Rocky Mountain Live Steamers

History

Arthur Wegner running his 3.5 inch gauge 4-4-2 Atlantic loco at J. B. Squires' track, Colorado Springs, CO, June 1961. Photo by Ken Scheer.

by Ken Scheer

November 2015, revised March 2022

Arthur Wegner, running his 3/4 inch scale, 3.5 inch gauge 4-4-2 Atlantic, June 1959. Photo by Ken Scheer.

The Rocky Mountain Live Steamers was a casual "Club" organized in 1950, in Denver, Colorado, by a small group of like-minded individuals who shared a common interest in building and operating scale models of locomotives powered by "Live Steam". Arthur Wegner, an active "live steamer" since the early 1930's, was the Founder and Honorary "President" of the RMLS. The RMLS was one of the very rare Live Steam Clubs known to exist in the central regions of the U.S. during the 1950's and 1960's. This led Arthur to form fellowships and strong friendships with innumerable "Brother" live steamers on both the Atlantic coast and the Pacific coast. Other Founding Members of the RMLS were: J.B. 'Byron' Squires, a prolific live steam locomotive builder since the 1940's; Bob Elsea, an active live steamer since the early 1940's; and Karl Friedrich, an active Pioneer live steamer since 1925. All of these gentlemen, between the 1920's and the 1940's, had cultivated friendships and shared activities with Mr. Carl Purinton (Founder of the "Brotherhood of Live Steamers" organization in 1932). Most had also attended a few of the early "BLS Annual Steam-Ups". They also had developed several other friendships, and shared activities with several other live steamers in other Clubs.

Arthur Wegner, a U.P. (Union Pacific) Engineer of Denver, viewing locomotives in the steaming-bays, at Danvers, MA Oct. 1939

The RMLS eventually attracted, and consisted of, most of the known "Lone Wolf" 3-1/2 inch gauge live steam hobbyists in the greater Denver Region, and had a slowly growing membership. The only RMLS conditions for joining the Club were:

• To own a scale model live steam locomotive either fully-built and operating, or to have a locomotive under construction.
• To join the Brotherhood of Live Steamers (BLS), which later became the International Brotherhood of Live Steamers (IBLS) in 1970, which they all did.
• To conform their equipment construction to the "Wheel & Track Standards" as set forth by the BLS / IBLS
• Initial Membership Dues of $5, and $3 per each year following-- simply to help drefray the simple expenses of RMLS Events and "RMLS Journal" publication.

Basically, nearly all of the interest and participation in the RMLS operations was heavily centered upon live steam locomotive models in 3/4 inch scale x 3-1/2 inch track gauge. During these years, unfortunately, much interest and activity in 3-1/2 inch gauge live steamers was beginning to wane, displaced by the growing interest and popularity of larger live steam locomotives in 4-3/4 inch gauge and 7-1/2 inch gauge. Art Wegner had the only known outdoor 3-1/2 inch gauge track in Denver, this was an 80-foot long, elevated "back & forth" tangent, along one edge of Wegner's backyard. Arthur always enjoyed sharing his track, and small shop, for "Trials & Testing" purposes, and to host impromptu "Steam Meets" and Bull Sessions with other local live steamers. Those others, over a vast region, seemed to have simply "made-do" with either outdoor or indoor portable "Test-Track Panels" for their live steam operations.

J. B. Squires at his Colorado Springs home track

RMLS Founding Member & Vice-President, J.B. 'Byron' Squires, was a very prolific builder of 3-1/2" gauge live steam locomotives in Colorado. By 1956 Byron had constructed a 60 foot x 118 foot elevated-oval track, of about 304 feet in length, in the backyard of his new suburban residence in Colorado Springs. He named the little railway "Colorado Short Line RR". This modest CSLR then, was the only 3-1/2" gauge "closed-circuit track loop" known to exist in the entire Colorado Front Range Region. It was a simple oval, without having any separate steaming-bay facilities except for using the track itself, or using either an adjacent bench or some 2 x 8 planks laid on the ground-- but no one ever complained about the spartan facilities.

