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Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society Meeting this Saturday

Written by Al Lowe
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David Yadock

There will be a meeting of the PRRT&HS this Saturday, July 21 at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien, 425 SW 153rd St. For directions, see www.pnrarchive.org. The meeting starts at 12:30 PM, but the building will be open earlier.

This meeting will be a little different format. It will be about anthracite coal. It will be a group format and, anyone with information about this type of coal, its production, use, or other information with regards to the PRR, will be welcome to present. It will be very informal, so don’t be shy. The Pennsylvania Railroad was at one time the world’s largest coal hauler, so just what were they and others doing with all that coal? Come to the meeting and find out. If you have information come and enlighten the rest of the group.

There will be a movie about the anthracite hauling railroads which should be very interesting. As always, we even welcome New York Central fans!

After the meeting there is a no host dinner at a local restaurant.

Railroad History

The Footplate for June 2018

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

Chuck Ricketts at the Spring Meet

Summer is here – put away the umbrellas and galoshes! It’s time to get outdoors and do some railfanning, ride a train, or visit one of our historic rail sites. I’m heading for Colorado again to ride the Cumbres & Toltec. Some are heading to Train Mountain in Oregon, others may head to Sacramento to the California Railroad Museum. Some will stay local and take the kids or grandkids to visit Thomas at Snoqualmie. In any event, get out there and check out some new rail location.

Make & Take Clinic

June has been a very busy month. The PNR meetings in Portland drew many of us to Jantzen Beach for some great clinics and layout visits. It was a chance to meet many of our fellow modelers from all over the Northwest. Jim Fugate, publisher of Model Railroader Hobbyist, was there demonstrating LokSound decoders and a really nifty control unit that emulates the control stand of the modern diesel engine.

The Pacific Northwest Region is one of the very best and most active regions in the entire NMRA. Your own Fourth Division is strong and very active. We just completed our Spring Meet in Redmond which was well organized and executed by Al Lowe and clinicians Alex Brikoff, Larry Sloan, Byron Osborn, MMR Bill Messecar, MMR Didrik Voss, MMR Max Maginness and MMR Chuck Ricketts. MMR Jack Hamilton, conducted a well-received Make and Take clinic building wood trestles. Make a point to attend in 2019!

Your Fourth Division is beginning a major effort to establish additional modular groups, at least one for HOn3 and possibly a Free-Mo HO group. Another group will begin building museum-quality dioramas to display at shows.

So, you have all summer to experience real trains, locally or around the world. Take lots of pictures and come back this fall prepared to share and perhaps present a clinic on what you have modeled or experienced. As a favorite beer commercial says: “One life right, don’t blow it. Mahalo!”

Convention or Meet, Superintendent’s Message

New Grab Iron Editor Needed

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner

Cliff Green has indicated he cannot continue as Grab Iron editor.  So, this is an opportunity for someone to step up and play a key role in communication with our members.

The position requires skills in working with our website which uses WordPress.  It also requires writing skills and a willingness to be proactive in contacting members who write articles and share news helpful to 4D members.  Currently, we publish news and articles as received from members and the groups such as local clinics and modular clubs.  A monthly newsletter is also an option.

If you are interested, please call me, Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent at 206 200 2211.

Superintendent’s Message

It’s time for the 4D Annual Budget

Written by Al Lowe
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Mike Donnelly

The next Board of Directors meeting, currently scheduled for June 24, 2017, will be our annual budget meeting.  All groups requesting funds from the Fourth Division for Fiscal Year 2017–2018 should submit their requests in writing to the 4D Treasurer no later than June 10 to be considered for the proposed budget.  As appropriate, break the requests into three categories: Operations and Maintenance, Capital Expenses, and Mileage

As usual, please include a brief explanation of how you will use the funds and a list of shows your group plans to attend.

Requests must be submitted in writing either by U.S. Mail to the 4D P.O. box or by email to treasurer @4dpnr.com.

