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The 4D Needs Your Help …With Inventory

Al Lowe

The 4D Board of Directors has tasked our Treasurer, Mike Donnelly, with building an inventory of everything the Division owns in order to identify what should be insured, what needs to be replaced when, and who is responsible for what. The 4D Board wants all clinic chairs, committee chairs, modular groups, and everyone else to assist by listing 4D-owned items in their care.

If you have, are responsible for, or know of, any items paid for by the Division, email a list of them to treasurer@4dpnr.com.

Questions? First, read the following guidelines. Then, if you’re still confused, ask Mike: treasurer@4dpnr.com.

4D Inventory Guidelines

  1. Include anything paid for by the 4th Division, except small quantities of consumable items (paper, stamps, pens, scenery material, ballast, etc)
    1. You can list these if you wish
    2. Use your own judgment for large quantities of consumables
  2. Include all items with a serial number or other unique identification
  3. Include anything you believe originally cost over $250 (either individually or collectively)
  4. Include as much information as possible: date acquired, purchase price, model number, serial number, etc. Lump multiple items when it makes sense, e.g., modular group carts or racks could be listed as “5 welded-steel, wheeled racks, approximate cost $1,200”
  5. Report minor items by saying what they are, how many, etc.
    1. Estimate high volume quantities
    2. Add details when sensible, e.g., model numbers for unique tools or special color-coded items
    3. Group multiple items, e.g., “1 tote bin of scenery materials” or “1 box of 50+ assorted C-clamps painted green”
  6. Include modular groups’ corner modules, yard modules, etc., if paid for by the 4D and include the names of those taking responsibility for each.

Mike Donnelly will compile this information into a master list before May 30, 2015. If you need more time, you can negotiate with Mike. The 4DNTRAK group and the PSC Chair have already provided data and the 4dNTRAK, Omni-Rail, HO, and Hi-Railer trailers are already listed.

For Sale: HO Scale Model Kits

Brian Pickering

I am reducing some of my stock of HO scale models which don’t fit into my current modeling theme. All of the following are new, in unopened original packages. I can arrange pickup or delivery on the Eastside within reason (the more you buy, the farther I’m willing to go!), or ship at cost. Prices are somewhat negotiable, but again, please remember these are all new, unbuilt, unopened, and I’m asking about half price each. Cash or check only, please. If questions, email me at bpickeri@gmail.com.

 

Pikestuff

Modern Small Enginehouse Kit

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/541-5000

Walthers $15.25, Asking $8.00

 

Walthers Cornerstone

Trackside Structures Kit

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3530

Walthers $37.98 (but on sale right now), Asking $19.00

4D Policy for Reimbursement of Expenses

Kurt Laidlaw

Your 4D Board of Directors approved this “Policy for Reimbursement of Expenses Groups Attending Events” at its February 21, 2015 meeting:

1. Requests for reimbursement must be turned into the 4D treasurer within 30 days of an event.

2. Travel reimbursement will be made at the current Federal non-profit reimbursement rate for the vehicle(s) towing the trailer(s) carrying 4D-owned equipment from its storage location to the show and back. If no parking is available at the event, multiple trips for the same event may be claimed.

3. 4D will also reimburse tolls for ferries and bridges for the vehicle(s) towing the group trailer(s).

4. 4D will not reimburse drivers of other vehicles attending a show without prior approval. (Group funds managed by 4D may be spent as desired by each modular group. Budget requests are for specific projects approved by the BOD as part of the budget process.)

If you have questions, feel free to contact the 4D’s treasurer, Mike Donnelly. His (and every other officer’s) address is on the 4D website’s Contact Us page.

Portland Meet ‘N March, Saturday, March 28

Al Lowe

The annual N scale Meet ‘N March swap meet will be held Saturday, March 28 in Portland, Oregon at the Valley Catholic High School, at the intersection of TV Hwy. and Murray Blvd., in Beaverton (on the west side of Portland). The show will open to the public at 10:00 a.m. and will feature three N scale layouts, vendors selling N scale model railroad products, and clinics for intermediate to advanced modelers.

If you attended in the past and thought the old warehouse where it was held was too cold, it has been moved to a school (with actual heat).

Free!

Al Lowe

Remember: one of the benefits of NMRA membership and especially membership in the 4th Division, you receive free advertising in the Digital Grab Iron for any model railroad items you want (or want to get rid of).

And, unlike old-fashioned classified ads, there’s no limit to word count or number of photographs. You can even provide links to your website, to photo sharing sites, or even YouTube videos!

