CJ Riley has moved to Port Ludlow and wants to meet 4D members in the Port Townsend area. Contact him at 360.327.8003, or cjriley42@yahoo.com.
You are browsing archives for
Author: Al Lowe
Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic March 2014 Report
by Rich Blake / Photos by Al Frasch
We kicked off the March clinic with a short discussion on recent and upcoming events. One recent event of note was the 10th Annual Pacific Model Loggers Congress at the Camp 18 Restaurant in Elsie Oregon held March 2nd. Rich Blake attended the meet and gave a report on some of the fun things to see and do in that part of the country especially the vast collection (his words “butt-ton”) of logging equipment on the Camp 18 property. It is a great place to go if you are researching logging history and would like to view and inspect prototype equipment. e also did our duty and reminded everyone about the Regional PSX Tacoma Event in June.
This clinic was very special in that our feature clinician was none other than the Chief Mechanical Officer of the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad – Stathi Pappas. His clinic, titled “Steam Locomotive Systems and Technology” was a fascinating look into the inner workings of steam locomotives and how you can apply the prototype’s systems to more accurate modeling. Stathi is not only a vast storehouse of knowledge as one of the few people in the US that has rebuilt several steam locomotives for operation, he is also an adept and entertaining speaker. We got to hear quotes like “Why would anyone want to burn goofy black rocks??” in reference to coal locos and “Baldwin was the Ford of locomotive builders” you can guess what that means.
Stathi enforced the point that understanding locomotive systems is key to proper detailing on models. He talked about the difference between “Superdetailing” and “Stuperdetailing” where in the latter example too much stuff does not a better model make if it doesn’t make sense with the rest of the systems. He used several photos to describe the various systems and how they operate. More importantly he also described “why” things are the way they are on the various locomotives. Sometimes it is aesthetics and sometimes it is function with the point being that every time a locomotive came out of a repair or rebuild cycle, it was always different than when it went in. We got into a lot of specifics and it was a very interesting discussion with many club members asking a lot of questions about loco systems. Stathi covered many detailed topics including:
All of the photos Stathi used were of MRSR locomotives and his own personal locomotive – the “Chiggen” a former Santa Cruz Portland Cement Porter 0-4-0T that Stathi rebuilt from the ground up including fabricating a new boiler. (see more on this loco here: www.scpc2.com) The pictures themselves were amazing in that they detailed many areas of locomotives during the rebuild phase that are not normally seen in finished form.
He concluded the presentation by reiterating the fact that understanding the systems and knowing that everything on a loco is the way it is for a reason makes for better modeling and it is all up to the modeler as to how far they want to go with their individual detailing. He then spent another hour answering questions of which there was a plethora. Overall it was one of the best and most informative prototype clinics we have ever had. Hats off to Stathi for taking the time and allowing us the opportunity to dive into and learn about the fascinating subject of steam locomotive technology with a true expert in the field.
If you would like to see some of Stathi’s projects in action then come out to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad this May 17th for the special “Steam Up” event. The goal is to have no less than six operating steam locomotives running for photo shoots and run bys. This should be a “must do” event for any steam fan and especially any of us in the Pacific Northwest since it is virtually in our back yard. Check out the schedule at www.mrsr.com.
Eastside Get Together February Meeting
JJ Johnston
Once again our enthusiastic Eastside Get-Together chief honcho, JJ Johnston, welcomed about 50 attendees to the February meeting. He introduced/recognized the officers and committee chairs of the 4th Division in attendance as well as the MMRs. Don and Beth MacLaren did a great job filling in for our Welcome Ambassador Clay Hanson with making sure everyone had a name tag and ballot for the Model of the Month and door prize drawings.
We had several new attendees with us: Mike Dziubinski modeling in N Scale; Pete Murphy modeling in HO Scale; Jim Linden modeling in HO Scale; Richard Moore modeling in HO Scale; Craig Jackson modeling in High-Rail; Lee and Nancy Marsh modeling in HO Scale. Lee will be presenting our clinic later.
