Ces Beck: Difference between revisions
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Sunday, November 27, 1966 | Sunday, November 27, 1966 | ||
C.K. (Ces) Beck, owner and operator with his wife Bettie of Ces and Ronnies Hobbyland at 1420 N. McCullough | C.K. (Ces) Beck, owner and operator with his wife Bettie of Ces and Ronnies Hobbyland at 1420 N. McCullough Ave., runs San Antonio's only "live steam" railroad. | ||
The miniature 0-4-0 switch engine with slope-back tender is seven feet long and stands almost three feet high, according to Beck, who has spent almost two year sin constructing the tiny steamer. | The miniature 0-4-0 switch engine with slope-back tender is seven feet long and stands almost three feet high, according to Beck, who has spent almost two year sin constructing the tiny steamer. | ||
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The small engine, a miniature of a Baltimore & Ohio switch engine used in the early 1930's, burns coal exactly as did the original except Beck uses pieces of coal about the size of a grape. Under a full head of steam, about 100 [[PSI]], the little locomotive will easily pull a dozen small cars and 40 or 50 people, Beck says. | The small engine, a miniature of a Baltimore & Ohio switch engine used in the early 1930's, burns coal exactly as did the original except Beck uses pieces of coal about the size of a grape. Under a full head of steam, about 100 [[PSI]], the little locomotive will easily pull a dozen small cars and 40 or 50 people, Beck says. | ||
Beck's tiny railroad, known as the <i>Texas Southwest Railway</i>, is confied to his property on McCullough. Beck and members of the Railroaders Club of San Antonio have laid some 300 fee of 7-1/2 inch gauge track completely encircling the hobby shop and Beck Homestead. | Beck's tiny railroad, known as the <i>Texas Southwest Railway</i>, is confied to his property on McCullough. Beck and members of the [[Railroaders Club of San Antonio]] have laid some 300 fee of 7-1/2 inch gauge track completely encircling the hobby shop and Beck Homestead. | ||
The aluminum track, about one inch high, is attached to 2x2 inch cedar ties with tiny spikes about one inch long. The intricate switches on the line have been fabricated by Beck and work much like full-size railroad switches. | The aluminum track, about one inch high, is attached to 2x2 inch cedar ties with tiny spikes about one inch long. The intricate switches on the line have been fabricated by Beck and work much like full-size railroad switches. | ||
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Beck and his wife Bettie have a son, Ronnie, 15, a straight A graduate of Hawthorne Junior High School and now a freshman at Edison High School. | Beck and his wife Bettie have a son, Ronnie, 15, a straight A graduate of Hawthorne Junior High School and now a freshman at Edison High School. | ||
<gallery widths=400px heights=400px perrow=2> | |||
File:Ces and Betty Beck Express and News Sun Mar 6 1966 .jpg|And Away We Go! Railroad enthusiasts [[Ces Beck]] and Betty Beck, Hobbyland, 1420 McCullough Ave., make a last minute check of their model trains which will be displayed at this year's San Antonio Home and Hobby Show to be held March 20-27 at Villita Assembly Building. The Becks' 4x8 foot portable track will be displayed together with a scale model live steam engine, similar to the <i>Brackenridge Eagle</i>, during the eight-day showcase for hobbyists and homemakers. From the "San Antonio Express/News", March 6, 1966 | |||
File:CesBeck JeanelleCorcoran Express and News Sun Mar 8 1964 .jpg|Model Railrod to Be Displayed -- Jeanelle Corcoran, City PUblic Service Board home economist, lends a hand to Railroaders Club member [[Ces Beck]] who'll display some of his model railroading equipment at the eight-day Home and Hobby Show opening March 29 at Villita Assembly Hall. Hobby clubs interested in free space for exhibits are asked to contact show producer Irving Wayne. From the "San Antonio Express/News", March 8, 1964 | |||
File:Ces Beck San Antonio Express and News Sun Feb 22 1970 .jpg|Full Steam Ahead -- [[Ces Beck]] steams out Saturday from behind Ces and Ronnie's Hobbyland, 2626 McCullough Ave. He's sitting on a live-steam model train, the only one of its kind in San Antonio. Beck will be host to an open house at 227 Home St. from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in which visitors can ride free down a block-long track. The open house is part of National Model Railroad Week. Staff Photo by Tarky Tarsikes. From the "San Antonio Express/News", February 22, 1970 | |||
File:Ces and Ronnies Hobbyland San Antonio Express Fri Jul 17 1970 .jpg|From the "San Antonio Express/News", July 17, 1970 | |||
</gallery> | |||
== Railroad Club of San Antonio == | |||
The following appeared in [[Live Steam Magazine]], April 1972, in the section entitled "Scheduled Meets", page 8: | |||
: Railroad Club of San Antonio | |||
: 3rd Sunday each month, weather permitting | |||
: 7-1/2 inch gauge | |||
: [[Ces Beck]] | |||
: 2626 McCullough Ave. | |||
: San Antonio, Texas 78212 | |||
[[Ces Beck]] also hosted a "Fourth of July Meet" on July 2 & 3. | |||