News, Superintendent’s Message

Golden Grab Iron Service Award 2017

Written by Al Lowe
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by Jim Sabol

Click for larger image

Greg Wright accepts the Golden Grab Iron Service Award for 2017 from previous recipients Jim Younkins, left, and Jim Sabol, right.

The Golden Grab Iron Service Award is given each year to a member of the 4th Division, Pacific Northwest Region, National Model Railroad Association, who exemplifies extraordinary service to the members of the organization. For 2017 the selection committee, comprised of the immediate past three honorees, has chosen Greg Wright for his outstanding longtime contributions.

It is not difficult to find Greg Wright. Just look for a great modeler with a family railroad heritage. Greg’s father and grandfather were SP&S and NP railroaders who sometimes took Greg along when they went to work. To find Greg as a child, just look for a little guy getting to know model trains with a Lionel set and Marx cars. To find Greg as a young man, look for a youngster getting into serious modeling with his HO and HOn3 layout. Then, look for Greg taking the brave leap into the realm of 1:32 large scale modeling with uniquely improvised locomotives and scratch built structures that tower over your head on the Consolidated Republic Mining Company narrow gauge railroad. To find Greg Wright these days, just look for the popular Olympia clinics that Greg helps plan as well as chair each month and at which he sometimes shares his own skills and models. Check out the PNR and NMRA convention schedules to find Greg on their programs sharing his clinics with a wider audience. To find Greg, just look to the annual Olympia OlyOps operating sessions that attract modelers from all over the region to benefit the Thurston County Food Bank. Look for Greg helping the active Whidbey Island crew put on their annual Whidbey op sessions. And don’t overlook Greg helping organize the annual G.O.P.H.E.R.S. outing to help modelers understand more of our prototype heritage. Then check out Greg in the layout room of a modeler having trouble with his wiring or DCC throttle. There you’ll find Greg with his sleeves rolled up, sharing his knowledge to help a fellow modeler.

So, if you’re searching for Greg Wright, just look for the guy in front of a group giving a clinic, look for the guy meeting with a committee to plan the Olympia clinics or prototype field trip. Check out the guy at his computer preparing the schedules for OlyOps. See who’s the willing helper working on a friend’s layout: that’s where you’ll find Greg Wright generously and cheerfully giving of his time and talents to spread the joy of model railroading in whatever your scale or wherever you reside in the 4th Division.

Superintendent’s Message

Pennsy Technical & Historical Society to meet July 16

Written by Al Lowe
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David Yadock

prrherald1

The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society (Pacific Northwest Chapter) will meet July 16th at 12:30 p.m. at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien. Click here to see event information, including a map to the PNRA.

Anyone who is interested in the Pennsylvania Railroad or would like to learn more about the Pennsy, please come. The meeting consists of informative clinics followed by dinner at Vince’s restaurant. We are a newly chartered group of the PRRT&HS for the Pacific Northwest area. All are welcome.

Convention or Meet, Railroad History

2016 4D Election Results

Written by Al Lowe
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Al Lowe

On May 8, 2016 at 1:30 p.m., the 4D Ballot Committee (Bill Messecar, Burr Stewart and Al Lowe) met at Al’s home. We confirmed that each ballot received was from a valid 4D member in good standing, remained sealed until we took possession, and was submitted to us before the May 1 deadline.

The results of our count are:

Total Ballots                 143
Invalid Ballots                  0

Superintendent:
Russ Segner                  139
Write-in votes                  0

Board of Directors:
David Yadock                74
Scott Taylor                   69

Congratulations to Russ and David and our thanks to Scott and all of our 4D members who took the time and spent the effort to exercise their voting privilege.

Respectfully submitted and attested to by:
Al Lowe
William Messecar
Burr Stewart

News

Return your 4D Ballot

Written by Al Lowe
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Al Lowe

You should have received in the U.S. mail your ballot for the 4D’s current election. Before you forget, vote and then follow the instructions on the ballot to return it to your Elections Committee.

We’ve received many ballots already, but we want your vote, too!

The deadline is May 1.

News