Wayne Toigo and Friends invite you to a New Year's Eve run and 'snack-luck.' Bring a train and a snack to share!

The Gandy Dancer The Official Publication of the Alameda County Central Railroad Society

Next Public Operation Session:

It's a quiet time at the ACCRS. Much construction is going on behind the scenes as we begin the run-up to the Fair. Enjoy it, we've got a busy spring ahead.
The next Public operation session is in February.

General Club News and Upcoming Events

In January the newly elected officers of the club begin their terms. We have new trainmasters and a new treasurer. The president, vice president, and secretary were re-elected as there were no others running for those positions.

Speaking for myself, I appreciate the continuing vote of confidence as the president. I have lost count of how many years I have served and I don't want to wear out my welcome. I don't mind continuing on but we are a club. We're not an HO club or an O club, but one club. A "club" is a group of people coming together with a common interest. A club benefits from the various skills of it's membership and from the membership's participation in projects and as officers. I have noticed at election time for club officers and for HO trainmaster, there are scant few people willing to run for office. I encourage club members to be more willing to give up a very little bit of their time to give of their talents in elected office.

I'm looking forward to the coming year and the potential changes in the works for the HO side (can't speak for O scale!). Best wishes to the new trainmasters in channeling the various skills of their groups to the benefit of the club as a whole. Best wishes to everyone for the holidays.

Gary Lewis

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January

New Years' Eve Snack-luck

The monthly business meeting will take place on Friday, January 7, 2005.
Carl Klenk will officially take over as club treasurer.

February

The monthly Business meeting will occur on February 4th.

Alameda County Spring Home and Garden Show
February 18-20, 2005

March

The Monthly Business meeting will occur on March 4th.

Orchard Supply Hardware How-To Show
March 5th and 6th, 2005

GoodGuys All American Get-Together
March 19th and 20th, 2004

Fair warning:

2005 Alameda County Fair
June 24th to July 10th, 2005

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Some more Pennsylvania Railroad Trivia

1. What class of car was the most common on the Pennzy? (For instance; tank car, box car, etc.)
2. Just in front of SP's Tehachapi Loop, Horseshoe Curve is probably the most popular trainspotting place in the world. However, like Tehachapi, it is not the highest point on the Alleghenies the Pennzy traverses. Name the highest point on the Pennzy.
3. Besides commute locomotives like the G-5 4-6-0 and the E-2 4-4-2, what two locomotives were Pennzy's passenger train icons? (You better get these right, partial credit for a third class.)
4. What city was home base for the Pennzy?
5. What city was home to all of Pennzy's shops?

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HO Scale News:

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From the HO Trainmaster:
Well another year has ended. I hope everyone had a great holiday and a happy new year. We have lots to do this year. We still need a volunteer for HO treasurer. Paul has volunteered to be the secretary. Also please bring your list of things you would like to see completed on the city project to the January meeting. If you have anything you would like to discuss at the meeting please email it to me.
Take Care,
Seth
HO Trainmaster

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O Scale News:

From the O Scale Trainmaster:

GATS Report

Thanks to those of you who turned out to operate the layout during GATS. This is always a popular feature of the Show, especially with younger fans. And it was great to have longtime member Russ Wood join us. As most of you know, Russ is now living in Oregon and adding his talents to the large crew at Train Mountain. Nice to see you, Russ. Come back more often.

Out with The Old . . .

This is my last report as O Scale Trainmaster. I'm termed out, just like Willie Brown. Thanks to all of you who made life fairly easy for me, and I look forward to joining you in supporting our new Trainmaster, Dan Espinosa.

Congrats and good luck, Dan.

George A. Cumming, Jr.
O Scale Trainmaster Emeritus

Just a reminder:
I'm looking forward to hearing ideas for rejuvinating the O-scale layout at the January meeting!
-Dan

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Trivia Answers

1. It was the hopper car, and in particular, the H-21 hopper. Though the X-29 box was a good guess. I think they had like 30,000 of them!
2. It's the town of Gallitzin. The actual place where it traverses is called Tunnel Hill, and there are indeed three tunnels there!
3. Of course, it is the K-4s Pacific and the T-1 Duplex (which was in reality a Northern!) If you answered the M-1 Mountain, you are partially right, as these were dual-service locomotives. However, they spent most of their life hauling freight over the Middle Division.
4. Gotta get this right...Philadelphia!
5. Altoona, PA!

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The Gandy Dancer, a monthly publication of the Alameda County Central Railroad Society.
Copyright 2004, ACCRS Inc. All rights reserved.
Last Revised 28 December, 2004.
For more information, email Dan Espinosa, Editor, at: steelnomad2002@yahoo.com