Railfans in the 1920's and 30s were known as "engine picture" fans. The camera was usually a "folding Kodak". Until the mid-30's, the railroad enthusiast was a loner. There was Robert McFarland, Ralph Demoro, Charlie Smallwood, Will Whittaker,
Frank Fennell, Eddie Young, Roy Graves, Stanley Merritt, Dave Joslyn and Willis Silverthorn.
It was not until the mid-thirties that the "fans" organized. Then came Ted Wurm, Clement Fisher, Graham Hardy, Doug Richter, Bill Pennington, and others...

Margaret Monroe always likes my railroad stories. Maybe I should write one about all of the Bay Area and Northern California clubs. It could be pretty interesting!

By the way, the very first "fantrip" (first in the West) was on May 16, 1937 on the Nevada County Narrow Gauge between Colfax and Grass Valley, CA.

Cheers.

KRK