Author: Al Lowe

Dennis Terpstra

To build interest in model railroading among the younger generation, when a youngster shows interest, we give them a throttle, a few instructions, and let them run a train. When completed, we give them a signed Junior Engineer Certificate for them to take home. We have now had the same young person show up twice over the past two years at the Puyallup show to run trains. This coming January he’ll be ten years old… we’ll see if he shows up again. The idea is to encourage the young person and his family in model railroading. (We require a parent to join if a new member is a minor.)

The 4dNTRAK group is a modular N scale club with more than 50 modules, ranging in size from 6′ or 4′ long by 2′ or 1′ wide that we arrange in different configurations. We and the other modular groups can be seen at various public shows, including the Lynden Fairground and Maple Valley during October, the Washington State History Museum during the Christmas-New Year’s holidays, the Puyallup Fairgrounds during January, and the Monroe Fairgrounds during February. Because of our wide variety of available modules, we have created over 100 different configurations and have never repeated a layout at a show.During our various public shows, we always talk with visitors about the benefits of model railroading: talking with other train enthusiasts, learning a new hobby, improving skills in building and craftsmanship, and having fun running their own trains on a large layout. But we have discovered that sometimes visitors might not want to initially ask questions when walking by or just observing. Additionally, our club members need to be on the visitor’s side of the layout (not “in the pit”) to make visitors feel more comfortable when engaging in a conversation.

Our youngest club member was 9-years-old and now, at age 25, he continues to participate with us in show layouts. We have had several young people join our club this way.

With this in mind, Al Lowe and I created a tri-fold brochure to be displayed on our layout so that visitors can easily pick it up information without engaging us initially. It is printed in full color, with a QR code that links to our website.

Cole Van Gerpen

Seattle’s newest garden railroad is ready for service! Luke Connor’s Oregon, California and Eastern and Weyerhaeuser Narrow Gauge Division is a 1:20.3 scale garden railroad located near Puyallup, WA.

The railroad depicts Southern Oregon, connecting the Mill at Klamath Falls with the yard and car float at Sycan. Between the two, you’ll find 12 feet of elevation gain, 150 feet of steel bridges, and much, much more!

The railroad will be hosting its first open house on Sunday, August 25th, from noon – 8:00 PM, and we want to see you there! Bring your trains and help us break our new railroad in! Address available upon RSVP; see the form on our website at ocery.org.

If you have questions or need additional information, contact Cole Van Gerpen, (425) 279-3922, or cole@cvgtrains.com.

Al Lowe

Congratulations to Mike Stepner and Ed Ives and a thank you to the 20% of our membership who voted. We also will increase the board membership from 3 to 5.

Candidate: Superintendent
Mike Stepner: 42 votes 56.00%
Mike Slease: 33 votes 44.00%
Mike Stepner wins.
Votes tallied: 75
Abstentions: 7

Candidate: Director
Ed Ives: 79 votes 98.75%
Brian Ferris: 1 vote 1.25%
Ed Ives wins.
Votes tallied: 80
Abstentions: 2

Option: Shall we increase the Board of Directors from 3 to 5 members?
Yes: 64 votes 84.21%
No: 12 votes 15.79%
Yes wins.
Votes tallied: 76
Abstentions: 6

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82 of 404 ballots cast – 20%

Al Lowe

We were saddened to learn of the passing on April 8th of local model railroader, magazine publisher, and N scale master, Kirk Reddie.

Kirk grew up and lived in Shoreline, Wash. He began with an American Flyer train set, shifted to HO in eighth grade, but switched again to N scale in 1975 after reading Jim Hediger’s article “The NTRAK Story.”

Kirk published N Scale Railroading magazine from September 2000 through January 2020, after which it continued as a free bi-monthly downloadable PDF until October 2022. It had subscribers all over the world. He knew N scalers everywhere! Kirk was fortunate to combine his two life passions: writing and model railroading.