Plus, you know that your audience is 100% fellow model railroaders!

So, once you’re organized, send your information either to me or to Cliff Green and we’ll post it for you.

Day Out With Thomas® tickets available March 2

Peggy Barchi, NRM Marketing/Events Manager

Thomas2015The Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA will host the Thomas the Tank Engine “Day Out With Thomas® Celebration Tour” on July 10-12 and 18-19, 2015. Families across the Northwest are invited aboard!

Little engineers everywhere are invited to join this fun-filled event that offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends® series. Children will also meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway and enjoy a day of Thomas-themed activities including arts and crafts, storytelling and more. Their local appearance is part of a 42-stop tour across North America and is expected to host a million passengers!

This year, Thomas & Friends celebrates 70 years of friendship as the #1 blue engine celebrates friendship with fans around the world.

Enjoy a 25-minute ride with Thomas the Tank Engine. Hear Thomas greet his fans. Meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway. Enjoy a Thomas & Friends Imagination Station, featuring stamps, temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, coloring sheets, storytelling, videos, live music and more!

July 10-12 and 18-19, 2015, from 9:00 am through 5:15 pm at 38625 SE King St, in Snoqualmie, WA. Tickets go on sale March 2 at Ticketweb, 866-468-7630 or at www.TrainMuseum.org. Prices for ages 2 and up are $23 on Friday, July 10 and $25 the other days (plus tax, service charges and fees).

For more information, contact the NorthwestRailwayMuseum, 425-888-3030 or www.Trainmuseum.org. For information on Thomas & Friends, visit www.thomasandfriends.com. Follow Thomas & Friends on Facebook @thomasandfriends and on Twitter @ThomasParent.  #DOWT  #ThomasObsessed

David Yadock featured in NMRA Magazine

Al Lowe

Grab your copy of the latest issue of the national NMRA Magazine, check out the cover, and then turn to page 34 to read 4D member David Yadock‘s feature article, “The Sky’s the Limit.” It has many construction photos by David’s wife, Wendy, and some spectacular scenery photos by Paul Gornitzka.

Congratulations, David, on a beautiful cover and article!

Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany

Al Lowe

Last year, I was lucky to spend a day at Miniatur Wunderland, one of the world’s great model railroads in Hamburg, Germany. This for-profit operation, which appears to be quite successful, was filled with people at €12 each (about $15). Unfortunate, I learned after I arrived that I could have taken a “backstage” tour. Remember that for when you visit!

I edited my hours of footage down to less than 20 minutes to make this brief video. (Be sure to click the “full screen” button in the lower-right corner to watch in high-definition.)

Roger Nulton published in NMRA Magazine

Robert L. Grove

The November 2014 NMRA Magazine has a beautifully-done article on “Modeling an Autumn Forest Background” on Roger Nulton’s exceptionally well-detailed S scale Monon Railroad. Pages 28–35 show the development of an Indiana fall scene. Roger also practices 1:1 scale detail work on the DuPont Railroad restoration at the Snoqualmie Museum, led by Russ Segner.

Well done, Roger!

Cliff Green to Edit Grab Iron

Al Lowe

After serving as your Grab Iron editor for the past ten years and webmaster for eleven, it’s time for me to move on and let some younger blood bring in fresh ideas.

Cliff Green

Cliff Green

I’m pleased to report that Cliff Green has agreed to be our new young blood. Cliff is a professional computer programmer and is well versed in current technology. I know he will continue to keep the 4D in the forefront of model railroad communications. Cliff has worked on the Grab Iron for over eight years; he’s the perfect man to take over this position.

Twelve years ago, we were one of the few Divisions to even have a website, but our member communication was strictly one-way. Each month, 12 paper pages arrived in members’ mailboxes, containing information up to six weeks out-of-date.

One of our first changes was to offer the Grab Iron in PDF format, emailed immediately upon publication, weeks before paper copies arrived in the mail, while saving the Division the costs of printing, addressing, and mailing. We also implemented a Division YahooGroup for email communications. But our biggest step was four years ago when Doug Bulger and I eliminated paper entirely with the Digital Grab Iron. Now, our news is disseminated instantly. Doug has agreed to stay on as the 4D’s official photographer.

I plan to stay on, too, as long as it takes to provide a smooth transition. So you may continue to email your articles (and website problems) to me or send them directly to Cliff at cliffg@codewrangler.net.

And the next time you see Cliff, give him a hearty “Thank You” for stepping up to serve the Division in this important way.