Byron, and his wife Elizabeth, were very sociable and friendly-natured folks, who thankfully, always took a kind interest and derived a great pleasure in sharing their Colorado Short Line RR with all fellow Live Steam enthusiasts. Participation in most live steam operational events at the CSLR were typically invitational RMLS Members Only Reserved arrangements, or made in advance by Special Request, in order to keep the fun Steam-Up Operations and Pot-Luck Luncheon events small, to make events more manageable & enjoyable for all of the members & guests. However, RMLS events were held often enough so all members got ample Turns. The Squires' also hosted the open-house RMLS Annual Steam-Up & Picnic, usually every June, which was the High-Steaming Event of the year. The general public was never invited to CSLR & RMLS activities, but nonetheless people were welcomed to politely observe from the nearby street, if an event was discovered while passing-by, and those individuals more obviously curious & interested may easily be invited to come and take a closer look.

Byron Squires was the Vice-President of the RMLS, and his wife Elizabeth was considered to be the Secretary, of sorts. She acted as the Editor & Publisher of the RMLS Journal, a small club newsletter which was distributed only three or four times per year to the Membership. The Journal contained details of the latest "Steam-Up", and gave notice of future Event Dates anticipated or planned, and often included information a Member might wish to relate about machining or construction techniques, the current progress on any locomotive under construction, and other fun bits of news. All of the RMLS Members and their families enjoyed a pleasurable camaraderie in the occasional Steam-Up Events, and the Bull-Sessions, as well as a few other gatherings throughout the years.

At it's peak in Membership during the Club's "Golden Years" of the late 1950's to the late 1960's, the local participating Members included:

• Arthur Wegner, of Denver CO, a Union Pacific RR Steam Locomotive Engineer, who retired in 1954 after a proud 45 years of steam railroading. In the 1930's, Art had built three fine Stuart stationary steam models, along with an ample stationary vertical steam boiler, as well as an unfinished, beautifully crafted 2-1/2 inch gauge 4-6-2 President Washington locomotive project (by Harry Coventry). Later, Art's pride & joy was a well-proportioned & detailed, good steaming, freelance-built (ca. 1939), 3-1/2 inch gauge 4-4-2 Atlantic locomotive having Southern valve gear. Arthur had acquired this locomotive in 1949 from it's original builder Norman Steele of the NELS at Danvers, MA.

• J.B. 'Byron' Squires, of Colorado Springs CO, a Professional Machinist. Byron had freelance constructed all in 3-1/2 inch gauge: by 1950 an 0-8-0 Switcher; by 1956 a 4-6-2 Pacific, and a 4-8-2 Mountain; by 1960 a 4-4-2 Atlantic; and by 1964 had a 4-6-6-4 Challenger articulated chassis & boiler shell under construction. All of Byron's steam locomotives were constructed having steel boilers with copper flues, and all were gasoline-fired, except for the 0-8-0 Switcher which used coal. Later on, during the late 1960's & early 1970's era, Byron may also have built a 4-3/4 inch gauge locomotive.

• Robert 'Bob' Elsea, of Wheat Ridge CO, a Professional Small Appliance Repair Shop Foreman (for the Public Service Co. of CO). In the 1940's & 1950's, Bob had constructed two very nice Cole's 1915 65hp Case Steam Tractors in both 2-inch and 1-inch scales. Also during the 1940's Bob had built a nicely detailed, good steaming 3-1/2 inch gauge 4-6-2 Pacific President Washington locomotive (by Harry Coventry); by the mid-1950's Bob had built a fine 3-1/2 inch gauge 4-4-0 American locomotive (an LBSC Virginia); and in the late 1950's co-built an 0-4-0T Tich (by LBSC) with his son Richard; and Bob may have had another locomotive under construction in the late 1960's.

• Karl Friedrich, of Denver CO, a retired Machinist (from Pittsburgh), who became a part-time Postal Carrier after moving to Denver in the 1950's. Karl was considered an early live-steam locomotive Pioneer since constructing his first locomotive, a finely detailed freelance 3-1/2 inch gauge "Oldtime 0-6-4T" in 1925; and later designed & built the popular 0-4-0T Dinky (UPSY) locomotive in 1951; at some point he had built a nice steaming freelance 3-1/2 inch gauge "D&SL Ry" 4-4-0 American locomotive; and while living in Pittsburgh was rumored to have built one more steam locomotive, likely a 4-6-2; and by 1960 Karl had acquired an impressively large 1 inch narrow-gauge scale, 3-1/2 inch gauge "SLR" 4-6-0 + 0-6-4 Garratt locomotive, which he rarely steamed & ran; and by 1968 had built or acquired a 3-1/2 inch gauge 4-6-6-4 Challenger.

