standard Gauge set, with an 8E loco and 337 and 338 cars, from What is highly unusual is that the two cars are lettered above the windows with Illinois Central. The cars are normally found lettered tfor Lionel Lines or New York Central. A lively discussion included the theory that this set was part of a special order for Marshall Field s Department Store in Chicago. Greenberg makes note of these cars, and similarly lettered cars. At right: Ed Sins brought in this diminutive Dorfan set of loco and coach. This set was Dorfan s least expensive offering in the 30 s, but is now quite rare, and priced accordingly! At right: This Doll gantry crane was reconstructed by Richard Zanotti and Ira Keeler from various original and handmade parts!

4 MORE FROM BATHS Not strictly trains, but train related, is this boxed Marx Super Circus Page 4 setup, acquitted at the recent York Meet by Rod Cornell. It is comprised of lithographed steel pieces (litho on both sides!) that fit together with tabs. There pieces for a large Big Top, complete with interiors comprising plastic performing rings, animals, performers, audience and so forth. There also pieces to assemble side shows. The set appears complete, and is in phenomenal original condition! It does not appear to have been assemble more than once or twice. It is probably from early postwar. TOONERVILLE TROLLEY - a model and its inspiration The highly collectible Kemtron HO gauge Toonerville Trolley, below, left, was a humorous take on the trolley car featured in the comic strip Toonerville Folks by Fontaine Fox. The strip ran in newspapers from 1908 to The trolley motorman was the grizzled old Skipper, and there were many other eccentric characters too.

5 OPERATING STATEMENT for period 7/1/12 thru 5/31/13 CASH BALANCE 7/1/12 $27, Page 5 Dues 17,606/ Cal Stewart Meet 21, Cal Stewart Meet Convention Car sold Coffee cash turned in Bank error check # TCA National dues collected Bank deposit correction 1.00 Donation Non-member lunch 12/8/ , EXPENSES Rent 4, Nor Cal Express Coffee Cal Stewart Meet 31, Cal Stewart Meet Bank fee for large cash deposit Donation TCA National 1, Donation honorarium Website hosting Office supplies TCA National dues forwarded Postage S.C. Shows, Inc Holiday lunch catering 2, , CASH BALANCE 5/31/ /38 ASSETS BALANCE SHEET 5/31/13 Checking account balance 5/31/13 $25, Computer equipment, cost $ less 5 year straight line depreciation 4 per year Miscellaneous supplies , LIABILITIES None, all obligations paid in full 0 NET WORTH 26, Respectfully Submitted: Pete Goodier, Treasurer

6 SCENES ON A GORGEOUS O-GAUGE LAYOUT Ed J. built this large O- scale 3-rail layout which fills a very large basement room. Only portions of the layout are visible in these photos. The layout can run half a dozen trains at one time. Motive power is primarily Western railroads Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, etc., and is all Lionel (no MTH). Track is Lionel FasTrack. At left: Hand-built concrete coaling tower.

7 SCENES ON TWO FLYER S-GAUGE LAYOUTS Page 7 See more photos from these two layouts at These layouts were constructed by Vern B., in adjacent basement rooms under his house, that were hand-excavated by him over a several year period. The layouts feature incredible detail. American Models track is used throughout. Accessories and structures are mostly Flyer but also include Lionel, Plasticville and scratchbuilt. Trains include a few items from American Models and S-Helper Service.

8 Just Trains Largest Selection in the East Bay Friendly help for the young and the young at heart O-Scale, Hi-Rail and Tinplate, G, HO and N 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