Newsletter of the Northern California Division of the Train Collectors Association Richard White, Editor Upcoming meets: December 13 (lunch meeting, members and families only) at the Lafayette Veterans Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette; Jan. 10, LVH; Feb. 14 (undetermined); March 14, April 11, LVH; May 23 (in Sacramento); June (undetermined); July St. Luke s Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek; August San Leandro Rwy. Hist. Soc.; Sept 12, October 10, Nov, 14 and Dec. 12, all at the LVH. Meets begin at 9:30 AM. See the map for the LVH on the website. Welcome New Member: Paul Stagnaro, Concord PRESIDENT S MESSAGE By Bob Nichelini 81-16938 By the time you read this, we will be well into the holiday shopping season and you may already have your train ready to put under the Christmas tree. It was this time of the year in the early 1950 s that I would have been looking through the Lionel Catalog and leaving selected pages strategically open on the dining room table, where my parents might see it. I guess it worked, because on Christmas morning my Marx set was replaced with a Lionel 2056 Steam Locomotive and set of cars. I had that set, albeit stored in my parent s basement, for many years, until it was destroyed in the 1991 Oakland Firestorm. Shortly thereafter, my original set was replaced with an exact duplicate by the Nor-Cal membership. I still thank you for that, and the new set is on the top shelf of my display area. The Marx set was also destroyed. My uncle gave it to me when he returned from the war in about 1947. I was always told he had a difficult time finding an electric train at that time because war production had stopped the manufacture and sale of all metal and electric toys. I did find photos, at my parent s house, of my father and me playing with both the Marx and Lionel sets. Those photos are now hanging on the wall of my train room. So, as the Christmas season approaches, don t forget the Nor-Cal holiday lunch that will be held at the Lafayette Veterans Hall on December 13. The regular monthly meeting starts at 9:30 a.m., followed December 2014 See the Express in Living Color at www.norcaltca.com Mercedes the cat (yes, she s a real live cat!) says I stand up for Marx, on ebay. [photo courtesy of Tim Dombrowski] by trading until approximately 11:30 a.m. Please do not forget that the December meeting and lunch is for members and their immediate family only. Unfortunately, we will be unable to accommodate guests. At our last meeting we discussed the parking problems that have been encountered at the Veterans Hall due to conflicting meetings by the Weight Watchers Group. The Veterans Hall manager has assured me that she has discussed the problem with the Weight Watchers and they will be out of most parking spaces by 9:15 a.m. So, if you arrive early and cannot find parking, please wait a few minutes to see what opens up. If you are bringing items to sell you can temporarily park in the unloading circle near the entrance doors until parking spaces become available. (Continued on page 2) Train-watching at the Just Trains Open House, Oct. 5
President s Message (cont d. from page 1) Finally, the Cal-Stewart is back on track and full information will be available shortly [see at right] It will be a one-day event on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at the Marriott in San Ramon. I know a lot of members want us to continue holding the Cal-Stewart in Santa Clara, but that venue has become too expensive and too difficult to schedule. At Just Trains, Oct. 5 IN MEMORIAM JACK RODGERS HR-73-5200 I am very saddened to report the passing of long time Nor-Cal Division member Jack Rodgers 73-5200. He passed away on Veteran's Day, which is appropriate as he was a very proud Air Force Veteran, with lots of stories he loved to tell. Jack was a good friend to me. He is one of the reasons I achieved some degree of accomplishment within the toy train community. He and his wonderful late bride Karen, were instrumental in the growth and success of Nor-Cal Division throughout the years. He was the Nor-Cal treasurer for nearly a decade and his wife was the registrar for all of our great Cal-Stewart Meets in the early years at the Santa Clara Convention Center. He called me last Thursday to tell me he was moved out of his home and into a facility. He wouldn't tell any of us where it was. I am not sure he knew where it was, but he asked me to have some of his friends be sure to have their cell phones turned on so he could call them. He would not answer calls, but he would call us. He sounded weak. He always fussed about technology and always wanted to get a new phone he could understand how to work! Jack, Jake Jacobsen, and I were always room mates down at the annual Pasadena Cal-Stewart Meet. We got together with Don Matthies and others to have some great dinners in Pasadena. We all were some of the last folks to close up the trading hall on Sunday afternoon. I think I can safely speak for all of the Golden Gate Flyer Club guys, as well as Nor-Cal, and say we will surely miss Jack. He was a wonderful friend and inspiration to all of us. There will be a viewing from 4-7 pm, and prayers at 7:00 pm on Sunday at Duggan s Serra Mortuary, 500 West Lake Avenue, Daly City (650-756-4500). On Monday morning there will be a memorial service for Jack at 10:00 am, at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, 2555 17th Avenue, San Francisco. The photo was taken at a Cal-Stewart Banquet about four years ago. Signed- Mark Boyd Jack was a supporter of CTTOM from day one. I believe he was the first person to write out a check in support of CTTOM. He was also a member of TCA and for years he and his wife played an active role in Nor-Cal. Signed- Will Taylor The Board and members of Nor-Cal express their condolences to Jack s family.