• Ralph Heikkila, of Denver CO, a very busy Professional Radio & Electronics Engineer. By 1959, Ralph had constructed a beautifully detailed & polished, good steaming, 3-1/2 inch gauge 4-6-4 Hudson locomotive (by Harry Coventry), and had also built a 3-1/2 inch gauge 4-6-2 Pacific by 1968.

Rocky Mountain Live Steamers member E. "Temp" Templeton running his 0-6-0 at J. B. Squires' track, Colorado Springs, CO, July 1962. Photo by Ken Scheer.

• Earl W. 'Temp' Templeton, of Henderson, CO, a hard-working General Building Contractor. By 1962 'Temp' had freelance constructed a nicely done, good steaming, smooth running, 3-1/2 inch gauge 0-6-0 Switcher (a Coventry design?).

• John W. 'Jack' Adams, of Lakewood CO, a Professional USGS Geologist. Jack, always a very busy fellow in the early 1960's, had earlier built some Stuart stationary steam models, and was building a 3-1/2 inch gauge 0-6-0T; by 1968 Jack had built either one or two 1 inch scale, 4-3/4 inch gauge 0-4-0 locomotives.

• Ken Scheer, of Westminster CO. In 1963 Ken was a teen "Volunteer", and Employee, and by 1965 a RR Foreman at the Colorado RR Museum in Golden, CO. Earlier, in 1960, he had begun construction of the popular 3-1/2 inch gauge 0-4-0T Tich (by LBSC) in Art Wegner's shop; and in 1966 had unexpectedly found and purchased Squires' 3-1/2 inch gauge 0-8-0 Switcher (minus it's Tender), in a "used, but very serviceable" condition, from a third party.

Honorary "Remote Members" of the RMLS Club, naturally included:

• Carl A. Purinton, of Marblehead MA. BLS Founder & National Secretary from 1932, and NELS-Danvers Club President.
• Harry L. Dixon, of Hayward CA. BLS Secretary, Pacific Coast Region.
• Edgar J. Kruckeberg, of Garwood NJ. BLS Secretary, East Coast Region (after Carl Purinton--).
• William 'Bill' Daney, of Pueblo CO. Bill Daney was a well-known and respected early Pioneer Live-Steam Locomotive Designer & Builder in several different scales & gauges, since the 1920's in Colorado. Bill was a "Brother" to all in live steam realms, was also considered to be an "Honorary Founder" of the RMLS.

In 1965, Byron Squires retired, and moved his residence out to a larger acreage a few miles NE of Colorado Springs, to rural Black Forest, CO. And by 1966, Byron and his RMLS friends had constructed a new "Colorado Short Line RR" comprising 3-1/2 inch and 4-3/4 inch Dual-Gauge-- an elevated, closed-circuit distorted-oval track loop of 600 feet in length, plus convenient "Steam-Bay & Service" areas. This track handily accommodated the ever-growing interest in 1-inch scale live steam locomotive activities. As was occurring elsewhere in the Live Steam Hobby, interest & participation in the larger "ground-riding" scales was rapidly growing in Colorado. One or two RMLS members were rumored to have constructed 4-3/4 inch gauge locomotives in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Byron and Elizabeth Squires continued their generous hospitality, and still took a great pleasure in hosting Steam-Ups, Picnics, and Annual Meets.

However, during the late 1960's, and into the decade of the 1970's, unmercifully, the "Grim Reaper" sadly and relentlessly, took a devastating toll on the Rocky Mountain Live Steamers Club. The RMLS Club first lost both Arthur Wegner (age 82--) and Ralph Heikkila (age 58--) in 1969; then soon lost Bob Elsea (age 65--) in 1972; then lost both Earl 'Temp' Templeton (age 62--), and Karl Friedrich (@ age 78?), in the mid-1970's. By the end of that decade only three living RMLS Members were remaining. Likewise, active interest in, and participation with 3-1/2 inch gauge live steam locomotives in the region had drastically dwindled to near zero. Unfortunately, only a few years later, all live steam activities at Black Forest ground to a halt by 1981, as explained below

Rocky Mountain Live Steamers member Karl Friedrich running his D&SL 4-4-0 at J. B. Squires' track, Colorado Springs, CO, July 1962. Photo by Ken Scheer.

