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Active Members..................
Jonathan Landon, MD, President of the JLS Railroad, WebMaster of this site.
I don't remember how young I was when my obsession with trains began, that's how young I was! I started the JLS Railroad in 1989 looking for a higher quality, more prototypical model as compared to the standard and far more common Lionel O-Gauge. What I found was LGB, in my opinion, the best anywhere. Since that discovery was made, the JLS Railroad has grown to become a nationally and internationally recognized Railroad and club. Aside from my life on the JLS Railroad, I am a pilot, accumulating many hours of flight time in Cessna 152s, 172s, and 182s, currently going for my Instrument rating. I am an avid Live Steamer as well, working on many projects in 1.6" scale from rolling stock to live steam locomotives, all 100% scratch built from bar stock (no castings utilized). I also race in the Porsche Club of America Northeast Regional Autocross Series as well as the national Porsche Cars North America Club Racing Series. I hold the rank of Racing Instructor with the Porsche Club, and function as the Motor Sports Director of Legend Porsche, as well as involve myself with sales & service of clients throughout the Northeast. Lastly, I am a Surgeon, currently in residency in Brooklyn, NY. My final goal will to practice in the field of Plastic Surgery.
Joe Barcia, Vice President of the JLS Railroad.
I started to really enjoy life on the railroad when I was around 15 or 16. That is when I first met Jonathan in school, we had a class together. I have been an inactive member of the Long Island Live Steamers for a while now, but that doesn't mean I don't like trains. However, over the past few weeks, I have been attending more runs and meetings at the Long Island Live Steamers in hopes of getting my family's SW-1500 locomotive out of storage and back on the tracks at the LILS. School work and lack of time got in my way, also I couldn't get a ride out to the club. I had nearly forgotten how much fun and relaxing working on the railroad had been. I would never have pictured myself as the Vice President of one of the largest indoor Large Scale layouts on Long Island. Luckily for me Jonathan has helped me to remember the fun of operating a railroad. Due to that, I now own and operate my own layout in N-gauge. It is about 4x7, a tiny layout, in my room. When I had started it, about three months after I met Jon, I didn't know much about trains, now I feel that Jonathan has been my mentor, and I have learned a lot about railroading. He has taught me about keeping timed schedules, switching scenarios and basic railroad operation. I owe Jonathan a great amount of gratitude, thanks Jonathan, you are a great President of a great railroad.
Skip Densing, Master Engineer
Extremely active in the Live Steam (1.5" Scale) hobby, Skip shows an unparalleled enthusiasm for trains. He has already designed and built a 10' long diesel in 1.5" scale, weighing upwards of 1000lbs! His latest project is a Heisler. Aside from the big stuff, Skip is progressing very quickly in his knowledge of the JLS Railroad, especially in the area of track repair. Attending all Thursday Night Operating Sessions, I see that he picks up new information and skills in this hobby rapidly. Bringing new ideas and talent to the Railroad, we have much to learn from Skipper.
Randy Knaub, Electrical Engineer
I'm currently 48 years old. When I was 2 my parents got me Lionel. When I got to be about 12, I wanted to get started in HO. I received a train set for Christmas. For many years I was involved with HO, I was a member of Nassau Model Railroad Club. While I was there I made friends with a New Haven Railroad Engineer, George Ayers. He took me to NJLS (New Jersey Live Steamers), which influenced me to join that group. During the 70's I spent almost every weekend railfaning the northeast. I was also building a large HO layout in the basement, with hand laid code 70 rail. Around 1982 I wanted to get started in a different scale, I looked at Z gauge and LGB. The cost was about the same, but you got more train for the dollar with LGB. At the time I did not make up a permanent LGB layout. But set up track at Christmas time in the house, outside during the summer in the backyard. About 1987 I decided to build a new layout with LGB and HO on top. That layout was the best I ever built. Six trains could be run on the LGB and two or more on the HO. Unfortunately that layout was torn down about 3 years later when I moved out to go with my wife. I moved to E. Northport and at that point, went out to the Long Island Live Steamers and decided to join them as the NJLS was now a 2 hr ride (Vs only 30 min to LILS). I did build an HO layout in E. Northport but, computers and my cats derailing everything led to its dismantling this past September. I am selling off my HO on the Internet, to allocate money to purchase a large 1.5" engine. If I need more funds I will start to auction some of my LGB equipment as well.
Chris Lusardi, Engineer In Training
Chris Lusardi is one of our newest members. Active in the hobby himself, he has a collection of Large Scale Trains and a layout. He was a big help to the JLS Railroad during the Refinery construction, laying pipe and detailing the area.
Frank Bagnati, Engineer in Training
After many many many years, Frank has finally started his own layout. I have known Frank since I was born. He has always had a love for trains and railroading, but, never had the opportunity to start his own layout. He always enjoyed coming over to the JLS Railroad to watch the trains or help out, then, he became a member. I think that is what threw him over the edge, since then, he is underway on his own railroad, incorporating both Large Scale and O-Scale.
