Click here to read the February 2024 issue of The Skagit Valley & Whidbey Clinic Newsletter.
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Author: Anton Faulk
Hi-Railer’s Ridgefield Show Report
By Ed Ives
It’s not often that you can say that model railroading is possibly life threatening and at the very least challenging. After spending a week studying the weather forecasts we decided to go ahead for the GTS Ridgefield train show. The Friday trip down I-5 was the best in a long long time, almost pleasant with a dry highway, little traffic and snow plows looking for work but none to be had.
We arrived at the venue with two hours to spare and we were greeted with news that the site map had to change due to cancellations and the new map was not ready. Eventually we were relocated to the middle of the hall and with that location it was desirable to build our layout in the mirror image of that originally intended or as best that we could. We pre-set the height of the individual modules to 36″ as over the years they were all over the show making it difficult to level the layout. It all went together quite well and trains were running by the time we left for our hotel five miles to the south in Vancouver Wa.
Saturday dawned with snow falling and we arrived at the venue by 8:00 am to complete the layout by hanging the drapes and completing the scenery. We had trains running at true three rail 0 gauge speed by the time the show opened. Surprisingly for me at least, there was a steady stream of public, not crowds, coming through the doors for most of the day while the snow continued to fall.
By the end of the day the parking lot was deep in snow, up to the wheel centers in our car, or so the snow had drifted. All the restaurants local to our hotel were closed but Fred Meyer was open with the offering of fried chicken and more fried chicken.
On Sunday the public were a bit slower coming into the venue but the numbers built up during the day. The trains however ran quite well and with no trains on the floor which is always good. Soon it was time to tear down and pack out with the big question, for me at least, dare I attempt the trek home that night or wait until the morning. A quick check of the highway led me to believe that the best action would be to stay another night in the hotel and make an early morning run north. The snow had stopped but there was plenty of it on the highway and was not conducive to pulling a trailer.
Monday morning once north of milepost 30 found the highway in excellent condition, air temperature about 15 degrees, light traffic moving at about 60 mph. There was just one stretch of fog to deal with but I made it home in three hours.
On the lighter side, for me at least, my wife had gone to the grocery store that morning and on arriving there found that the car doors had frozen shut and she could not get out of the car. She had earlier defrosted the doors with hot water and now paid the penalty. Not to waste the exercise she stopped at the side of the road to play Poke Mon Go just as I drove past. On pulling up at the house she followed and I was able to free her from her icy cage. My timing was excellent and I got an attaboy for that.
Ed
Manager of Donations
By William Messecar
The 4th Division of the NMRA based in Western Washington and Alaska is looking for a volunteer to serve as Manager of Donations. The 4th Division occasionally receives donations of model railroading supplies/books and products from individuals and families looking to clear out surplus or estate items.
We need an individual in the Puget Sound area who would evaluate items offered and accept those items which can be resold for use by 4D and provide our IRS 501-C3 information (tax deductible group). Donated items would then be offered for sale at swap meets or online and the raised funds used for the benefit of 4D. The manager would be able to evaluate proposed donations, store a limited amount of such items and price, sell and ship such items. If you love going to swap meets this is the job for you.
Please apply to the 4D Division Superintendent William Messecar if interested.
Call For Monroe Train Show Volunteers
By Russ Segner
The annual Monroe Train Show is February 24th and 25th. The 4D will have three tables to show and sell many items donated to 4D by estates and collections of members and others interested in promoting model railroading.
The 4D had benefited substantially from these sales. I am looking for some help from members to set up the displays and provide help in the sales both Saturday and Sunday. If you can help, please contact me this week to set a time you can help. It will be greatly appreciated.
Russ
206 200 2211
PCR 2024 Convention Early Bird Registration
By Russ Segner
The great Early Bird convention rate will expire on January 15th, register now to not miss this offer. The 2024 PCR Convention will be hosted by the Coast Division at the Sonesta San Jose Hotel from April 24-28, 2024. The Sonesta is ideally located for great layout tours, prototype visits, and other activities. The hotel has great convention facilities, enabling a vendor and swap meet.
To encourage members to register early, we are offering two prizes in a give-away drawing for all in-person attendees registered by January 15th. Register now so you do not miss out!
Early Bird Give-Away
All PCR 2024 attendees that have registered by midnight on January15th will be eligible for a drawing for two great prizes.