In the interim, while the RMLS Steam-Ups and Events were in their "Heydays" at the Black Forest track, several live steam Brothers active in the larger ground-riding scales & gauges had formed a new live steam Club in Denver, named the Colorado Live Steamers (CLS). This energetic organization was officially incorporated in 1969, but unfortunately were forced to move out of their first tracksite located in Downtown Denver. In 1971, the CLS was graciously invited by Byron Squires to use his Black Forest facility as their Club Tracksite, where the CLS Members gratefully laid a 7-1/2 inch gauge track. This accommodation lasted for very few enjoyable years until 1981, when tragically and sadly, the Grim Reaper took Byron Squires (age 82--). This concluded what little remained of any RMLS 3-1/2 inch and 4-3/4 inch gauge activities, as well as any CLS live steam activities at Black Forest, and not long after the tracks were removed, the Squires property was sold.

It took until 1983 for that "Original Phase" of the CLS to re-locate again, leasing some riverbank scenic acreage for use as a Club Tracksite. This was found on the property of the Denver Water Board (ex-fresh water filtration plant--) SW of Denver, at Kassler (aka: Waterton--), where the mouth of the South Platte River exits its river canyon in the foothills. There, they built another Phase of the CLS, with the construction of a new Club Track providing for three track gauges, and having very nice facilities. Alas, that CLS facility too, is now long-gone! But these stories are aside from the topic of the "Rocky Mountain Live Steamers" told above. Perhaps some willing present Member of the "Colorado Live Steamers/Bijou Creek & Western RR", with a better knowledge of that Club's History can be persuaded to tell the "Tales" of the CLS?

The above Article was compiled by: Kenneth E. Scheer, Delta, CO, 16 November 2015.

RMLS Journal

The RMLS Journal was the newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Live Steamers. Ken Scheer describes the newletter as follows.

The RMLS Journal was a very simple item prepared by Elizabeth Squires. It was just a letter-size of two or three sheets of paper, laid-out in a "landscape" format and folded vertically, so that it became 4 to 6 pages measuring 5-1/2 inches wide by 8-1/2 inches high, and she usually even stapled it along the folded edge. It was something she had fun doing, and that most Members appreciated getting in the mail. That was in the days before Xerox, etc. Elizabeth must have had access to a Mimeograph machine (which could print Duplicated Copies by using type-written stencils, and a special ink). There was never much text to them, except for noting which Members and Locos had attended the latest previous "Steam-Up", and how nice the weather had been, and that everyone enjoyed the Pot-Luck Lunch, etc. And usually the advance notice of the anticipated dates of the next "Steam-Up" were published. There was occasionally some member who sent in remarks of the progress of a particular locomotive project or repair, or thanking someone for his suggestions, or remarks about someone's "Trip" to visit a different Club Track, or a full-size "Steam Excursion" they had taken, or a reminder of an upcoming Steam Excursion, etc. Part of the annual Membership "Dues" (of $3 each) was to cover Postage expenses for the Journal, as well as to help defray refreshment and luncheon expenses for the Annual Picnic, etc. Elizabeth probably generously provided many things out of her own pocket.

We are seeking copies of the RMLS Newsletter for the IBLS Library. If you can copies please contact Daris A Nevil.

Gallery

• 
• 

References

• IBLS Journal 1938: BLS Annual Meet at NELS, Danvers, MA, Aug. 18, 1938.
• IBLS "Clubs" Category: BLS Meet at NELS, Danvers, MA, October, 1940.
• IBLS Journal 1951: 19th Annual BLS Meet at GGLS, Oakland, CA, September, 1951.
• IBLS "People" Category: J.B. Squires, Colorado Springs, CO, 1956.
• "LINES" Magazine (Public Service Co. of Colorado) March 1966: "Live Steamers", "RMLS".
• "'Live-Steamer' My Personal Tales from the Live-Steam Hobby"; Chapter II; Autobiographical sketch by: Kenneth E. Scheer, 2014.
• Live Steam of Years Gone By, Charles S. Purinton
  • Arthur Wegner appears in a photo on page 111
• BLS 1968 Membership Directory (Colorado Members)