Announcements were by: Rob Jones, 4D Membership Chair, described some new ideas to promote membership such as having a “membership chair” in each clinic and doing clinics at libraries or other venues; Jim Sabol touting the release of the new DVD West Coast Railroad Logging that he helped put together selling for $25 cash or $29.95 check (this is the DVD he talked about several months ago and treated us to some of the old movies being used in the DVD) and reminded everyone of the upcoming annual logging event in Elsie, Oregon; Bob Rorabaugh telling about the swap meet in Chehalis March 29 and 30; David Yadock thanking everyone who attended and/or helped out with the PSC show which had over 12,500 attendees for the 3-day weekend show and that the Science Center staff will be working to get things rolling earlier for next year in the way of announcements and posters and that he would like to see more smaller layouts made available to spread around the Science Center for more variety (all scales are welcome!); Roger Ferris commented that the last of the PFM materials were available in the Mart; Russ Segner mentioned that Joe Fugate, of Model Railroad Hobbyist, would be the speaker at the Convention banquet in June and that the election of two officers for 4D were coming up and, if you wanted to run for either of these two positions, to contact Mike Highsmith or himself.
David Yadock’s Santa Fe F-3s
RMC article on Jim Noonan’s layout
Model of the Month had four “entries”: David Yadock with an A-B set of Santa Fe F-3s found on his shelf and added a decoder, working Mars light, marker lights and a tune-up; Bobj Berger displayed an RMC article on Jim Noonan’s layout stating that the layout was available for sale and can be moved since it was built in sections; Bob Rarabaugh displayed “PUM”(Piles of Unusable Material) or a slash burn pile that he had made; Russ Segner displayed his “scratch built in no scale” cash donation box for the Bellevue library using mahogany, but had to build a bigger one. And the winner was … Bob Rarabaugh with his pile of trash!
“PUM”(Piles of Unusable Material)
Di Voss was asked to report on his evaluation of using “Bull Frog Snot” for traction on one of his engines. He applied it to a ten-wheeler which before application 
could pull 2 cars up a 2 ½% grade. After the application the ten-wheeler could pull 6 cars up the 2 ½% grade! He applied the “Snot” to only the gear-driven driver. He said it worked just like a rubber tire on the wheels.
After our break, Lee Marsh gave us a wonderful presentation on the construction of his layout, “Head of the
Lee Marsh
Rake – GN Cascade Division” in HO Scale.The layout is basically an L shape 12 feet wide at the base of the L and 32 feet long, built 51 inches from the floor with a 24” minimum radius. Being a civil engineer, the benchwork is very solid but includes some unique access hatches to get to hard to reach locations. Lee and his wife Nancy moved to WashingtonState in the 1980s and began exploring the StevensPass area where they encountered the BN line over the Cascades. All this scenery and complexity of getting the railroad through the mountains solidified the idea that he wanted to build a mountain railroad. He began developing a layout plan in the mid-1990s and knew he wanted a main line run through the mountains. He liked the late steam and early diesel equipment and eventually ended up on the 1951 time frame. Knowing he couldn’t include faithful reproductions of the features along the GN line he decided to freelance using Everett and the GN main line over the Cascades. He started construction in 1996 and figures it’s about 80% complete today.
The layout includes five staging tracks underneath the upper level permitting staging of the primary trains and two three-track stub yards for staging of local trains. The upper level is reached via two helices. One is near the end of Delta Yard in Everett and the other is at the other end of the layout going toward what would be StevensPass if the layout continued that far.
The scenery is hard shell which provides space beneath for the staging. The backdrop Is hand-painted from photographs taken in June north of Skykomish. Since this is mountainous territory there are a number of bridges and trestles all of which are excellently done. Naturally, there has to be a lot of trees of all sizes and shapes and Lee has been fortunate to find a company that can make any kind of tree he needs. When you see pictures of the layout, you really feel like you’re in the Cascades!
One week later, on Saturday March 1, Lee held a private open house of his layout exclusively for those who had attended his Thursday Eastside presentation. Very impressive and stunning scenery. Assisted by Mike Dziubinski, the trains ran very well and it was a great time for everyone to be able to spend some time admiring Lee’s work.
