diff --git a/simgear/misc/sgstream.cxx b/simgear/misc/sgstream.cxx
index 99b19a7a..01e7ff12 100644
--- a/simgear/misc/sgstream.cxx
+++ b/simgear/misc/sgstream.cxx
@@ -198,12 +198,23 @@ sg_gzofstream::attach( int fd, ios_openmode io_mode )
 sg_ifstream::sg_ifstream(const SGPath& path, ios_openmode io_mode)
 {
     std::string ps = path.local8BitStr();
-    open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
+    std::ifstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
 }
 
+void sg_ifstream::open( const SGPath& name, ios_openmode io_mode )
+{
+    std::string ps = name.local8BitStr();
+    std::ifstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
+}
 
 sg_ofstream::sg_ofstream(const SGPath& path, ios_openmode io_mode)
 {
     std::string ps = path.local8BitStr();
-    open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    std::ofstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
+}
+
+void sg_ofstream::open( const SGPath& name, ios_openmode io_mode )
+{
+    std::string ps = name.local8BitStr();
+    std::ofstream::open(ps.c_str(), io_mode);
+}
diff --git a/simgear/misc/sgstream.hxx b/simgear/misc/sgstream.hxx
index e7a4b12c..f676b8a0 100644
--- a/simgear/misc/sgstream.hxx
+++ b/simgear/misc/sgstream.hxx
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ public:
 
 private:
     // Not defined!
-    sg_gzifstream( const sg_gzifstream& );    
-    void operator= ( const sg_gzifstream& );    
+    sg_gzifstream( const sg_gzifstream& );
+    void operator= ( const sg_gzifstream& );
 };
 
 /**
@@ -175,14 +175,22 @@ private:
 class sg_ifstream : public std::ifstream
 {
 public:
+    sg_ifstream() {}
+
     sg_ifstream(const SGPath& path, ios_openmode io_mode = ios_in | ios_binary);
+
+    void open( const SGPath& name,
+	       ios_openmode io_mode = ios_in|ios_binary );
 };
 
 class sg_ofstream : public std::ofstream
 {
 public:
+    sg_ofstream() { }
     sg_ofstream(const SGPath& path, ios_openmode io_mode = ios_out | ios_binary);
+
+    void open( const SGPath& name,
+	       ios_openmode io_mode = ios_out|ios_binary );
 };
 
 #endif /* _SGSTREAM_HXX */
-