Whistles in the Woods
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Published by Adirondack Live Steamers
OPERATING 6500 FEET OF TRACK IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ADIRONDACKS
7 ¼” GAUGE 1 ½” SCALE
OPERATING GAUGE 1 TRACKAGE FOR STEAM AND ELECTRIC
SAFETY FIRST
AUGUST 2005
FERROEQUINOLOGISTS ENJOY
FUN, FOOD, AND FABULOUS WEATHER
Ken Nelson
A beautiful, sunny, July 10 provided
the perfect background to our first ALS
Family Day for 2005. Steam and diesel
powered trains provided many rides for
our families throughout the day. There
was plenty of food for everyone, and
plenty of action for the young and
young-at-heart.
Ferroequinologists (lovers of the Iron
Horse) were in abundance. Some people
stayed overnight from our work day and
Membership Meeting on Saturday, while
others arrived very early on Sunday
morning.
By noon, the place was
hopping. Everyone seemed to have a
great time, and after several previous
days of rain, the weather couldn’t have
been better.
We want to thank Amy Dean and
Bobbie Nelson for stepping in at the last
minute to cook the hamburgers in the
kitchen when the outside grill began to
show its age. Beth Levine was able to
cook the hot dogs outside, but our grill
needs a new one soon. Many engineers,
too numerous to mention, stayed with
their trains nearly all day to provide
rides for all, while Amy Dean, Don
Buesing,
and
others
substituted
occasionally to give the regular
engineers a chance to breath. Men,
women, and children of all ages enjoyed
riding the trains, playing together, and
eating.
If you were unable to attend our first
Family Day, keep in mind that we will
do it all over again on Sunday, August
14. Come on out and see what you’ve
been missing. And if you were there on
July 10, we look forward to seeing you
again.
***
*****
Next Meeting: Saturday, August 13, 1:00 PM in the Clubhouse
(Note time)
Deadline for September Whistles: Saturday, August 20
Other Important Dates: See Last Page
Page 2
Membership Secretary’s Report
Jeane Lutz
We have the following new members that were accepted at the June Membership Meeting.
William Mischler has upgraded to a Regular member from Associate. Bill has been a very active
member, especially this year, and we welcome him as a Regular member.
Lance Sherman from Broadalbin, NY as a Regular member. Lance is looking for quality time with
his family whose interests are in railroading. Welcome Lance.
Henry Propst, from Burnt Hills, New York, as an Associate member. Henry is an EMT and would
really love to operate a live steam locomotive. Welcome Henry, and you have come to the right place.
There are many people at the club who would love to teach you.
Tim and Claire Wood from Schuylerville, NY as Associate members. They are just learning the life
of trains and have also come to the right place. We welcome both of you to ALS.
Nick Bruno, from Waterford, NY as an Associate member. Nick is an engineer. Welcome aboard
Nick.
Walter Stolte from Saugerties, NY as an Associate member. Walter’s interest is in Gauge #1.
Welcome Walter.
Charles Hosmer, a Junior member from Melrose, New York, and the grandson of our President
Richard Hosmer. Welcome back Charlie.
Norah Singer as a Junior member. She is the daughter of Associate member Wayne Singer from
Ware, Massachusetts. Norah is the youngest member of the Singer family and we welcome her to the
club.
We received a very nice thank you letter from Brice Dube and his parents for allowing them to have
Brice’s birthday party at ALS. A fun time was had by all and especially grandparents, Richard and Amy
Dean. Special thanks to those who gave rides to all his party attendees.
I would like to remind all members that if you need an application for someone, please make sure it is
one that has the new dues on it. As we all know the dues were raised this year and apparently there are
still some of the old applications around. If you do not have one just send me an e-mail or call and I will
be happy to send a new one out to anyone that is interested in joining.
I have already received a 2006 renewal from Kenneth Friedel from Potsdam, NY. Ken has been very
busy this summer trying to work on his 30 inch railroad. He sent some new pictures if anyone would like
to see them. He is also trying to get them to allow him to build a railroad on some proposed property they
are looking to purchase. Seems they are more interested in tractors, but Ken is going to do his best to add
a railroad. Good luck Ken.
