The setting and location was Latrobe, Pennsylvania. All the fun began on a Sunday morning with the total of 6 folks enjoying each others company dicussing and sharing information on minuture Live Steam Rairoading. Joe Mastrorocco, a Latrobe resident, having a minuture Railroad in his backyard had the perfect setting to indulge in such an event. Live Steam was the order of the day. Running was 2 PRR 1" scale K4sa and 1 PRR 1" scale H9s and last but not least was a Reading A5A Camelback 1" scale 0-4-0 which we all know today as Plummer. Now who would have ever thought of naming a locomotive (PLUMMER), I wonder. Bob Kuny having and owning one of the PRR K4sa and having his grandson Red with him and his good friend Len Stuffstall was in attendance and Red, Bob's grandson was his engineer for the day. Mr Reed Kosmal was and still is the owner of the little 0-4-0 (PLUMMER) was also shinning the rails at the Latrobe backyard Railroad. Les Shaffer and Jack Miller Sr. was also there participating in the activities and while Les was engineering on the Railroad, Jack was taking the videos of the days event. This was the very beginning of what we know now today as the Independent Live Steamer Organization. Little did we believe or have any idea that in time ths entity would grow from 6 members to approximately 85 plus member. NO OFFICERS, NO DUES, just good "ol" honest down home folks enjoying each others company and sharing information concerning Live Steam Railroading. The organization, The ILS had then expanded to the Williamsport, Pennsylvania area and found another 6 or so folks interested in Live Steam and active at the time joining together and sharing each others interest. From there the ILS group had contacted and made arrangements to visit an outdoor Railroad in the Shermansdale, Pennsylvania area and again became involved in making friends with the Godshalls and from there the local model railroaders started showing up on Don Godshalls doorstep and from that time on till now the ILS group has become a huge Live Steam Organization with the majority of the members building in 1" scale and 1-1/2" scale. Today we still have and love to share the fruits of our hobby with other folks that have an interest in the Railroading sector or those who just plain down right enjoy Live Steam Equiptment. We run our equiptment at our friends railroads and our own tracks plus we do display our machinery at public events such as what is known as the Altoona Railfest Days in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Anyone interested in having fun is more than welcome to join our little operation. Please contact the Webmaster of the Independent Live Steamers Site and the Webmaster will direct you to one of our folks for more information.
Thank You
The Independent Live Steamers Group, Pittsburgh, Middle Division |
