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Skagit Valley & Whidbey Clinic Feb 13th

Written by Al Lowe
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Allen Frasch

The Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA Clinic presents a great clinic this month on February 13th: “How to Model Roads and Streets” by world-famous modeler, Al Carter. Just kidding about being world-famous (unless you count YahooGroups), but he does present a good clinic about roads and streets.

We will meet at the usual place, Summer Hill Retirement facility, OakHarbor, at 7:00 pm. Please email afrasch@whidbey.com if you need directions.

Read our PDF Newsletters here.

If you would like to receive these newsletters via email every month, email afrasch@whidbey.com.

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

IHX-2013 Layout Tours & Op Sessions

Written by Al Lowe
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Bob Osborn

IHX-2013 has a great lineup of model railroad layouts for touring and operations. We currently have nearly 50 layouts lined up, in scales from N to G.

We will have all the famous local layouts published in the model railroad press open for your viewing. Plus, we will have many new layouts never before open for touring.

Model railroads that you love to visit – like Jack Burgess’ famous Yosemite Valley Railroad, Jim Diaz’s Western Pacific Railroad, Otis McGee’s Southern Pacific and Dave Parks’ Western Maryland/B&O will reopen. New layouts include Mike Coen’s Western Pacific Oregon Division and the Carquinez Model Railroad Club layout. There will be layouts in all scales and for all interests.

As usual, at least a dozen layouts will open for operating sessions. Operators of all levels are welcome, from the first-timers to experienced. Everyone is invited to operate. If you’re new to operations, there will be mentors available.

There will be model railroad layouts in various stages of completion, to provide you with great ideas. Sign up today at http://www.pcrnmra.org/conv2013. See you at IHX-2013!

Layout Tour, Operations

FastTracks treats its customers well

Written by Al Lowe
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Ted Becker

I ordered some filing jigs and track gauges from FastTracks in Canada back in November. I waited patiently until the middle of December, but no package arrived. Tracking info said it was delivered on Dec 8.

I contacted FastTracks and the Post Office and eventually FastTracks sent a replacement order. It arrived yesterday, the same day I received an email from FastTracks announcing that one of the items I received was now on sale.

When I sent them an email acknowledging the receipt of the package, I lamented the fact that the item was now on sale. They credited me the difference in price!!!

I pass this on to spread the word about another model railroad company that treats its customers right.

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NMRA InfoNet News for January

Written by Al Lowe
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Gerry Leone, (soon to be former) NMRA Communications Director

The tour of the new, highly-restricted Chinese High Speed Rail Facilities which Hasea.com, our NMRA counterpart in China, was going to schedule for the NMRA representatives has been temporarily cancelled, with hope of rescheduling later in the year.

The Winter Board of Directors Meeting will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Sheraton Suites Galleria-Atlanta, February 8-10. Although the Board meets in a closed caucus the evening of February 8, the general meeting on February 9-10 is open to all NMRA members. This year’s meeting has a jam-packed agenda, including discussions about the eBulletin, an electronic newsletter meant to supplement NMRA Magazine. Also, because our membership has dropped from 19,500 to 18,800 in one year, the Board will discuss ways to attract new members. A task force which has studied the challenges of attracting Generation X, Generation Y, and Millennials will be making a report at the meeting.

The Board is reviewing bids for upcoming conventions.Indianapolis has thrown its hat in the ring for the 2016 convention, andSydney,Australia, andOrlando,FL, may be vying for the 2017 convention. No decision has been made on either convention.

The NMRA continues to receive donations for “The Magic of Scale Model Railroading” exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum. While we haven’t yet hit our goal of $250,000, we’re getting closer every day. When we do, we will trigger a matching donation from an anonymous donor. If you, your Division or Region, have questions about the exhibit, contact Howell Day Museum Committee Chairman Allen Pollock at 573-619-8532. You can contribute via the web by visiting www.nmra.org and clicking on the Donation link, near the top of the homepage.

As I mentioned last month, I’ve turned in my resignation as Communications Director as of the Winter Board meeting next month. It’s been a fun run and I’ve enjoyed it. I don’t exactly know what the fate of these InfoNet News eblasts will be beyond this issue – that will be up to my successor. So if you, or anyone you know, would like to apply for the position, please contact President Charlie Getz at charliegetz@yahoo.com.

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Olympia Clinic Gains Calories and Knowledge

Written by Al Lowe
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Jim Sabol / Photos by Jim Sabol

Twenty-three hungry but happy members of the Olympia G.O.P.H.E.R.S. (Greater Olympia Prototype History & Engineering Research Society) gathered for an evening dinner meeting at Ranblin’ Jack’s restaurant on January 18.

The Olympia clinic has a January tradition of hosting a prototype railroader or prototype-themed presentation. January’s meeting was another winner.

Jim Younkins, Ted Eggleston, and Brian Ferris watch Dr. Jim and Carol Hannum autograph books.

