I have just received Lionel’s “Corporation Tinplate” catalog for 2016. The art work reflects a steam engine crossing the Hellgate Bridge – A true New York City scene. It occurred to me that growing up in Oakland, California and never leaving the state until I was about 16 or 17, I had absolutely no idea where these landmarks were or what they represented. It was not until the U.S. Air Force sent me to Upstate New York in 1966 that I actually saw the real Hellgate Bridge, walked by Madison Hard-ware and visited Palisades Park. Do you remember the free Palisades Park admis-sion coupons that were included with every Superman and Batman comic book? By the way, even the comic books were based on New York (Metropolis is gener-

ally believed to be based on New York City by day and Gotham City as New York City by night. Despite the fact few of us “kids” had any idea where the Hellgate Bridge was located or why cars were named after places in New Jersey we never heard of, we still wanted those trains and accessories.

As we approach the holiday train-collecting season and unless Lionel de-cides to produce a BART train or a San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to put on the layout, we will again be rebuilding (continued on page 2)

Don’t miss the Christmas Meet on Saturday, December 3, at the Lafayette

Veterans Hall. This meet is for members and spouses/significant others ONLY. Free Lunch included!! There will be lots of trains! For directions to the Hall, see the map on the Nor-Cal website (www.norcaltca.com). Meet begins at 9:30.

Upcoming Meets: At the Veterans’ Hall:

November 12, January 14, February 11, April 8, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9. Cal-Stewart Meet- March 5. May meet in Sacramento. June, July and August: not yet determined.

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

By Bob Nichelini 81-16938

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

December 2016 Richard White, Editor

Cal-Stewart Meet – March 4, 5, 2017

The Spring Cal-Stewart Meet will once again be held at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel. On Saturday, March 4, there will be a tour of operating layouts and collections. Train rooms of various operators and collectors will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (times subject to minor adjustment). On Saturday evening, there will be a dinner at the San Ramon Marriott. On Sunday, the trading hall will be open. Many sellers will be offering a variety of toy and model train items.

Signed– Bob Spivock, Cal-Stewart Chairman, and the

Cal-Stewart Committee

Lionel #101 “Bridge to Somewhere” (1920-31)

Volunteers are needed to assist at the Cal-Stewart. Just a small amount of your time will help to keep the meet “on track” and make the meet a roaring success. Contact Mark Boyd or any Nor-Cal officer to volunteer.

We hope you had a

“Lionel” Halloween!

Welcome New Member!

Tim Galli, Anticoch, CA

President’s Message (continued from page 1) New York City in California. I say “New York City” specifically because I have been admonished by my Upstate New York wife that New York City and New York State are two entirely different places. Our main focus now is to prepare for the Cal-Stewart Meet scheduled for Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel. Bob Spivock has once again taken the leadership role in getting the Cal-Stewart or-ganized. But there is a tremendous amount of work that still needs to be done and we really need your help. Volunteers are especially needed on the day of the Cal-Stewart to assist with registration and to monitor meet activities. Please let us know if you can help.

As the year ends, I also want to give special recognition to the Nor-Cal Board members who keep out organi-zation on-track. * Vice President Michael Andrews – Without Michael we would have no place to meet. * Secretary Mark Boyd – Without Mark, nothing would get done as he does it all. I’m fairly sure Mark spends 95% of his waking hours dealing with Nor-Cal issues and his side-job of publishing the TCA Quarterly. * Treasurer Jack D’Angelo – With Jack around, every penny of Nor-Cal money is accounted for and the bills are paid on time. * Immediate Past President Cliff Jarrard – Cliff stepped up to take on significant Board duties when my predecessor dropped out of the club. * Newsletter Editor Richard White. Without Richard you wouldn’t be reading this.

Some readers might have noticed the small photo of a Reading steam locomotive on page 3 of the September Express. TCA member the Rev. Phil Smith noted that the loco is a Reading Class G1sa Pacific, and he sent me a link to an interesting article on one G1sa, #134. Here is the link: https://web.mail.comcast.net/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=277797&part=2

Sue Spivock passed away on Friday, October 21. She was the wife of past Nor-Cal President

Bob Spivock. She was 69 and a victim of scleroderma, an autoimmune rheumatic disease. She was born in San Francisco and spent her whole life in the Bay Area. She was a proud graduate of UC Berkeley. She had 4 grandchildren, whom she adored.

She had been in a skilled nursing facility for the 15 months prior to her passing.

Joyce Jacobsen, wife of Jake Jacobsen, passed away in August. Many of the S-gaugers in

Nor-Cal attended the funeral service in El Cerrito on the same Saturday as our Nor-Cal BBQ in San Leandro. No notice was sent out as I was not certain of the details in time to notify mem-

bers, but there was a good showing at the funeral. I know Jake misses her greatly as they were a great team. Joyce used to enjoy the Golden Gate American Flyer Club Christmas party each December. She will be missed.

