San Francisco Bay Area ETE Website

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San Francisco Bay Area ETE Website

Facebook Page for the Chapter Now Active

Sunday, 28 August 2011 10:50 Dave Cowl
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Facebook PageI have added a couple of pages to the ever popular Facebook site. Facebook has surpassed Google recently as the busiest website in the world and as such it is a great place to have a presence.

We have two pages on Facebook. The first is a page that anyone can see where the Chapter folks can post links to news, stories, pictures or videos of interest to enthusiasts as well as club news etc. Since anyone can see the page, there will not be any personal information on this page. Any members can contribute under the official title of the club assuming they ask me first and I promote them to an Admin for the page (which is very easy to do). The page should be viewable even to those who do not have Facebook accounts. The link for the Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-Bay-Area-Chapter-European-Train-Enthusiasts/129981907097097 - if you are a user on Facebook please go there and 'Like' the page. 

The more people that Like the page the better!

The second Facebook page is a private group where members can have discussions and share things that may not be suitable for the public page. This page is available by invitation only and members who are part of the group can only invite their Facebook friends to join. Note that this group is very informal and is just there for fun really. If you are on Facebook and want to be a part of the group, you will need to become friends with a member of the group (like me) to get an invite. There is no real overhead associated with being in the group - you will see postings by members in the group on your Facebook wall and it is a nice way to have private discussions. This group is intended to be for Bay Area Chapter members only, though for past members of folks from other chapters who want to be a part of it, I am sure that we can make exceptions.

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Last Updated on Sunday, 28 August 2011 10:59
 

EuroWest Streaming Live!

Friday, 22 July 2011 15:38 Dave Cowl
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Live Stream Image

We have the technology and it is already in place.

See EuroWest streaming live at http://www.livestream.com/sfbayareaete

Sadly the internet at Hiller is a little slow so occasionally it will stall, but for the most part it runs well.

Also you will see a commercial when you start - this is normal and helps pay for the service.

The streaming will stay live for the show whether anything is happening or not so feel free to check it at any time and see the trains running 10am-5pm PDT.

Have fun with it.

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Last Updated on Sunday, 28 August 2011 11:04
 

The Reverse Corner - July 2011

Wednesday, 13 July 2011 14:38 Steve Imialek
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Wolfi is sharing the latest news in European Model Railroading at the February meetingAs most of you know, Wolfgang Leitenberger passed away on Friday, June 10. He was a good friend to us all in the SIG and very instrumental on keeping us abreast of the latest technology in model railroading. He was helpful in so many ways even to those of us who would make the drive to Hollister to enjoy a day of his and Ingrid’s good company and hospitality. He was planning for a clinic at EuroWest and a series of workshops to follow for those us who would like to know more about maintaining our rolling stock and the developing technology. I will miss his smile that would light up the room and his bubbly personality. I will also miss his patience in explaining things to me and his laughter whenever we would get to those things that are red and green. He was very encouraging to help one learn whatever he could teach them and very generous of his time. I’m glad I was able to “break bread” with him on many occasions. There has been a generous outpouring of cards and condolences from the chapter as we keep Ingrid and his sons, Andre and Christian in our thoughts and prayers.

Also, as you read this, the NMRA National Convention/National Train Show will have ended and we will have many things to talk about and experiences to share. But as I write this article, we are all abuzz about this upcoming venue. The SIG has been contacted by PIKO to run their rolling stock and we have spoken with Digitraxx for another demonstration of their hand held controllers. Marklin will have a film crew and Dr. Tom Catherall will also be in attendance. For those who attended and participated in the 1998 NMRA Convention in San Jose this venue will be icing on the SIG cake. Our modules have been spruced up and we are ready to highball it to the Sacramento Convention Center. More later, of course, at the next chapter meeting and EuroWest.

Jacques Vuyes’s two station module of Poix St. Hubert, Belgium has changed hands once again. Dieter Vorbach has taken them over from Bob Greenfield who has taken over the Jim Lowe three station modules. Dieter is in the initial phase of deciding how to improve the appearance with his keen attention to diorama and detail. Actually, I’ll let our readers in on a little SIG secret: each module has a story to tell. It could be the figment of imagination we’ve experienced in a trip to Europe or read about or seen. As Dieter has shared with me, you need to be able to “steal with your eyes”. But when Dieter gets hold of a module and his many ideas it is a wonder to behold as evidenced by his handiwork on the Camino Medical Center layout and the many modules he has helped the owners to build. Next time you’re visiting the layout, ask Dieter about the shepherd and his flock. Ever notice the black sheep or the children gathered under the tree?