Please note that the [[Annetta Valley & Western Railroad]] and the [[Comanche & Indian Gap Railroad]] were both started in 1972. | |||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
: <i>Editor</i>: You will note that the first photo calls Beck's little 0-4-0 the "Butane Flash". It is so named due to the way Beck would light off the fire in the boiler. He would usually be chatting with someone, reach down and turn on the butane, then continue chatting. Perhaps a minute would go by before he would light the fire, and "BOOM!" Observers said he never had to brush his flues! And if Beck was at a meet you would not be sleeping in because he would repeat this ritual first thing in the morning. Those that knew him mentioned that Beck was hard of hearing. We may never know if the hearing loss occurred BEFORE or AFTER his involvement in Live Steam. | |||
<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2"> | <gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2"> | ||
File:CesBeck ButaneFlash FirstTexasMeet Aug31sep1 1969.jpg|[[Ces Beck]] at the throttle of his "Butane Flash" switcher waits on the lead track at Falfurrias, Texas during the [[First Texas Live Steam Meet]]. | |||
File:CesBeck BlossomTrackWimberley.jpg|[[Ces Beck]] running at [[Henry Blossom]]'s track in Wimberley, Texas. Photo by Pete & Donna Green. | File:CesBeck BlossomTrackWimberley.jpg|[[Ces Beck]] running at [[Henry Blossom]]'s track in Wimberley, Texas. Photo by Pete & Donna Green. | ||
File:CliffPettis BlossomTrackWimberley.jpg|[[Cliff Pettis]] routing the trestle at Henry Blossom's track at Wimberley, Texas. Ces Beck is the first passenger behind Cliff. Photo by Pete & Donna Green. | |||
File:2626 McCulloghAve Ces and Ronnies Hobbies San Antonio.jpg|A Google street view of 2626 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, former site of Ces and Ronnies Hobbies. | |||
File:GoldenSpike AustinTexasCentralRR ManorTexas.jpg|[[John Enders]] driving the Golden Spike on the Austin & Texas Central Railroad at Manor, Texas, 1974. Paul King kneels beside him. Also in the photo are Carolyn Enders Balkum, [[Ces Beck]], Everett Adcock, Louise Adcock, [[Cliff Pettis]], unknown, and Lee Balkum. Photo from Stephen Balkum collection. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
== Comments from Facebook == | |||
The following comments were posted on the [[Annetta Valley & Western Railroad]] <i>Facebook</i> page, July 2019: | |||
: Terry W. Shirley: [[Bob Gray]] has a lot of good tales about [[Ces Beck|Ces]] lighting off his engine. He usually got up early and ran before anyone else. Bob says that everyone, while drinking their morning coffee, would hear a loud “boom”, and would know that Ces was about to go out on a run! | |||
: Ken Rhodes: Lots of stories about this man. One of the nicest guys you could meet. And his wife Betty was the greatest. Many years and many miles on the 0-4-0 and the diesel. Don't plan on sleeping in if [[Ces Beck|CES]] was at the meet. Running on his track was definitely an experience. I derailed in front of his hobby shop and found myself in the right hand lane of I believe McCullough ave. Had a little trouble getting the loco out of the street and back on the track. Live Steam had an [[Southwestern Live Steamers|SWLS]] write up about the middle of 1977 on his track. | |||
: Michael Landry McGrath: The story of derailing on his track and ending up in the street? YES! Absolutely, lmao! Only before the terribly treacherous part of going over the track supported by cinder blocks! | |||
Latest revision as of 08:44, 26 July 2019
- My copy of the Kalmbach 1942 Locomotive Cyclopedia reprint (10 pounds, 1300 pages) cost $42 at Ces and Ronnie's Hobby Shop in San Antonio. Ces Beck was a mainstay of the live steam hobby in San Antonio in the 1970s and several meets were held on the track that surrounded his house and hobby shop.
- The tiny railroad track running around the building reminded me of an old hobby shop in San Antonio, TX. Ces & Ronnie's Hobbyland was in an old house and had a loop of 7.5 inch gauge track running around the house. What a wonderful place to visit...long ago.
Face of San Antonio
Face of San Antonio
by Bob Dale
San Antonio Express/News
Sunday, November 27, 1966
C.K. (Ces) Beck, owner and operator with his wife Bettie of Ces and Ronnies Hobbyland at 1420 N. McCullough Ave., runs San Antonio's only "live steam" railroad.
The miniature 0-4-0 switch engine with slope-back tender is seven feet long and stands almost three feet high, according to Beck, who has spent almost two year sin constructing the tiny steamer.
The small engine, a miniature of a Baltimore & Ohio switch engine used in the early 1930's, burns coal exactly as did the original except Beck uses pieces of coal about the size of a grape. Under a full head of steam, about 100 PSI, the little locomotive will easily pull a dozen small cars and 40 or 50 people, Beck says.
Beck's tiny railroad, known as the Texas Southwest Railway, is confied to his property on McCullough. Beck and members of the Railroaders Club of San Antonio have laid some 300 fee of 7-1/2 inch gauge track completely encircling the hobby shop and Beck Homestead.
