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
DECEMBER 2010
ELECTION RESULTS
Ken Nelson
With more candidates then we’ve
seen for several years at ALS, the
membership at our last meeting held
their annual election day. The results for
the year 2011 were as follows:
President:
Skip Densing
Vice President:
Charlie Pellock
Recording Secretary: Karl Pickles
Treasurer:
Ben Maggi
Membership Secretary: Richard Dean
Director 2012:
Ted Wilming
There were eight absentee ballots in
addition to the members present. In
addition to the above, Dick Hosmer will
serve the second year of his office as
Director 2011. The eighth member of
the Board of Directors will be the Past
President Don Buesing.
This was a true election, with more
than one candidate running for each of
several offices. This was made possible
by members willing to participate in
serving in an office, and doing the work
necessary to help ALS move forward.
We want to congratulate each of the
winners, and to thank Ray Dwyer, Bill
Mischler, and Mark Landgraf for their
willingness to become candidates.
Now that the membership has made
its decision, let us get behind our Board
of Directors and support them with our
help.
Attendance at Membership
Meetings, help with the work of the
club, and input as to what you think
should be done is all necessary.
***
*****
NEXT ISSUE OF WHISTLES: FEBRUARY/MARCH
The next issue of Whistles in the Woods
will be in February/March 2011. However
we do hope to see some of you at the Albany
Train Show in December, the New Year’s
Day Run, the Banquet on Sunday, March 20,
and/or a work party during the winter at the
club. We truly hope that each of our
members has a happy holiday season. ***
*****
Next Meeting: Saturday, March 12, 2011, 10:00 AM
Location to be announced
Deadline for February/March Whistles in the Woods: Saturday, January 29
Other Important Dates: See Last Page and Calendar on page 5
Page 2
Hi Everyone,
The winter is here, we had our elections, and we chose between three
different positions. So now the next event is the December 5 th show at the
Egg. If you can go and maybe spend a half an hour to an hour at our table it
would be appreciated. After that will be our banquet in March.
Your Board of Directors will be dealing with our snow plowing and
getting next year’s budget together. You Department Heads could help by
getting your requested budget in by January 1st. One thing that all members
could help with is letting us (the BOD) know what you feel is the most
important items for next year. Write down your opinions and give it to us
please. Remember that number one is SAFETY! Next is what it takes to
make us happy and want to come to our club.
With not only heat, but water too, we can do a lot more this year in our
depot. There is track panel construction (Ken Nelson/Skip Densing/Mark
Landgraf), wall trim (Lance Sherman/Tom Rhodes), switch building (Dick
Hosmer), working on our club cars (Don Buesing/Karl Pickles), and
possibly other things. The idea is to use our depot since the heat and water
have both been left on to make it more enjoyable. And please remember that
the names above are the ones you contact if you are willing to help. Please
don’t leave all of the work to them.
I hope that you all had a good Thanksgiving, and that you also have a very
Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year! If you are crazy enough
on December 31st and January 1st, between ten o’clock and two o’clock, I
plan to try and run. Why not join us?
When you have a question, call the Department Head or a BOD member.
I’ll see you whenever, but don’t hesitate to go and enjoy our club.
Skip,
President
Skip,
President
Page 3
SYMPATHY EXPRESSED
NEWSLETTER OF THE
ADIRONDACK LIVE STEAMERS
CLUB TELEPHONE
(518) 583-2580
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Skip Densing
Phone: (518) 663-5507
E-Mail: skip@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Vice President: Charlie Pellock
Phone: (518) 584-4492
E-Mail: charlie@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Recording Secretary: Karl Pickles
Phone: (518) 587-5702
E-Mail: karl@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Treasurer: Ben Maggi
Phone: (585) 506-2680
E-Mail: ben#@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Membership Secretary: Richard Dean
Phone: (518) 656-9091
E-Mail: rich@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Director 2011: Dick Hosmer
Phone: (518) 235-0771
E-Mail: dick@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Director 2012: Ted Wilming
Phone: (518) 654-7108
E-Mail: ted@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Past President: Don Buesing
Phone: (518) 567-3172
E-Mail: don@adirondacklivesteamers.org
It is with regret that we announce yet
another loss to our ALS family. Tom
Rhodes mother passed away peacefully
on November 3 of this year.
Helen Rhodes had an associate’s
degree in business and was employed by
the Rennselaer County Treasurer’s
Office in Troy, NY. Later she worked
for the Saratoga Springs Chamber of
Commerce. After marriage in 1943, she
was active in the Eastern Star as well as
several other civic groups.
Helen was a published poet and
writer, authoring several complete books
of poetry and participating in numerous
poetry anthologies. In addition, she was
a well-known fashion designer of
wedding gowns and evening apparel.
She designed for Yezzi’s, a specialty
apparel shop in Albany, NY.