Mark your calendars for EuroWest July 23- 24. The SIG will be running trains at Hiller from July 16-24. Then we break camp, take a short breather, and head off to Danville’s Museum of San Ramon Valley Aug.6-21. Don’t forget Tracy in Sept., the Lindsey Wildlife Museum in Oct. followed by our 11th annual holiday visit at the Blackhawk Museum Nov. 25-Jan. 8, 2012.

Happy rails to you…until we meet again!

Addendum:

Wolfgang’s family is working through getting orders and train items to their owners. I was asked to distribute completed work to chapter members and contact has been made. If you left an item with Wolfgang to fix and I’ve not contacted you then please call me at (925) 516-1673 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

All Marklin Insider pre-orders have been sent in and they expect delivery by Oct. /Nov.

Jens Ullmann has generously offered to complete work started by Wolfgang but not finished. Then you will be contacted for delivery.

Andre, their son, and Ingrid are handling the other business issues. If you have any questions, please contact Andre at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - Andre has been monitoring it daily.

Ingrid and Andre will be at EuroWest to visit with us and the many friends and acquaintances they have made through ETE.

 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 15:26
 

San Francisco Bay Area ETE Meeting Hiller July 2011

Saturday, 16 July 2011 13:38 Dave Cowl
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ETE July 2011 Chapter MeetingJuly 16th we held our meeting at Hiller.

EuroWest was a hot topic and we are all looking forward to next week.

I did a presentation on the website and the photo gallery site, and in fact wrote this article during the presentation at the meeting.

If you want to contribute to the website or the photo gallery, be sure and let me know.

Stretch Anderson also did a presentation on 'What's in myToolbox'.

This impromptu presentation was given as a chance to learn what Stretch sees as essential for his module maintenance, as well as a demonstration of how easy it is to do a presentation that the membership can enjoy.

Stretch had number of cool items, including special tapes from 3M that are coloured or numbered that allows you to identify groups of wires with a colour or number.

He also showed a special screwdriver that could hold the screws in place at the end of the driver to assist in placement.

Bill Keaney also did a quick presentation about the TEE, with a focus on the TEE Lemano.

I must admit that I am enjoying the new format of the meetings with presentations, and encourage all members to come along and enjoy our future meetings.

Thanks to Hiller for hosting us and thanks to everyone who came!

 

Last Updated on Saturday, 16 July 2011 14:11
 

Wolfgang Leitenberger – We Will Miss You

Wednesday, 13 July 2011 10:20 Bill Keaney
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WolfgangI have the sad duty of informing you that Wolfgang Leitenberger had a heart attack Tuesday and passed away Friday morning. Wolfgang was a wonderful friend and one of the most active members of our Chapter – a person who was truly committed to the Chapter and made a difference. I feel that his many technical contributions and his outgoing personality helped to shape the character of our Chapter and he will be sorely missed. Chapter activities won’t be the same without him.

Wolfgang’s family wish to grieve his passing in private. There will be a service for just the immediate family so ETE members are not invited and I do not know anything about the time and location. Also, they have requested NO phone calls for at least 2 weeks. Please honor these requests and permit the family to deal with their loss in their way. If you wish to offer condolences through cards or charitable donations I am sure that would be welcome.

The Chapter will find a way to celebrate Wolfgang’s memory at a future meeting. I will consult with some of his closest friends to determine what is the most appropriate way to do this and everyone will be informed as to how and when this will be done. Lastly, some of you have repairs or train purchases pending with Wolfgang. The family is aware of this and will work on getting trains, parts, etc. to you as soon as they can. The Chapter will assist them with this. This may take some time. Please do not bother them with inquiries while they are grieving. We will stay in touch with Ingrid and if we can help to communicate the status of this effort we will do so.

Bill Keaney

Update from Wolgang’s son Andre:

Our family appreciates everyone’s wishes and thoughts.

It will take some time to go through all of the open orders and repair requests but we will do our best to get locomotives and other items back to their owners as quickly as possible once things have settled down a bit.

Just to make sure that we don’t miss anything we would like to ask everyone who has an open order or repair request to send me an email with as much information as possible, including what items were sent, when they were sent, and what my dad was going to do.

My email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please do not send flowers. Cards and donations are welcome.

If you would like to make a donation please send it to the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, you can do so online at https://donations.chomp.org.

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Last Updated on Sunday, 28 August 2011 11:02
 
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