The aluminum track, about one inch high, is attached to 2x2 inch cedar ties with tiny spikes about one inch long. The intricate switches on the line have been fabricated by Beck and work much like full-size railroad switches.
Beck's powerful little steam locomotive has its own enginehouse at the end of a spur track just off the main line. He estimates he has $4,000 and countless hours of time invested in the little railroad.
Beck has been a rail buff all his life and a railroad modeler for the past 10. His model train layout takes up the entire attic of the hobby shop. Hobbyland is headquarters for the Railroaders Club and meets every Wednesday.
The local club is to receive it charter from the national Railway Historical Society, the first charter granted, according to Beck.
Beck and his wife Bettie have a son, Ronnie, 15, a straight A graduate of Hawthorne Junior High School and now a freshman at Edison High School.
And Away We Go! Railroad enthusiasts Ces Beck and Betty Beck, Hobbyland, 1420 McCullough Ave., make a last minute check of their model trains which will be displayed at this year's San Antonio Home and Hobby Show to be held March 20-27 at Villita Assembly Building. The Becks' 4x8 foot portable track will be displayed together with a scale model live steam engine, similar to the Brackenridge Eagle, during the eight-day showcase for hobbyists and homemakers. From the "San Antonio Express/News", March 6, 1966
Model Railrod to Be Displayed -- Jeanelle Corcoran, City PUblic Service Board home economist, lends a hand to Railroaders Club member Ces Beck who'll display some of his model railroading equipment at the eight-day Home and Hobby Show opening March 29 at Villita Assembly Hall. Hobby clubs interested in free space for exhibits are asked to contact show producer Irving Wayne. From the "San Antonio Express/News", March 8, 1964
Full Steam Ahead -- Ces Beck steams out Saturday from behind Ces and Ronnie's Hobbyland, 2626 McCullough Ave. He's sitting on a live-steam model train, the only one of its kind in San Antonio. Beck will be host to an open house at 227 Home St. from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in which visitors can ride free down a block-long track. The open house is part of National Model Railroad Week. Staff Photo by Tarky Tarsikes. From the "San Antonio Express/News", February 22, 1970
From the "San Antonio Express/News", July 17, 1970
Railroad Club of San Antonio
The following appeared in Live Steam Magazine, April 1972, in the section entitled "Scheduled Meets", page 8:
- Railroad Club of San Antonio
- 3rd Sunday each month, weather permitting
- 7-1/2 inch gauge
- Ces Beck
- 2626 McCullough Ave.
- San Antonio, Texas 78212
Ces Beck also hosted a "Fourth of July Meet" on July 2 & 3.
Please note that the Annetta Valley & Western Railroad and the Comanche & Indian Gap Railroad were both started in 1972.
Gallery
- Editor: You will note that the first photo calls Beck's little 0-4-0 the "Butane Flash". It is so named due to the way Beck would light off the fire in the boiler. He would usually be chatting with someone, reach down and turn on the butane, then continue chatting. Perhaps a minute would go by before he would light the fire, and "BOOM!" Observers said he never had to brush his flues! And if Beck was at a meet you would not be sleeping in because he would repeat this ritual first thing in the morning. Those that knew him mentioned that Beck was hard of hearing. We may never know if the hearing loss occurred BEFORE or AFTER his involvement in Live Steam.
Ces Beck at the throttle of his "Butane Flash" switcher waits on the lead track at Falfurrias, Texas during the First Texas Live Steam Meet.
Ces Beck running at Henry Blossom's track in Wimberley, Texas. Photo by Pete & Donna Green.
Cliff Pettis routing the trestle at Henry Blossom's track at Wimberley, Texas. Ces Beck is the first passenger behind Cliff. Photo by Pete & Donna Green.
A Google street view of 2626 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, former site of Ces and Ronnies Hobbies.
John Enders driving the Golden Spike on the Austin & Texas Central Railroad at Manor, Texas, 1974. Paul King kneels beside him. Also in the photo are Carolyn Enders Balkum, Ces Beck, Everett Adcock, Louise Adcock, Cliff Pettis, unknown, and Lee Balkum. Photo from Stephen Balkum collection.
Comments from Facebook
The following comments were posted on the Annetta Valley & Western Railroad Facebook page, July 2019:
- Terry W. Shirley: Bob Gray has a lot of good tales about Ces lighting off his engine. He usually got up early and ran before anyone else. Bob says that everyone, while drinking their morning coffee, would hear a loud “boom”, and would know that Ces was about to go out on a run!
- Ken Rhodes: Lots of stories about this man. One of the nicest guys you could meet. And his wife Betty was the greatest. Many years and many miles on the 0-4-0 and the diesel. Don't plan on sleeping in if CES was at the meet. Running on his track was definitely an experience. I derailed in front of his hobby shop and found myself in the right hand lane of I believe McCullough ave. Had a little trouble getting the loco out of the street and back on the track. Live Steam had an SWLS write up about the middle of 1977 on his track.
- Michael Landry McGrath: The story of derailing on his track and ending up in the street? YES! Absolutely, lmao! Only before the terribly treacherous part of going over the track supported by cinder blocks!