Gary Loken, Engineer in Training
Bio to appear shortly...
George E. Quiles III, Engineer
I have had a love for trains as long as I can remember. Early in my life my dad built my first RR for me. We were living in an apartment at the time. It was stored under my mom & dad's bed, built on a platform that was on wheels. I played with this layout for many hours. We then moved into a large home and dad built us a layout that was spectacular. It had many feet of track, turnouts & a turntable. I spent many hours playing with it, fixing it and having fun with it. As I got older my interest changed until I met the love of my life, my wife. Her dad was a great lover of trains as well. He modeled these trains that I had never seen before, they were much larger than LIONEL trains. I just had to have a set of them. The train bug was in full swing again. My wife bought me my first LGB engine 2080S, a German steam locomotive with sound. I soon had our living room filled with an LGB layout. I have never looked back. Presently, I am the President of the Long Island Garden Railway Society, a club made up of people with the same obsession in Large Scale trains. I am also heavily into 1.5" scale, or "live steam" trains. I am the proud owner of a 10' long, 1000lb Santa Fe Dash 8 CW-40 (#717) in that scale as well as a matching caboose.
Keith Denton, Engineer In Training
I have loved trains as far back as I can remember. I have been interested in HO scale since I was 12. Another interest is 1 1/2 inch scale ride on sizes. I travel around the country to ride behind steam engines, and have a large stack of videos on railroading, both models and prototypes. I think in a previous life I was a railroad engineer!
Ralph Lombardo, Engineer In Training
My earliest memories of being in love with trains goes way back to the age of 6 or 7. My Dad had a 4' by 8' plywood board on 2 horses, covered in green felt with 2 separate large O-Gauge Lionel loops - complete with barn, animals, loading platform etc... My older brother Charlie and I spent many hours running those trains. They eventually were taken down and packed away as my interests pointed to other things. Zoom to 8 years ago, my son Jason's 1st Christmas at age 11 months. My older brother calls me and says "do you want your old trains?" I still have the set today, track and all. Eventually I learned about the Long Island Live Steamers and took my son Jason there from about the age of 2. We both joined the club last June and have loved it ever since. Now at home, Jason and I have a Lionel setup and an HO setup, however, every Christmas the LGB trains come out and are placed under the Christmas Tree. My best train memory was the first time I went to Strassburg PA, and the first time I took the Auto-Train to Florida in 1998.
Donna Walther, Engineer in Training
I was first introduced to 1.5" Scale roughly 8 years ago and have been madly in love with trains ever since. Not long after that, I became the proud owner of a diesel / electric switcher and have been a regular member of the Adirondack Live Steamers. I am also involved in O27 and Z gauges at home. I ride the big rails quite often as well due to my frequent visits to the Long Island area.
Jason Lombardo, Engineer In Training
My Dad tells me my earliest interest in trains came at the age of 11 months when he set up his 35 year old Lionel train set around our Christmas Tree. Then at the age of 2, Santa brought me my own Lionel starter set and set it up under the tree! The past year, my greatest love has been the Long Island Live Steamers. I am lucky enough to have a fantastic uncle [George Quiles] who taught me how to drive his engine [Santa Fe CW-40 #717]. My goal is to bug my Dad enough so he will buy me my own engine.
Larry Bogash, Chief Advisor
Larry, or Boggy as we call him, is the chief advising officer to the Railroad. I have known him since I was born, he went to Primary School with my father, so, has been a close family friend for some 40 years. He was the first person to introduce me to trains when I was very young, 2 or so. His vast wealth of knowledge on the subject has aided me in the construction of the layout. Whenever a problem arises Boggy is the one to help fix it. Aside from his work on the JLS Railroad, he has one of the largest collections of LGB anywhere. His collection is estimated to contain about 15 engines and in upwards of 300 cars! He has been collecting for years. Aside from LGB, he has over 500 N-Scale engines and around 3000 cars, or more! Unfortunately, his collection doesn't leave much room for a large operating layout.
Warren Sanger, Financial Consultant
Warren Sanger works about 120 hours per week. He is the malpractice attorney for Good Samaritan Hospital here on Long Island. He has always had an interest in the trains, enjoying watching them not only at TrainShows, but, at private showings just for him. At this point, Warren has been bit by the Live Steam bug. We are thinking about working together on a 1.5" Live Steam car, possibly a hopper. Presently, he personally owns no trains, but, if I have any say in the matter, will soon be the proud owner of 1/2 a Mountain Car Hopper in 1.5" scale!
Al Rapp, Chief of Woodworking
Al Rapp has been an active member for approximately 2 years. He played an intrical part in the planning and construction of the Helix. Without his help, the Helix would never have moved along as smoothly as it did.
Gregory Stebbins, Engineer in Training
Rob Simone, Engineer in Training
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