Prize 1 – Free Upgrade to a Sonesta Suite for up to 4 Nights
This prize will let the winner upgrade their room from the normal $139/night hotel room to a suite. This will be valid for up to four ($) nights during the convention. Win and you can not only sleep in style, but have a party with your friends in your suite!
Prize 2 – $50 Gift Certificate
This prize is a $50 gift certificate that can be used to purchase any item in in the Vendor, Swap Meet or PCR Consignment Depot. The prize will be in the form of 10 – $5 certificates that can be used with any of the vendors or swap meet sellers.
Russ
Mount Vernon December 2023 Clinic Report
Click here to read the Mt. Vernon Clinic Report for December 2023.
Call for Clinicians – Surrey Excursion 2024 PNR Convention
By Bill Messecar
Hello members of the 4th Division—my name is William Messecar the Superintendent of 4D, and I am planning to attend the 2024 PNR convention next year in Surrey, BC.
The PNR convention Surrey Excursion 2024 is the annual convention of the Pacific Northwest Region of the NMRA. This year the 7th Division of the PNR is hosting the convention in lieu of the Railway Modelers Meet of BC. The Convention will take place May 22nd to 26th, 2024 and will have clinics, layout tours, operating sessions, displays and much more.
The 7th Division is looking for clinicians as speakers at next year’s convention. Marc Simpson is the Clinic Coordinator for the upcoming 2024 Surrey Excursion PNR Regional Convention. They have had an excellent response to their request for clinicians, however they wanted to spread the word that they are looking for clinicians for the program. They are looking for a broad range of topics that will appeal to convention attendees. Whether you are an experienced presenter or a new clinician, it doesn’t matter. All you need is an interesting topic that clinicians are interested in sharing with others.
In addition to the regular clinics, we are looking for people interested in presenting a tabletop clinic. This is a shorter time frame, more hands-on type of presentation for those who don’t want to prepare a full clinic presentation. Any assistance in making the Surrey Excursion clinic program a “can’t miss” event is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact Marc Simpson, his contact information is listed below.
Marc Simpson
surreyexcursionclinics@gmail.com
Surrey Excursion Clinic Coordinator
Bill
Carpool to Bellingham’s 3 Open House Layouts?
By Bob Rorabaugh
If there’s anyone out there who would like to carpool to Bellingham on Saturday, November the 4th, contact Bob Rorabaugh (Bothell & I-405), at 206-948-9511. The three layouts are:
- Dale Bearden/Karl Kleeman, On30, Prototype of Main 2-foot, Alger Church, 1475 Silver Run Lane, Bellingham
- BK Blackketter, On30, White Pass, Alaska, 4918 Columbus Av, Bellingham
- Alex Coleman, On30, based on Colorado D&RGW (726′ of track, 67 turnouts, two levels), 4357 King Mountain Rd, Bellingham.
I will leave the Canyon Park area of I-405 about 8:30 a.m., and return back to Bothell, ETA, 4:00 p.m. My email is: rorabaugh@msn.com
Bob
Hi-Railer’s Attended the Longview, Kelso & Rainier Model Railroad Club Fall Swap Meet & Train Show
By Ed Ives
Well that was a mouthful, forever now to be known as the Kelso show.
This, the fall show, was a one day affair and not our preferred event, spending as much time setting up and tearing down as the actual show itself. Our reasoning for attending this time was to assess the event and the facilities as to whether we might attend their two day show next May.
The show was held in Kelso’s Three Rivers Mall, in the former Macy’s store, providing ample space, lighting and flat and level flooring. The organizers were very helpful and saw to it that we were in need of nothing for the show. To be honest, the show was more of a very good swapmeet than a train show with few layouts but plenty of space for more. The 9 am Saturday opening did not start with a rush but more of a dribble but steadily built up during the morning to form a good crowd. We met members of the public attending this show from as far away as Oregon to the south and Olympia to the north.
For this writer I would give two thumbs up for this show in the future as an opening event to the train show season.
Ed
Boeing Employees’ Model RR Club Open House
By Byron Osborn
The Boeing Employees’ Model RR Club will be having an Open House on Saturday September 9, 2023 at 2 PM till 6 PM. The public is invited.
Our address is:
425 SW 153rd St.
Burien, WA 98166