Kirk’s home layout, the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound, was housed in a 9,200 sq. ft. building and was the subject of many articles in N Scale Railroading. It was featured in the November 2022 issue of Model Railroader. Set in the Pacific Northwest, circa 1950, the layout modeled five railroads (Great Northern; Milwaukee Road; Northern Pacific; Pacific Coast RR; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; Tacoma Belt Line; and Union Pacific) between Argo Junction and Black River Junction, south of Seattle.

Kirk attended Shoreline High School and the University of Washington, where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting, his CPA license, and later a master’s in business. Kirk loved to learn and excelled in school. In high school, he was an Honor Society member, a wrestler, and a trumpeter and drum major in the band. Kirk also played in the UW Marching Band and inspired those around him to share their talents. He said, “Hobbies are great in many ways; in one sense, they don’t matter and in another, they reflect who we aspire to be.”

Kirk Reddie passed peacefully at Northwest Hospital on April 8, 2024. He will be deeply missed. Per his request, there will be no services, but a celebration of life will be held this spring. Donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or to your local food bank. Arrangements: Beck’s Funeral Home, Edmonds (425) 771-1234.

4D members are invited to leave comments about Kirk below.

Cody Grivno’s obituary of Kirk in Model Railroader magazine is available here:
https://www.trains.com/mrr/news-reviews/news/in-memoriam-kirk-reddie

The northbound Milwaukee Road Olympian Hiawatha passes
Boeing Field on Kirk’s Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound. 
Kirk Reddie photo

Kevin Klettke

Hello Model Railroaders!

Our April 2024 Tacoma clinic will be this Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 PM. It will again follow the hybrid format with both in-person and virtual structure. Join us in-person at 9402 47th St. W, University Place, WA. If you can’t make it person, join us virtually on Zoom.

This month I will be digging into the archives to present a clinic I first put together and was published in Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine in 2010, entitled “Weathering Scrap Gondolas.” This clinic focuses on modeling the most abused of freight cars, with particular attention to the empty interior. This method produces great results, is easy, and pretty much impossible to screw up.

Attendees are encouraged to participate in the Bring and Brag portion of the meeting both in-person and virtually. I hope you can join us!

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4dpnrOrganizer Tacoma is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: April 2024 4D Tacoma Clinic
Time: Apr 11, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87652192617?pwd=6nisCSGBI8l3kHpLSZI9IaGxI4qpEP.1

Meeting ID: 876 5219 2617
Passcode: 478064

Al Lowe

I apologize to both candidates for Superintendent but evidently I pasted the same paragraph into both Details. The actual, correct bios are in the previous Grab Iron post. Sorry, Mike(s)!

Bob Kenworthy

Your Nominating Committee has completed its work and we’re proud to announce that we have two candidates for the office of Superintendent (Mike Slease and Mike Stepner) and one candidate for the open Board of Directors position (Ed Ives).

Our election will again be held via ElectionBuddy. You should have received an email notice with your electronic ballot.

Besides the election of officers, the 4D Board of Directors would like to change our Bylaws so we have five Directors instead of three so we can provide members with more opportunity to participate in 4D leadership. The current policy and the proposed policy are shown below, with the only changes shown in boldface italic type.

If you have questions, contact Bob Kenworthy, bkenworthy4@comcast.net.

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Candidates for Superintendent

Mike Stepner

I have been an NMRA member since about 2008 when I belonged to the Denver Area N Scalers. I was a volunteer at the Colorado Railroad Museum from 2007–2010. When I moved to Washington in 2010, I joined the 4dNTRAK group (2010–2012). I was a member (2012–2018) and president (2016–2018) of the 4D OmniRail group and currently belong to 4D Freemo HO group (2023–current). I have also belonged to some non-NMRA clubs over the years, including the PSMRE (2022–current) at the Washington State History Museum. I helped with the 2014 and 2023 PNR conventions, contest room and layout tour committees, and other things here and there. I have modeled almost continuously for about 45 years. I model in N, HO (currently) and On30 and working on a Z scale layout for my wife.

