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Maple Valley Train Show – Hi-Railer’s Wrap Up

By Ed Ives

The Hi-Railers attended the 26th annual Maple Valley Train Show. This show is a not for profit event and any excess monies will be used for those in need within the district.

Set up for us started about noon on Friday October 18th. This is not the easiest venue for set up and tear down as all equipment must be carried in and out through one set of doors. Nevertheless we got our 24 modules in place in short order thanks in large part for the plea for help from within the group. So great was the help that the layout was assembled, running and the scenery complete within 2 1/2 hours, a far cry from some of our 7 hour exercises.  A few of us remained as guardians of the layout and running trains for an exercise, while other groups moved in.

The show ran from 10 am until 5 pm on the Saturday and 10 am until 4 pm on Sunday with about 300 attendees per day, or about a usual number for this event. The public were generally enthused with our efforts. 

Garrett, always one for pushing the limits, at one time had three trains running concurrently on the outer track, all controlled with his smartphone and without a hiccup, that is until he switched out one locomotive for a Pennsylvania centipede, with the whole consist drawing in excess of 200VA and triggering the circuit breaker on our power supply. It’s been a while since we last did such a thing. Other than that this exercise showed that one had to be quick and agile, something that we are not noted for, in entering or leaving the layout through the personnel bridge as there was always the train either on the bridge or approaching the bridge. Garrett was a real asset over the weekend with his participation and the public enjoying his multi train operation.

Toby, a potential new (younger) member brought his candy train complete with candy. The train would slow as it approached  children, and some adults, so that they might sample some of the delights. The children were very respectful of the train taking one candy at a time with no derailments or other accidents. Touching the trains is not something that we usually encourage but this was different and quickly became quite popular with children and adults alike.

Teardown on Sunday went at quite a fast pace and low and behold we were packed and ready to leave in one hour or as Wayne said, 58 minutes, a far cry of four hours in the past. We left the HO modular group and the N-trak modular group in our dust.

Ed

Hi-Railer’s Attendance at the 2024 Lynden Train Show

By Ed Ives

This year was the 39th running of the Lynden Train Show with the Hi-Rail modular group participating in this event since the last years of the last century and have witnessed this show grow from strength to strength. The organizers of the show are very welcoming and accommodating.

Our reservations for this show were made many weeks ago on the assumption that something new and different would be created for our layout, whereas it turns out no such a thing took place. Ah well, that’s the way it goes. Anyhow on arrival at the show we were given as requested a space of 25′ x 33′, a bit wider and a bit shorter than was expected. This is the danger of not keeping a copy of the reservation form.  After a bit of fiddling around we settled on a 4 x 6 module layout and this rapidly came together. A quick piece of track cleaning with Scotch Brite and all worked well. 

Running on Saturday and Sunday went well with no trains on the floor, one or two derailments and lots of interaction with the public. We did have one incident that was unique, to this writer at least, a train was running down the track rapidly coming to a stop, reversed for about five inches and then went forwards for about five inches again before reversing again. It repeated this dance and we wondered what the heck was happening?, while contemplating what exotic electrical failure we had. On going over to look at this erant locomotive we noted that a traction tire had come off and got hooked onto one of Gordons French barrier crossings. The traction tire was acting as a rubber spring being stretched and then relaxed. The erant locomotive was replaced for the engineer to effect a tire replacement job. 

Gordon Sandell has produced a very nice overlay for one of the corners, an English theme (and why not) with hedges and fences and a degree of false perspective. Very well done.

Jack Klapwyk has added more to his modules with at least an automobile dealership complete with a 1958 Plymounth on a turntable on the roof. It reminded this writer of his first American car, a similar Plymouth station wagon, two speed push button transmission and no power steering and no power brakes. You had to drive the thing with care. Ah, what times, an old car and a young wife and a new country to live in. Anyhow, well done Jack.

In the event we, or our display, received two awards over the weekend, 2nd place Best Layout and 2nd place People’s Choice Award.

Teardown and packout was completed in 1hr 50 min, an excellent time and a big thanks to Mike Holder who came up to help with the teardown. An excellent weekend indeed.

