Southern California Live Steamers
History
Tenth Annual Field Day
C.S. Chovil, Secretary, submitted this article to "The Miniature Locomotive" magazine, January-Feburary 1953 edition:
Sunday, October 19 (1952) dawned a perfect day of sunshine and clear skies. This is important for a successful field day because it helps assure good attendance. The event offers an opportunity for all members to participate by operating their engines on the organization's track or to display their achievements in shop work for the past year.
Mark Piper, our esteemed president, and I do mean steam, was on the scene of activities early to supervise the necessary work to be done before any large number of guests arrived. As each member with an operating locomotive arrived he was given a copy of the rules governing operation of engines and equipment. Those that held a certificate showing a previous boiler inspection within the past six months were permitted to fire up. Others had the hydrostatic boiler test of fifty percent above working pressure. Having passed this test they were given their certificate of inspection and allowed to fire up.
Eugene Paul, newly elected Chief Inspector, was first to complete steaming his four wheel, one inch scale Switcher, better known as "Puffin Billy" and kept it hot and busy all day carrying passengers.
Another brain child by Eugene known as "Hustle and Bustle", a one inch scale six wheel switcher owned by Melvin R. Roberts, newly elected First Vice-President, churned her drivers in an effort to keep the pace with "Puffin Billy". However, this little rail scorcher had to take it easy as the rails were still new to its wheels.
Max Tenesch, one of our oldest members, eight-two years to be exact and a retired Union Pacific R.R. Engineer was there in complete engineer's rigging and Otto Hansen fired up and ran Max's beautiful one inch scale Pacific. This locomotive represents a dream come true for Max. His son Lewis did considerable work towards completing this engine but was taken by death before completion. Otto Hansen was called on to complete the work and after five years, has