Lee will return to the Eastside monthly meeting on April 17 to present a clinic on the use of Helicon Focus, a software program which creates incredible depth of field photographs. Attendees will be invited to bring their cameras and use them in actual situations. Watch for more information.
Nomination Deadline this Friday, 3/7
Michael Highsmith, 4D Nominating Committee Chair
The 4D Board of Directors is seeking new members to fill the posts of Director 1 and Superintendent. Each is a two-year term commencing in August 2014.
Email me or the other committee members, Scott Buckley or Jeff Moorman with your name, the position you seek and a 250-300 word Candidate Statement by March 7.
Ballots will be sent by April 15.
Ross Jacobus, 1925 – 2014
Bob Rorabaugh
Ross Jacobus, long time model railroader, died on January 26, 2014 in Port Townsend, near three of his four daughters and their families.
Our Port Townsend NMRA guys rolled out a welcome carpet. John Colley in particular picked him up Wednesday evenings and took him to the club where, to the sound of running trains, Ross would sometimes drift off to dream a spell.
Ross had doted on two special wives, out-living both. He was loved by his girls, all four of them now in their fifties. The words they used of him: intelligent, curious, willing, humble, humorous, honorable, kind and “always there for us.” The memories of our North Seattle and Eastside clinicians include “always that smile,” “most awesome host with refreshments,” “willing to help or explain if asked,” and “crazy hair.”
He once asked this ol’ farm boy to prune his fruit trees, then paid me with a Bachmann HO Doodlebug. While pruning, I lost a spring from my small clippers and knew I’d never find it in the weeds and grass. Then, several Sundays later I noticed Ross walking through the church’s lobby with a spring in his step. Was that my spring? He just smiled at me.
Ross apparently didn’t “teach” his daughters the “what” he knew about loving God, spouse, family and work. Instead, he modeled the “who” he knew. He fleshed out many of the qualities of God’s relational love of His people. I asked his family to have a chat with their absent dad. “How do you like where you are now?” and “Would you mind if we leaned into the same heavenly Father’s love?” “Oh and tell our mom we’re coming, too.”
Eastside Clinic & Private Layout Tour
JJ Johnston
Notice: Eastside Get Together announced a unique clinic presentation and a follow-up home layout tour. The monthly meeting coming this Thursday, February 20, 7:30 pm of the Eastside group will feature an informative clinic never before seen in our region by noted local modeler Lee Marsh.
Lee’s clinic will feature his famous Great Northern Cascade Division HO layout covering layout construction from its conception to its nearly completed stage today. He will show unique features such as mock-ups, access, scenery details, rolling stock set-up, wiring and DCC conversion along with photos of his home layout which recently appeared in TRACKSIDE PHOTOS of Model Railroader magazine, July 2013 issue You’ll witness the layout evolution into a sense of place as his Cascadian glides from Spokane through the mountains to Seattle and the trains into a sense of time in the Spring of 1950. The Great Northern Railroad Historical Society (GNRHS) has published an article on his Cascade Division and Lee has received permission to reprint the article as a handout to be distributed to those attending this meeting.
Lee’s Private Home Layout Tour. A future date has been established for a private tour of Lee’s home layout. You MUST attend the clinic presentation to receive the date, place and time of the event and complete a personal sign-up registration. The information regarding the layout tour will not be published after this announcement. Lee’s layout has not been seen by very many people and has not been on any open house schedule of local conventions. This is one meeting you will not want to miss.
Of course the Thursday meeting will feature our usual official greeting of all members, free coffee, donuts, Model of the Month competition, video rental library, railroad items for sale and fabulous door prizes donated by Inside Gateway’s Steve Depolo in Woodinville.
Meetings at Bellevue Foursquare Church, 2015 Richards Road, Bellevue, 98006.
UP 4014 Big Boy on the Move
Rich Blake / Photos courtesy of Jerry Blake
I just received a report from my contact in SoCal (code name: “Dad”) that the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 has been moved from its previous resting place at the L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pomona to the UP yard in Colton, CA. This is the first step in the final goal to relocate the locomotive to UP’s Cheyenne shops for complete restoration to full operational status.