Mike Slease

I have been actively involved in the NMRA and the 4th Division since 2002. My primary focus has been with the 4D HO Modular Group, which I led for 5 years. In my professional life, I’m the owner of a small printing and sign-making business. I don’t claim any special knowledge that would make me the best choice for Superintendent of the Division, but I am willing to do all I can to make this amazing hobby of ours as much fun as possible for all the 4D members.

Candidate for Director

Ed Ives

I have held a position as Board of Director for several years and am open for reelection again this year. The past pandemic forced change in what the 4D does and how we do it. The question is: what should we do now? The Board has been and will continue to be working on that over the next years. I wish to be part of that effort. Another wish of mine is that there will be more of you 40-, 50- and 60-year-olds joining the Board, replacing us gray hairs and no hairs, to lead us into the future.

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ByLaws Changes

(Existing Wording)

Article IV

Officers and Directors

2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and directors of the Division.

a. The officers of the Division shall consist of a Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

(1) The Superintendent and Assistant shall be determined by popular election by the Division members.

(2) The Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed by the Superintendent and approved by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

b. There shall be three directors elected at large by the Division members.

3. Officers and directors shall each serve a term of 2 years.

a. The Superintendent and one director shall be elected in even-numbered years.

b. The Assistant Superintendent and two directors shall be elected in odd-numbered years.

c. All elected terms of office shall run from September 1 to August 31.

d. The Secretary and Treasurer will serve terms concurrent with that of the Superintendent.

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(Proposed Wording)

Article IV

Officers and Directors

2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and directors of the Division.

a. The officers of the Division shall consist of a Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

(1) The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent shall be determined by popular election by the Division members.

(2) The Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed by the Superintendent and approved by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

b. There shall five directors elected at large by the Division members.

3. Officers and directors shall each serve a term of 2 years.

a. The Superintendent and two directors shall be elected in even-numbered years.

b. The Assistant Superintendent and three directors shall be elected in odd-numbered years.

c. All elected terms of office shall run from September 1 to August 31.

d. The Secretary and Treasurer will serve terms concurrent with that of the Superintendent.

Al Lowe

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is starting a new train show called Trucks and Trains, Dollhouses and Planes Show, on Labor Day weekend, August 31–September 1, 2024, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Setup is Friday, August 30.

The indoor/outdoor event will take place on the campus, football field and surrounding streets of Eatonville High School, 302 Mashell Ave N, Eatonville, WA 98328. Layouts will be in the gymnasium and commons areas.

Exhibits will include vendors, antique trucks, planes from the Eatonville Airport, an 1896 Satsop steam engine, radio controlled plane exhibitions, food trucks, bouncy houses and other activities for the kids. Inside exhibits will include model train layouts, dollhouses, airplane models, and vehicle models.

More information is available at www.WFIM.org/train-show. Questions? Contact Betty Nokes, 253-222-4935, bwnokes@gmail.com

By Al Lowe

I saw this on Facebook marketplace. I have no knowledge of it, other than it might be of interest to someone who reads the Grab Iron. Contact Tom here.

Dennis Terpstra

Jeff Moorman passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 9, 2023, in his home in Ferndale, WA. He had recently celebrated his 75^th birthday.

Jeff was a friend to many within the Fourth Division. He was the leader of the Seattle-North Clinic. He was co-leader of the Pacific Center Science Train Show for more than thirty years. He was the 2007 recipient of the 4D Golden Grab Iron Award. We will always remember Jeff with his positive attitude and vibrant personality. For the last few years, he was a member of the 4D-NTrak Modular group. Jeff was a great gentleman to all.

Jeff’s participation in the 4D began before 1990. He served as the first 4D modular program coordinator for many years. He, along with Frank Dekker, Co-Chaired the Pacific Science Center Train Show from 1998 until 2017, with his last seven years Co-Chairing with David Yaddock.

Jeff was instrumental in getting me involved in 4D initially as a volunteer at the Pacific Science Center show and then with me helping him in the Seattle-North clinic. He traveled with me to two National NMRA conventions, the last in Salt Lake City in 2019. He was always helpful in answering my many railroad questions – some more than once. We were good friends and got along well together.

Jeff will truly be missed.

His obituary is here.