Dr. James Hannum, M.D., author of Abandoned Railroads of Thurston County and South Puget Sound Railroad Mania (among others) entertained us with a PowerPoint presentation of obscure and long-gone rail lines in the South Sound. “Wow! I never knew that existed,” was a frequent comment from modelers upon learning that a long-gone logging railroad ran past their house. The beauty of Dr. Hannum’s books (published by Minuteman Press) is that they are so well documented, with maps and illustrations by Carol Hannum, that an interested railfan can drive right to the site to scope it out. “It’s a muracle,” said Ted Eggleston!

Up next month: Brian Ferris on Layout Design for Operation. 7:30 p.m., February 15, at the home of Chuck Ricketts.

Olympia Clinic

Dave Woodrell to speak at Eastside Clinic

Written by Al Lowe
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JJ Johnston

Please plan to attend our first 2013 meeting at 7:30 pm, next Thursday, January 17. Our special keynote speaker for the evening will be Dave Woodrell, longtime modeler and narrow gauge celebrity whose layout has been featured many times in print and video. You may recall Dave presented a scenery clinic previously to our group.

Dave will be presenting his wonderful eulogy on the life and times of the late Brian Ellerby, a renowned modeler and owner of Evergreen Styrene. Dave’s fabulous slide presentation was given to standing room only crowds at the recent narrow gauge convention. You won’t want to miss this significant part of our local modeling history on an amazing individual who touched the world with his contribution to our hobby.

Of course we will have the usual array of party favors, particularly door prizes from Steve Depolo, Inside Gateway; model of the month; stuff for sale and donuts with coffee. Also a report on our Christmas Fund recipients. See you there.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Mapping info needed

Written by Al Lowe
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CJ Riley

My friend Bill Metzger does the rail maps for Klambake. His current project is the Seattle/Tacoma area. He could use some help with data from any era regarding routes, names of yards and junctions, interurbans, etc. He has a month to wrap up. Anyone with info they can share can email me.

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Eastside Get-Together December Report

Written by Al Lowe
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JJ Johnston

There were about 40 attendees at 2012’s last Get-Together. As usual, JJ Johnston welcomed everyone to the meeting. Frank Dekker reminded us that the Pacific Science Center Show over Martin Luther King weekend, January 19 – 21, 2013, is less than a month away and, as usual, help is needed Friday night for move-in and Monday night during load-out. There is always the need during the show for help, as well, relieving people at the various exhibits to give them breaks. Jeff Moorman, the co-chair, is still working on the exhibit layouts since Building 4 will not be available due to the King Tut exhibit. If you can help, let Frank know at rekkedrails@juno.com. He would appreciate being contacted! Frank also mentioned that he was giving up his position as co-chair of the show. He and his wife are looking at a vacation home inMichigan for more time visiting with grand-children.

JJ thanked everyone who donated to our Christmas fund to our host church and passed the hat once more for anyone who didn’t get the chance at the last meeting or wanted to add more. The money will be used to help several church members in need this Christmas. The final total of monies donated was $714! JJ will report more information on the two families selected for financial assistance at our January meeting. Thanks to all!

The Model of the Month had several entries and was won by David Yadock for his Interlocking Tower built from an old Campbell kit.

After the usual break, JJ outlined the rules(?) for the Dirty Santa gift exchange. A number of items changed ownership during the evening as one person decided the gift someone else had was better than taking a chance on selecting their own from the table! At the end of the evening, everyone seemed satisfied with their gift and, wishing everybody Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, the last 2012 Get-together came to an end.

Please reserve Thursday, January 17 for our next meeting, featuring Dave Woodrell presenting his fabulous eulogy regarding the life and times of legendary modeler and Evergreen Styrene owner Brian Ellerby. Dave gave this eulogy to a standing-room-only crowd at the recent National Narrow Gauge Convention. Don’t miss it!

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

10th Annual Olympia Model Railroad Layout Tour announced

Written by Al Lowe
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Scott Buckley

Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, March 2nd, as this is the date of the 10th Annual Olympia Model Railroad Layout Tour.

There will be at least eight 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 visitors an opportunity to see each builder’s construction methods.

As with previous years, a few of the layouts will be open early, while a few will stay open later; which will give visitors the opportunity to see as many layouts as possible.

We hope that you will take the opportunity to visit our layouts. As I say every year, there aren’t many chances to see these many layouts at one time without spending the money to attend a convention.

Additional information will be provided in late January. In the meantime, please email me if you have any questions.

Layout Tour, Olympia Clinic

4D Discount on IMAX Film

Written by Al Lowe
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Frank Dekker

4D members will save $2 per ticket on the exciting Rocky Mountain Express IMAX film, now playing at Pacific Science Center’s Boeing IMAX® Theater.

Rocky Mountain Express propels audiences on an exhilarating journey of a lifetime deep into theRockies along steep cliff edges, spiraling tunnels and through some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes on Earth, while revealing the heroic human drama and epic engineering involved in shaping a nearly impossible transcontinental railway link.

It’s a great holiday film for the whole family and a perfect addition to the 39th Annual Model Railroad Show! Offer valid for tickets purchased at PSC with the code “GAP-I$2NRS”. Valid through January 21, 2013.

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