***
Page 3
Whistles in the Woods
NEWSLETTER OF THE
FIRST PROTO OP DAY
SUCCESSFUL DESPITE RAIN
Ken Nelson
ADIRONDACK LIVE STEAMERS
CLUB TELEPHONE
(518) 583-2580
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Dick Hosmer
Phone: (518) 235-0771
E-Mail: dick@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Vice President: Richard Dean
Phone: (516) 656-9091
E-Mail: rich@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Recording Secretary: Llyn Rice
Phone: (802) 462-2719
E-Mail: llyn@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Treasurer: Warren Hockaday
Phone: (518) 877-8341
E-Mail: warren@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Membership Secretary: Jeane Lutz
Phone: (732) 541-6614
E-Mail: jean@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Director 2006: Ray Dwyer
Phone: (518) 692-7001
E-Mail: ray@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Director 2005: Larry Green
Phone: (802) 545-2460
E-Mail: larry@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Past President: John Camerota
Phone: (518) 664-7900
E-mail: john@adirondacklivesteamers.org
NEWSLETTER
Whistles in the Woods
STAFF
Editor: Ken Nelson
Phone: (518) 377-7176
E-Mail: pocovalley@msn.com
Publisher: Pete Petrillose
Columnists: Bruce Rauch, Jeane Lutz, and
Llyn Rice
SUBMISSIONS: Whistles in the Woods welcomes
articles, news items, classifieds, photos, and other
contributions. Please contact any of the staff.
MEMBERSHIP: Anyone interested in joining the
ADIRONDACK LIVE STEAMERS should contact
Jeane Lutz, Membership Secretary.
Phone: (732) 541-6614
E-mail: JEANEL76@MINDSPRING.COM
WEB PAGE
Webmaster: Bill Eckert
Phone: (802) 226-7618
E-Mail: bill@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Website:
Adirondacklivesteamers.org
Our first Prototype Operation Day of the
season on July 17 was very successful
despite at least three periods of rain and
showers. Over twenty people participated,
some of whom have become “old hands,”
and several who were experiencing such an
activity for the first time.
After a short meeting for Dispatcher John
Camerota to review Form D, (the clearance
form used when running in both directions)
and Ken Nelson to assign the crews, we
began operation around 10:00 AM.
Showers fell several times throughout the
day, but nobody considered quitting. By the
end of the day, we had a lot of wet but
happy crews.
Although a few people arrived late, and
several mistakes were made during the
operation (nothing serious), many laughs
were generated, and people had a great time.
We will do it again on Sunday, August
21. If you would like to participate, contact
Skip Densing who will be heading up that
day. Please call early! It takes several
weeks to put a session together. We have
room for you. Come on out.
***
*****
VERMONT GARDEN
RAILWAY SOCIETY TO
VISIT ALS
The Vermont Garden Railway Society
will have its monthly meeting at ALS on
Saturday, August 6. Lynn Rice and Larry
Green are hosting.
Anyone interested in Gauge One is
welcome to attend, bring equipment to run,
or just observe. Rides will also be offered
on our 7¼” track, and engineers are
welcome.
The hours are approximately 1:00 PM to
6:00 PM. Normal Saturday activities at the
club will proceed as usual.
***
Page 4
CLUBHOUSE: LARGE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Over the past few weeks, some large
steps have been taken toward the
eventual completion of the large meeting
room in the clubhouse. Our contractor
has installed the new entrance door on
the south wall, and completed new
construction on the exterior area of the
door. Upon completion of the door
installation, Rich Dean and Ken Nelson
were able to complete the sheet rock
with the exception of one small area
awaiting electrical and plumbing work
still to be completed.
One major area yet to be approached
is the bay window on the south wall. All
of the window trim needs to be carefully
removed and labeled, the old wall
covering removed, insulation and new
sheet rock installed, and the window
trim put back on. Then taping can be
completed in the bay area.
During our Monthly Membership
Meeting, Dan Thomas did a beautiful
job of taping the installed sheet rock.
The following Saturday, Lance Sherman
and Rich Dean did the second coat of
taping, and the third and final coat
should be completed by the time you
read this.
Meanwhile, outside the building,
several people including Ken Nelson,
Bill Eckert, Nancy Eckert, and Bill
Mischler have been busy painting the
yellow area of the wall, and then the first
and second coats of brown trim. The
windows have been started, but there are
about a dozen of them. We need your
help. Would you be willing to paint one
window?