TRAINS SEEN AT THE SEPTEMBER MEET These Carette streetcars (trams), in One-Gauge, are Richard Zanotti s, and date from 1911. The center car is powered (track power was 3-4 volts from wet-cell batteries) and the other two are unpowered. Carette was a Frenchman who had his factory in Germany until the onset of WWI. Carette trains are noteworthy for their fine detailing, and rather delicate construction. The page is from the 1911 Carette catalog, showing the trams. Michael Andrews 3620/50 searchlight cars, showing the three colors of generator. Green is quite rare. Michael also brought in these Lionel 6464300 Rutland boxcars, with variations in paint (doors) and lettering (style, placement and process). Joe Barker s Ringling Brothers car, at the left, shoots The Amazing Human Cannonball. Joe Barker brought in these nicely detailed K-Line O-gauge Ringling Brothers/ Barnum and Bailey circus cars, including a rail-riding truck (lower left in photo)!! Craig Miller owns this prewar (1938 or so) Japanese 2-6-0 locomotive, manufacture by Seki, in O-gauge.
ITEMS SEEN AT THE OCTOBER 11 MEET This is Mark Boyd s O-gauge model of the Norfolk and Western Jawn Henry (song- Jawn Henry was a steel-driving man ) experimental steam turbine locomotive, along with its two tenders. This is brass, by Sunset 3rd Rail Models. It will run on 072 track, but looks better on 090 or greater see another Jawn Henry running on YouTube. The prototype proved unreliable, and was soon scrapped. This is Richard Zanotti s Marklin 1-gauge clockwork loco and tender from 1930. Jack D Angelo brought in this tinplate gondola in O -gauge (Converse?). He acquired this 26 years ago and kept it on his desk filled with golf pencils, so that any student of his could take a pencil, if they d forgotten to bring their own! It was never stolen from on his desk! This is Richard Zanotti s Marklin 1-gauge live steam loco, pre WWI. It features oil reservoirs on the cylinders, a concave firebox, and a drive system consisting of main rods drive to the forward axle, and gear drive to the rear axle. It uses the same tender as the CW loco. At left: Mike Raymond brought in, and demonstrated, this working sound mechanism from a Noma station. These are usually inoperable owing to metal rot. New electronic versions are available, however.
Chuck Schaffer brought in this lovely Marklin O-gauge clockwork set from 1906. It was build for the American market note the bell, headlight and cowcatcher on the loco. The close-up of the mail car shows the beautiful, factory, hand-applied paint job. Note the slot for depositing letters (to left of center door). That s an air tank under the car. This set, in miraculously like-new condition, is extremely rare in any condition. Chuck has the original boxes and track that came with the set. Paul Guaraglia brought in this Lionel tugboat from 2003 or so. It features an operating smoke unit, a realistic whistle and exterior lighting. This is the B&O version. It also came in NYC, Lehigh Valley, PRR and Santa Fe versions. It is a static model, not intended for your bathtub! FREE back issues of the TCA Quarterly, 1970 on. Pick up at my place in Moraga. Richard White Chuck Schaffer brought in this Lionel set from 1947 with an early model #726 locomotive (turned handrail stanchions, early motor, steel driver tires, etc.) with Madison cars (with optional passenger silhouettes added). Note the original boxes too.
TRAINS SEEN AT THE NOVEMBER MEET These two GBN (Bing) locos were displayed by Gary Espinosa. At left: from 1920-22, clockwork, possibly mismatched tender (American prototype), At right: WW I era, clockwork Great Western Railway (English prototype). At left and above: Craig Miller bought this beautiful Carlisle and Finch set while attending the York Meet. It is 2-inch gauge, 2-rail electric, and dates from 1905. Bob Morris brought in a Mystery Item: Smoke Sand. The bottle reads: SMOKE Mark Boyd displayed (top) two plastic trolleys the leftmost one is by HIGO, and is S gauge (a rare version) and the almost identical one on the right is by EMCO in O-gauge (Higo and Emco are obviously the same manufacturer). Their gap-ring motors require a push to get them going. (bottom) These are two EMCO handcars, for O-gauge, one having the reverse colors of the other. Mark loves collecting these variations. SAND Keep Dry. For best results do not remove bottle from locomotive. Lift bottle neck just enough so that you can unscrew cap. Then poke a deep hole into the sand, using pointed end of stick. Remove stick and lay the open bottle back in the locomotive. Recap Bottle When Not in Use. Richard Hofmeister displayed this interesting Parker Bros. board game on his table players explore the United States by train. Mike Raymond displayed a very old (80 plus years?) railroad lantern, possibly from a caboose. Chuck Stone showed this American Flyer wide gauge Statesman set
OPEN HOUSE AT JUST TRAINS ON OCTOBER 5 Diablo Valley Garden Railway Society G European Train Enthusiasts (ETE) Marklin HO L to R: Will Taylor, Ed Guldner, and Mike Rekakis, at the CTTOM booth. Diablo Pacific Short Line G Diablo Pacific Short Line G Diablo Pacific Short Line G Joan Saunders, owner of Just Trains in Concord, holds an Open House and train exhibition every year. This year s event featured modular layouts from a number of local clubs, in various gauges. Other exhibitors (not pictured) displayed their electronic and model products for various gauges. The store had various overstock for sale, as well as offering an extra discount for in-store sales. Joan furnished sweet rolls, crackers, hot dogs and soft drinks for the hungry crowds.
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: www.just-trains.com (925) 685-6566 FAX: (925) 685-7 997 Submit address and email changes to Mark Boyd, E-mail: mark.boyd54@att.net