NOR-CAL FAMILY By Mark Boyd

Toonerville

Trolley

by Fontaine Fox,

1930’s

HO by

Kemtron O gauge by

RichArt

Page 2

TIME TO PAY OUR NOR-CAL DUES

TRAINS SEEN AT THE SEPTEMBER 10 MEET

Lionel “Bild-A-Loco” motor, with original box. Owned by Richard Hofmeister

Paul LeBrett displayed this Lionel 220 volt transformer. This was made for foreign markets.

Various old toys and steam boilers. Owner unknown.

Mark Boyd displayed this Lionel Super 0 Frontier set from 1959, with the 5 Star General, No. 1876 illuminated mail-baggage car, No.1875W illuminated passenger car with whistle, No. 1875 illuminated passenger car (separate sale car), along with the cars from the 027 set cars No. 1866 mail-baggage and No. 1865 passenger car. Also shown was the 1959 dealer Advance catalog and the first Nor-Cal Division printed Directory from 1959, which features a red tissue cover with the General locomotive pictured.

Cliff Den Otter owns this beautiful American Flyer Wide Gauge “President’s Special” set (missing the front footplate “eagle”).

Nor-Cal Directory—>

1959 Catalog—>

220V transformer—>

Richard Zanotti displayed this old Bing 1-gauge set, with electric power. Probably pre-1920.

Paul LeBrett obtained this 1935 Lionel Flying Yankee set from a neighbor.

Exacta HO coach, kit-built by R. White

Page 5

More Halloween theme– Joaquin Murphy displayed this large Ives 3242 Wide Gauge loco from 1927-28.

TRAINS SEEN AT THE OCTOBER 8 MEET

This pristine, early (circa 1920) American Flyer O-gauge set was displayed by Richard Zanotti.

Keeping with the Halloween theme, Richard displayed this reproduction (RichArt) of the Wide Gauge Ives 3245R loco. The original, from 1928, was top-of-the line.

Gene Cerelli displayed this 1-gauge Bing 1910 Sta-tion Platform, for the English market. It’s electrified.

Mark Boyd displayed these Lionel postwar boat cars. In the front, the (only) factory sample of the “Tahoe Queen” car (intended to be the 2011 TCA Convention Car.)

Joaquin Murphy brought in these two American Flyer Wide Gauge “Yorktown” observation cars, in Halloween orange, with roof color and lithography variations.

These are Gary Espinosa’s ETS (Czech) O-gauge cars.

Page 6

These photos show some of Joe Barker’s Halloween-themed cars (see the #RIP 1031 boxcar below)..

Richard Zanotti displayed this One gauge Gunderman tram (1920’s).

These two photos show some of the Standard Gauge trains that were avail-able for purchase at the meet.

Bob Rumley displayed an assort-ment of Lionel O-gauge freight cars in Halloween orange.

Joe Barker displayed this Lionel #RIP 1031 Transylvania boxcar, with scary sound effects.

This O-gauge billboard adver-tises “Navy, travel, adven-ture…” Owner unknown.

More trains from the October 8 meet...

At left: Not exactly a train-related item, but definitely Halloween themed– this old “Mystery Bank,” with scary sound effects (actuated when a coin is inserted). Dis-played by Richard Zanotti.

Marin Hobby and Gift, 224 Greenfield Ave. #2, San Anselmo, maintains a se-lection of Lionel and other trains. Owner: Caryn Guthrie (415) 454-3087

At left: Mark Boyd displayed these Dar-staed British Rail coaches, along withj a Darstaed LNER 2-6-2T locomotive. Above: Hasty Habicht , a prospective Nor-Cal member brought in this exqui-

site model of a 95-ton steam shovel, as used in the construction of the Panama Canal. The boom, shovel, etc. can be manually oper-ated, but this is not an operat-ing model.

Page 7 TRAINS SEEN AT THE NOVEMBER 12 MEET Two photos at left: This G-gauge 1/32 scale McKeen rail car is the prototype for a 50-car run of 3D-Printed plastic cars. The trucks are 3D-printed too! This was built by Moe’s Trains, and will be painted in maroon. Talk to Craig Matoza for details.

This book, above, was brought in by Dave Preifer. It features amazing photographs.

Richard Zanotti displayed this early 50’s-era Soviet O-gauge train, with two passenger cars and two freight cars. Richard reported that the loco was only able to pull two cars at a time. Also, to wire the train setup, a complicated wiring harness was required (see October 2016 Quarterly).

Submit address and email changes to Mark Boyd, E-mail: mark.boyd54@att.net

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 Jim Anthony, Owner Sunday 12-4:00 PM Website: www.just-trains.com (925) 685-6566 FAX: (925) 685-7 997