IBLS Journal 2004

February 5

Post on IBLS Yahoo Group by moderator Pat.

I am sure you all have seen the posts on the livesteamers list about the disbanding of the IBLS in north America. This troubles me greatly and I have to wonder what direction the hobby is headed in without any central group or standards?

I set up this group as I felt this day was coming when the IBLS would break up. Now the day has come. I feel there is a need to continue with at least the IBLS standards and even update and set new ones if possible. We could do that all day long, but it would do no good if we do not have the number of members to back it up. Other aspects of the group could evolve as needed. I encourage you to pass the word of this group and see how many we can get to join. For those just wanting to show their support I have no problem with them joining and selecting "NO MAIL" as the choice. Either way, the 20 people we have now is a start. But, it will take many more to carry on this torch. With this group we can get it started on the web and from there we can get in touch with non web people.

February 8

Post on IBLS Yahoo Group by Dennis

The IBLS from its onset was never about riding railroads, no matter what gauge or scale. It was about building live steam powered models, railroad, stationary, road and marine. The notion that it set standards can be attributed to various clubs, magazines and national personalities. There was no system to collect votes so there was no way to institute standards and why would a boat builder need the standards for the back to back on wheels in 3 1/2" gauge railroad equipment?

The (I)BLS was originally called the BLS (Brotherhood of Live Steamers) as the "I" was added when Canada, Australia, Europe and Asia (not in that order) joined in. The purposes were (1) to keep a card file on each member stating his modelling skills and models built and under construction and (2) their name and address if they chose to be available for visits. Carl Puriton was interested in each being available to help the other and for everyone to be able to visit with each other when on trips or vacations. It was from its inception a volunteer run organization and other than SASEs there were no requirements for payment for services received. The secretaries paid out of their pockets for the patches and decals and stationery they used and mailed out.

If a member had a problem he would write to his secretary the nature of the problem and the secretary would look through his card file for a person with that expertise and forward the query to the "expert." All correspondence would be between the "novice" and "expert" from that point. The (I)BLS was formed long before the internet and long before most of us presently in the hobby. The idea was to exchange ideas, not to set up a national organization governing standards. The internet just made the IBLS redundant.