If you haven’t been following this, now is the time. They will be hauling this behemoth over CajonPass pretty soon, so there could be some exciting moments for railfans. You can keep up-to-date on this incredible project here.
There is a good “foamer” video on the loco’s movement so far on YouTube.
Notice in the photos the chain drive for the lubricator, removed piston shafts and much of the “fiddly bits” of the valve gear. Some interesting stuff is temporarily mounted on top of the tender. I would guess those external hoses are for brake control bypass.
4D Seeking Nominations
Michael Highsmith, Asst. Super. & Nominating Committee Chair
It is time again for nominations for positions within the 4D PNR Board. The open positions are:
- Superintendent – 2-year term commencing in August 2014
- Director 1 – 2-year term commencing in August 2014
- Director 2 – 1-year term commencing in August 2014 (filling open vacancy for balance of term)
Nominations are open until February 28, 2014. Email your nominations to me or the other committee members, Scott Buckley or Jeff Moorman. Please include your name, the position you are seeking, and a 250-300 word candidate statement. Ballots will be sent to members in good standing by April 15.
Should you have questions, please feel free to email me or call 253-381-3636. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Eastside Get-Together Report for January 16
JJ Johnston
The illustrious Eastside Get-Together chair, JJ Johnston, welcomed 29 attendees to this first gathering of 2014. He had the usual introduction/recognition of his “VIPs” attending (officers and committee chairs of the 4th Division and MMRs. He then gave an update on the distribution of the Christmas collection to the church. The monies were divided between two ladies in need of help with their rent and other expenses. He read thank you notes from each of them.
Announcements included David Yadock on the Pacific Science Center show this weekend and the continuing need for volunteers to help out with the unloading/loading at the beginning and end of the show plus relief for other volunteers during the show; Russ Segner on the upcoming PNR convention at the Tacoma LaQuinta hotel from June 18 – 21, get registered, select your tours, and work on those contest models; Roger Ferris on an upcoming giant sale of 12 estates, PFM collection and many of Jim Noonan’s cars and engines as well as his layout!
The “Model of the Month” had two entries: Russ Segner displaying several pieces of wood (for identification purposes) from the Snoqualmie museum (also part of his later presentation) and Di Voss displaying a bottle of “Bull Frog Snot” which he explained he was trying on one of his locomotives to get better traction (report next month). Russ ultimately “won” the “contest” (?).
After the usual break, Russ Segner did a presentation showing the reconstruction work being done on one of the passenger cars at the Snoqualmie museum. In this case it was a Barney and Smith Day Coach #210. He got interested in working on the reconstruction just prior to the National Narrow Gauge convention in 2012 after a visit to the museum He said there are about 8 volunteers working on the car on a regular basis but there’s a lot more restoration work to be done and the museum would be happy to welcome additional volunteers. Russ had a power point presentation with many photos to show indicating what the car looked like before restoration started and the progress since then. Unfortunately, the computer with the presentation and the projector did not want to cooperate with each other very well, so all the photos couldn’t be seen. Russ promises to redo the presentation at a later date. However, what was shown provided a great look at what can be done in restoring old equipment to usable condition.
Come join us February 20 for our next Get-Together with a special clinic to be presented by Lee Marsh of Issaquah discussing how he designed and built his fabulous GN Cascade Division layout. A photo of his layout recently appeared in “Trackside Photos” in Model Railroader magazine.
2014 Olympia Layout Tour Scheduled
Scott Buckley
Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, April 5 for the 11th Annual Olympia Model Railroad Layout Tour.
There will be at least ten layouts on the tour. Various scale and gauge combinations will be represented, including N, HO, On30 and 3/8n20. Some of the layouts have been featured in national publications and some have been on national convention tours. Most of the layouts are in various stages of construction, which will give you the opportunity to see each builder’s construction methods.
As with previous years, a few layouts will open early and a few will stay open late to give you the opportunity to see as many layouts as possible.
We hope you will take the opportunity to visit our layouts. As I say every year, there aren’t many chances to see so many layouts in one day without attending a convention.
Additional information will be provided in early March. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please contact Scott Buckley.