by Al Babinsky / Photo by Ken Liesse

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic with 36 modelers in attendance and asked for suggestions of when and to whom we should donate the money that we collect every month for charity. It was decided that we would give the donation to the Northwest Food Network at our clinic on November 10th.

Under announcements it was mentioned that the NRHS would be held in Tacoma in June. In May 2012 the PCR and PNR will hold a joint convention in Medford, OR called the Siskiyou Summit 2012. For more information go to http://pcrnmra.org.

The TNW will hold their 1st annual swap meet and train show May 14–15 in Freighthouse Square in Tacoma. Sound Transit will have a Sounder there with its cab car open. Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is providing train rides on the hour to 72nd Street and back.

What’s new at the Hobby shop was presented by Tacoma Trains which included items from Lionell, Kato, Atearn, Bachmann, MTH, Accurail, and Micro-Trains.

In the model of the month section, or “bring and brag” as we like to call it, we had a number of entries which included a Maerklin pre-war freight consist; a water tower; a Black Bear Co. bridge kit; a homemade easy-to-access drill index and paint brush stand; freight cars weathered with different media; a tree made from an azalea branch; a GP-39M with a depressed-center flat car and transformer load, plus caboose with a flashing red light; and a diorama with a Sierra West tool shed. The winner of the contest was Dave Faucett with his tool shed diorama.

The clinic, given by MMR Dale Kraus, was “What I Did on my Vacation.” It was a trip back in time while railfanning in the UK, beginning in London with a trip to York riding the rails behind steam power and then on to Wales to ride behind various narrow-gauge steam locomotives. A great slide show and very interesting equipment; thanks to Dale for great clinic just in time for summer to entice us to go and search for places to railfan.

Next month’s clinic will be presented by Scott Groff and Mike Shaw. We hope to see you there at our usual place, the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. at the corner of 112th Street and Waller Road, clinic starts at 7:30 PM.

The photo is courtesy of Ken Liesse, who has posted more photos here.