Our sympathy is expressed to Tom,
his wife Donna, and their family.
***
NEWSLETTER
Whistles in the Woods
STAFF
Editor: Ken Nelson
Phone: (518) 377-7176
E-Mail: pocovalley@msn.com
Publisher: Pete Petrillose
Columnists: Skip Densing and Rich Dean
SUBMISSIONS: Whistles in the Woods welcomes
articles, news items, classifieds, digital photos,
and other contributions. Please contact any of
the staff.
WEB PAGE
Webmaster: Bill Eckert
Phone: (802) 226-7618
E-Mail: bill@adirondacklivesteamers.org
Website: adirondacklivesteamers.org
MEMBERSHIP
Anyone interested in joining the ADIRONDACK LIVE
STEAMERS should contact Membership Secretary Rich
Dean.
Phone: (518) 656-9091
E-Mail: deanelect@roadrunner.com
WINTER BANQUET
Pete Petrillose
It is not too early to plan for our
annual ALS Winter Banquet. It will be
held again at the Burnt Hills Fire
Department on Sunday, March 20, 2011.
Musical
entertainment,
railroad
oriented videos, slides, or power point
are all welcome, but please try to let me
know ahead of time so that we can allow
time for them. While not required, each
of you is welcome to contribute to the
door prize collection. Just wrap a
railroad-oriented item in newspaper and
bring it along. Please do not bring junk.
During the month of January, you
will each receive a letter from me with
all of the details, but put the date on your
calendar now and plan to join us for a lot
of fun.
***
Page 4
A Brief Summary of the Highlights of the November Meeting
President Skip Densing called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM
Following the Pledge to the Flag, Karl Pickles read the minutes of the October meeting.
Discussion followed as to exactly how the October nominations should appear in the minutes.
The minutes were accepted as corrected.
Treasurer Ben Maggi gave the Treasurer’s report which was accepted. Ben reminded members
that all budget requests must be in to him by December 31.
Membership Secretary Rich Dean reported that we accepted a new Associate member, Steve,
Ianno and that our current membership stands at 64 Regular, 91 Associate, 26 Junior, and 1 Life.
Committee Reports:
 Good and Welfare – Alice Buesing is in intensive care.
Tom Rhode’s mother died recently. (See article elsewhere in this issue.)
 Safety – Rich Dean will wire the ballast dump body to avoid having to run an extension
cord.
A shield must be installed over the gas valve behind the Club House to protect from
falling snow and ice.
 Clubhouse – Water bottles now have a deposit. Please place them in the deposit
container after their use.
The Wood Stove, which is yet to be installed in the Club House, has been accepted by the
membership. Installation will follow.
 Track – Rich Dean continues to work on the best way to construct the new tunnel.
More rail joiners are needed and will be ordered.
Track panels will be built again this winter. Members interested in helping should see
Ken Nelson or Skip Densing.
 Grounds – A committee chairman is needed. Anyone interested should see Skip
Densing.
There was a discussion concerning the proper procedure to follow regarding the Personal
Storage Facility built by the Armitage Family. The BOD will address this concern.
 Enginehouse – Drip trays are being installed under the upper stalls.
Several locomotive boilers have been inspected.
 Machine Shop – The lathe which was for sale at the Fall Meet has been sold to Chuck
Bauer.
Much work has been accomplished in the Container/Machine Shop, mostly thanks to
Mark Landgraf.
Old Business:
None reported.
New Business:
Ken Nelson presented a Tentative ALS Calendar for 2011. Discussion followed on the
best date for the second Proto Operation Day. The Calendar was accepted as corrected. (see
article elsewhere in this issue.)
Director 2011 Dick Hosmer distributed ballots to each Regular member and held the
Election of Officers for 2011. (See article elsewhere in this issue.)
President Skip Densing adjourned the Meeting.
Page 5
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2011
Following is the Calendar of Events
as passed by the membership at the
November meeting.
The New Year’s Day Run is usually
done by Skip Densing with his big
diesel. Others are welcome to join him
if they so desire. Otherwise, all are
welcome to attend and watch the
festivities as Skip attempts to
circumnavigate our railroad in the snow.
The location for the March
Membership Meeting will be announced
in the February/March issue of Whistles.
All other Membership Meetings will be
held in the Club House. All such
meetings will be held at 10:00 AM
unless otherwise listed.
The Winter Banquet will be held at
the Burnt Hills Fire House, the same
location as last year, on Sunday March
20. More details will be mailed to each
member during the winter.
We have moved the second Prototype
Operation Day back into August. The
membership felt that this was a better
time for it.
A Calendar will appear in the
February/March issue. Meanwhile you
will have this list to refer to.