Don Buesing has offered to head up
the interior painting of the large room.
He will need lots of help. After the
primer coat is applied, we can begin
installing the wainscot paneling along
the bottom of the walls.
We really appreciate all of the help
that has been offered by all of our
members. If we missed your name,
please forgive us. If you haven’t come
out yet to help, please join us next
Saturday.
When one works on a building such
as this, he or she realizes just how large
it is. If everyone will do a little, we will
be able to enjoy the satisfaction of
completing something, and be able to
move onward.
***
*****
NEEDED: CLUBHOUSE MANAGER
We badly need someone to take over for
Bruce Rausch, now that he has moved away.
Not everyone realizes how much he did for
this club. One of his jobs was Clubhouse
Manager or Station Master.
While this sounds like a major job, it
doesn’t need to be, and all of the work does
not need to be completed by one person.
We have had some interest from at least one
member in taking over this job. Would you
be willing to help?
The job includes straightening things up,
sweeping the floor, cleaning the bathrooms
and shower occasionally, and making certain
that we have enough paper towels, toilet
tissue, etc. on hand. If one or two people
offered to handle the large room, and
another take care of the kitchen, this could
work.
If you would like to learn more, or would
be willing to volunteer, contact President
Dick Hosmer.
***
Page 5
(Editor’s Note: Things are moving very fast in our club, and there have been several occasions
where our Board of Directors has passed things in their meeting, and not everyone has been
advised. Also, many items come before each of our Membership Meetings, and since not
everyone can attend every meeting, again a lack of awareness becomes a factor. Beginning this
issue, Llyn Rice, our Recording Secretary, will write a column titled Llyn’s Summary. We hope
that this helps to keep you in touch with all that has been discussed and passed in both meetings
each month.)
Recording Secretary’s Report
Llyn Rice
At the Directors’ Meeting held on 9 July, the focus was on the club’s finances. The Directors
reviewed and approved the list of committee chairs or officers who are tasked with monitoring
expenses and authorizing payments against each line item in the budget. Contact Llyn Rice if
you need specific information concerning the appointments. Initial data indicates that the Spring
Meet netted about $2,400 whereas the budget was based on receiving $3,400. Our insurance has
cost $2,685 which is about twice the $1,250 budgeted. Finally, the capital improvement funds
for the clubhouse have now been exhausted. The Directors began a dialog as to how donations
could be solicited for materials and labor to paint, finish the trim, and add wainscot paneling to
the great room.
The Membership Meeting then followed. The membership voted to approve applications for
two regular, four associate and two junior members. During the Old Business review, we
discussed progress on the clubhouse, the likelihood of receiving equipment from the Charlton
Club, the track that Fred Campbell is donating to us, progress on the gauge #1 track, the need for
signal system bonding wires, progress on finishing the Piasecki Bridge, and how to dispose of
trees which have been cut down. During New Business, several members asked that Ken Nelson
purge personal identifying data (such as e-mail addresses and phone numbers) from the copy of
the Whistles in the Woods which goes on our web site. The membership voted to give the old
clubhouse door to Don Buesing, to exchange new club house keys for old ones, to issue keys to
new members (upon payment of deposit), and to ask the Recording Secretary to write brief
summary reports of Directors’ and Membership meetings for the newsletter. The Directors
agreed to consider the location of the fire pit which Don Buesing has set up and report back at
the next Membership Meeting. The rule prohibiting travel and rail equipment trailers from
storage at the club may no longer be appropriate as written. The Directors will review this and
make recommendations to the membership. We also discussed the new meeting time, the
clubhouse furniture fund, how to control losses for soda and food, and a caution that
unauthorized youngsters were playing paint ball on our property.
***
Adirondack Live Steamers
c/o Jeane Lutz
76 John Street
Carteret, NJ 07008-3112
First Class
NOTE PAD
August 6-Vermont Garden Railway
Society Meeting at ALS
August 13-Membership Meeting
August 14-Family Day II
August 21-Prototype Run Day II
Sept. 8-11-Fall Meet
Oct. 15 & 16-Blowdown
Every Day – Work Day
Family
Day #2
A great time to
make new
friends