Ed

Burien Electric Train Shop Article

By Bob Rorabaugh

In case you missed it, on June 9, 2024, the Pacific NW Magazine published a 3-page article about the Burien Electric Train Shop, with photo of owner Scott Law and 5 other photos of customers and store shelves full of trains! Here is the link to the article:

https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/buriens-electric-train-shop-is-a-model-destination-for-enthusiasts

I wrote to the magazine suggesting that a follow-up series could be some of the world class layouts in the area, that the hobby is tens of thousands modelers strong, etc. Perhaps a few other Grab Iron readers could lend a voice.

Bob

O Scale Buildings Available

By Fred Kaser

I am tearing down my On2 layout due to health reasons. I have been working
on this for 40 some years and have a variety of structures that range from
scratch built to laser cut kits.

Outhouses, wood truss bridges, large and small industries, stations and town
business flats and full size buildings. Era is post WWI. Approximately 50
structures of various types. I would like to donate these to someone if I
can before they become dumpster fodder. Attached are some images of a few of
the structures.

Contact: Fred Kaser
Phone 503-949-5340
Email: fkaser@onlinenw.com

Fred Hamilton Passing

Fred Hamilton an NMRA life member for over 50 years died August 1, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. He was 82 years old.

Fred served on the advertising sales staff of Trains and Model Railroader magazines for 25 years. After that, he was general manager of NorthWest Short Line for several years.

He was a Trustee and President of the Model Railroad Industry Association, and later served as its Executive Director. He was a founding Director of the Narrow Gauge Trust Fund and the Narrow Gauge Preservation Foundation.

An avid and talented On3 modeler, Fred knew everyone in the model railroad industry.

Fred piloted Air Force C-141 Starlifters during the Vietnam conflict. Friends who served in country told me his cargo often – or, perhaps, always – included fallen soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Now he rests in peace with the heroes he brought home.

Ed Liesse Passing

By Bill Messecar

Dave Liesse wanted to let you all know, his dad (Ed Liesse) passed away earlier this week. He died of degenerative disease of the nervous system with adverse effects from a fall at the end October. No services of any sort are planned, but if that changes, I’ll let you know.  This was expected, and they’ve essentially been without him for several months anyway, so there’s no great change to their routine and they’re all doing fine.  It truly is a good thing all around.

We have lost a wonderful friend and fellow modeler in Ed. He and his wife Gay and his sons have been very active in the NMRA and 4th Division for many years. Ed ran all the inside activities at the last Seattle NMRA national convention in July 2004 and I had the pleasure of working closely with him at that convention managing the clinics. Ed received many awards for his service from the 4th Division, PNR and the NMRA. Condolences to Ed’s family in their loss of a wonderful man and role model.

Bill Messecar
4D Superintendent

Ed Liesse, 2004

2024 Spring Meet Report

By Bill Messecar, Photos By John Thompson

Weeks of planning between two 4D Board members, Kurt Laidlaw and Bob Kenworthy and the staff at the NW Railroad Museum near Snoqualmie culminated in a day 4D attendees won’t forget. It started with a train ride from the old NP depot at North Bend to the museum in beautiful spring weather. We divided into groups to attend a clinic given by Greg Wright MMR, a tour of the museum Lionel and HO layouts and a behind the scenes visit to the museum restoration shop where we saw several engines/carts being restored. The museum staff also discussed their archives of equipment blueprints and drawings. There were two more opportunities for a layout or shop visit or attend Burr Stewart’s enjoyable clinics on videography of his layout and sage advice on achieving your goals in layout building. Burr has his own YouTube channel so you can check out those great videos.

At noon we then took a 30-minute lunch break to enjoy drinks and a delicious box lunch. Bill Messecar 4D Superintendent led the 4D Annual Meeting where he introduced the 4D Superintendent elect Mike Stepner as well as the current 4D BOD members. After the meeting we had a chance to explore the many museum exhibits and then boarded our train for the return journey to North Bend. To complete a great day of Model Railroading we had the opportunity to see four excellent layouts in the area.

If you were not able to make the spring meet this year—be sure to attend in 2025. It’s a great opportunity to meet local modelers and have a train filled day. This sort of event is one of the many benefits offered for your NMRA membership. Hope to see you next year.

Bill
4D Superintendent