Saturday, January 1
New Year’s Day Run
Saturday, March 12
Sunday, March 20
Membership Meeting
(Location to be announced)
Winter Banquet
Saturday, April 9
Membership Meeting
Saturday, May 14
Saturday, May 21
Membership Meeting
Membership Day
Thursday, June 9
Thursday-Sunday, June 9-12
Meeting 7:30 PM
Spring Meet
Saturday, July 9
Sunday, July 10
Saturday, July 16
Membership Meeting
Family Day I
Prototype Operation Day I
Sunday, August 7
Saturday, August 13
Saturday, August 20
Family Day II
Membership Meeting
Prototype Operation Day II
Thursday, September 8
Thursday-Sunday, September 8-11
Meeting 7:30 PM
Fall Meet
Saturday, October 8
Membership Meeting
Nomination of Officers
Blowdown
Saturday-Sunday, October 15-16
Saturday, November 12
Membership Meeting
Election of Officers
Sunday, December 4
Albany Train Show
Page 6
Ted Wilming and Ken Nelson
We hope that each of you has a very happy and safe holiday season. Remember to
practice your hand signals as you run your train around the Christmas tree. See you next
year.
*****
ALBANY TRAIN SHOW
Ken Nelson
The first Sunday of December each
year is the annual Albany Train Show,
usually referred to as the Great Train
Extravaganza.
This year’s date is
Sunday, December 5.
Co-sponsored by the Hudson
Berkshire Division of the National
Model Railroad Association, and the
Upstate Train Associates, this show
gives ALS a great opportunity to
demonstrate to the public what our club
is all about, and perhaps encourage new
members to join us.
Member Dick Hosmer has again
offered to chair our participation, and
Rich Dean has consented to transport his
ten-wheeler to the show. However they
need your help. If you are available on
the day of the show, please come on out
and spend some time at our table to greet
the visitors.
In addition to Rich’s
locomotive, we also plan to display
some Gauge One equipment, and show
videos of what we do at various events
during the year. The presence of several
ALS members talking with potential
members and answering questions is a
great help. As in the past, we hope to
gather a list of people interested in
membership, and invite them to our
Membership Day in May of next year.
Please call Dick Hosmer at 518-2350771, or Skip Densing at 518-663-5507
for more information, or just show up at
the Egg in Albany. The show runs from
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Your help would
be welcome at any time.
***
*****
THIS WEB SITE MAY INTEREST YOU
Ken Nelson
If you are in the process of
researching a railroad-oriented topic
such as steam or diesel locomotives,
railroad history, major railroad stations
in our country, or many other railroad
themes, you might want to try the
Library of Congress.
You can reach them on line at:
www.loc.gov.
In addition, you may wish to look at the
Prints and Photographs On-line Catalog
at:
www.loc.gov/pictures
Here you can type in “steam
locomotives” or “Rutland Railroad” or
any other specific topic and find a source
of photos.
Have fun!
***
Page 7
Letters to the Editor
In 1953, my Mother took me down to the old D&H train station on Railroad Place in
Saratoga Springs to see the last of D&H steam. I clearly remember standing by the huge
locomotive drivers, and my Mother repeating over and over, “Remember This!!!” I don’t
remember much else from that early [in my life].
She took me many times on train trips to Albany behind black and yellow striped RS2s, and in cars with rattan seats and windows that opened. When we were on vacation,
my Mother would make my Father stop on the road any place there was a miniature train
ride. In the 1950’s, most of those were coal-fired steam. I especially remember one
named “Smokey Joe” near Hampton Beach, New Hampshire that we stopped to ride
every year. I later learned it was a 15” Cagney. No wonder I fell in love with steam and
miniature train rides!
Thanks Mom.
Tom Rhodes
I want to thank all the ALS members for a great Fall Meet. I thoroughly enjoyed
running my steam locomotive on your long and fantastic track layout, and your
convenient steaming bays, as well as the great meals that the kitchen staff prepared. I
realize that the event required a lot of preparation and work by all of the members. And I
also want to thank the guy, Brad, I believe, who found the cover for my steam oil
lubricator that I lost on the track. I considered it lost for good and was shocked that
someone found it. It’s good to see that some engineers look at the track and don’t spend
most of their time with their “head in the cab” feeding the fire and checking the water
level as some of us steamers do!
Thanks again. I hope to visit you again next spring.
Wayne DeVilbiss,
New Jersey Live Steamers
We accepted one new member during the month of November, and we are happy to
welcome him to our organization.
Steve Ianno joined as an Associate. He is from Voorheesville, NY, and is a truck
driver. He has modeled in several gauges in the past including HO, currently owns two
boats, and is looking to purchase some equipment in 1½” scale. Welcome Steve.
***
Rich
Membership Secretary
Adirondack Live Steamers
C/o Pete Petrillose
41 Goode Street
Burnt Hills, NY 12027
NOTE PAD
December 5 – Albany Train Show
Egg in Albany
January 1 – New Year’s Day Run
March 20 – Winter Banquet
First Class
Happy
Holidays