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HO Layout Remaining Items For Sale in Sedro-Woolley

Written by Cliff Green
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Roger Johnson

Thanks to many of you who responded to my earlier Grab Iron ad and to many more who bought some of my things at the United Northwest Monroe train show and swap meet on February 27th and 28th. But there are still a fair number of things left that I do not want to move to a smaller house. Included are more than fifteen RTR locomotives (some with decoders installed), many freight cars (RTR and kits), structures (both complete and kits) and much more. I have revised my inventory lists to remove items recently sold and those not presently for sale and (best of all) to reflect new lower prices on most items. Please email me (Roger Johnson) at skagitrailbird@gmail.com for a detailed listing.

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A Narrower View – Another Branch Line

Written by Cliff Green
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Syd Schofield

Editors note: Welcome to the 13th article of a series on narrow gauge by Syd Schofield. The previous article is available by clicking here, or by filtering with the category “Narrow Gauge”. Syd welcomes discussions and feedback, which can be made by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of the post.

Another extension of the D&RG three foot gauge common carrier was the Lake City Branch. It extended south of the line along the Gunnison River from a point near Sapinero on now what is US 50 in central Colorado just west of Gunnison. The junction point is presently under Blue Mesa Reservoir as is the original town site and the road bed extending into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River turning out at Cimarron. The branch line extended to the small town of Lake City where, as a regional center for the area mines, loggers and ranchers provided some income to the railroad.

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Articles, Narrow Gauge

Olympia Clinic February 2016 Report

Written by Cliff Green
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Robert Grove

We hosted 19 attendees in the Thurston County Office Complex in West Olympia. One person was new and one was a returning guest who had attended some clinics in the past.

The “Bring and Brag” included a variety of models and the “Give and Take” (offering items we don’t need / taking home something we can use) included a variety of items again this month.

Our program was a continuation of the theme: “Various Approaches in Developing a Freelance Layout.”

Scott Buckley drew upon the Tehama Valley Railroad he has been creating in his home for this month’s presentation. He used some highly artistic elements via a Microsoft Powerpoint to display his efforts. He showed a picture of a prototype or model railroad that he admires, explaining the key elements in the photograph.

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Olympia Clinic

Pennsylvania RR Tech & HS PNW Chapter Meeting on Sat, Apr 2nd at PNRA

Written by Cliff Green
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David Yadock

prrherald

The Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society will be having its next meeting on Saturday April 2, 2016. It will be held at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien. WA. The meeting starts at 1 pm with dinner to follow. If you or your railroad friends have a casual interest in the Pennsylvania Railroad or want to learn more detailed information about the Pennsy come to the meeting.

The flyer for the meeting is available by clicking here.

For more information contact either David Yadock at hi61izq@hotmail.com or Jim Trunzo at jetrunzo@gmail.com.

Railroad History

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic Feb 2016 Report, Flatcar Load Contest

Written by Cliff Green
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Article and Photos by Rich Thom

Twenty-four modelers attended the Skagit Valley and Whidbey NMRA Clinic meeting in Oak Harbor on February 10th, featuring the long-anticipated display and judging of models entered in this season’s contest: Flatcars with Loads. Clinic Chair Rich Blake welcomed new attendee Barry Erb, who models Pennsylvania RR prototypes in HO. Rich also thanked Di Voss, MMR, for making the long drive from Mill Creek to judge some of the models for NMRA Achievement Program (AP) Merit Awards, and providing details and some expert advice about the NMRA AP and evaluating models for the program. Rich mentioned that it was not too soon to begin thinking about next season’s lineup of clinics, and encouraged everyone to get their ideas (and especially volunteer themselves!) for clinics to Susan Gonzales.

Before the evening’s contest, Rich, with assistance from Di, described the basics of the NMRA AP and judging, using materials available on the NMRA website (www.nmra.org) including the Achievement Program Judging Guidelines and the Model Description Form. A set of slides by Bob Hamm, MMR, on contest judging was also shown. Although the formal 125-point evaluation system was not used for tonight’s contest (instead judging was by a simpler popular vote) the discussion attuned everyone to the five attributes contributing to a superior model: construction (methods and complexity); detail; conformity (fidelity to prototype); finish and lettering; and scratch-built content, including any special refinements.

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Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

4D Spring Meet Website Is Live, Register Now

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green

The 4th Division Spring Meet will be held at the Tacoma Community College on May 14th, with clinics running from 9 am to 4 pm. The website is up and running and taking registrations: http://www.wnrr.net/4DPNR/.

There are three clinic tracks, with the third track consisting of “hands on, make and take” clinics (there are additional costs with the “make and take” clinics).

The cost for the Spring Meet is only $20, which includes lunch – a great deal! (You must register by May 1st to receive lunch.)

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Convention or Meet

Westside Clinic in Bremerton on Tuesday, March 8th

Written by Cliff Green
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Bill Hupé

The Westside Clinic is Tuesday March 8th, 2016.

This month’s clinic: TBA. Any volunteers?

Please bring a Model Railroad friend and an item you’ve been working on. As always we will have a “Model Contest” and “Show And Tell.” Coffee and cookies will be provided.

If you are visiting the first time our clinics are held at the United Way of Kitsap Building in downtown Bremerton (647 4th Street) at 7 pm. Additional details (including a map and contact info) are on the Clinics Page.

Westside Local Clinic

UNW Model Train Show in Monroe, WA this Weekend

Written by Cliff Green
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Beth Wangen, Volunteer Development Coordinator

Don’t miss the big train show this weekend at the fairgrounds in Monroe! It is Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 10 to 4. Click here to see the clinics that are scheduled all weekend long and for additional information such as driving directions.

The United Northwest Model Railroad Club is proud to host this 24th Annual Model Train Show and Marketplace. This show benefits the Snohomish County 4-H Foundation.

UNW_Train_Show_Monroe

Model Train Show

Tell Your Model Train or Railroad Story

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green, Grab Iron Editor

If you’re a new 4th Division (PNR) NMRA member (or a former member that has recently renewed), welcome! Every time a new Grab Iron post is made, e-mail notifications are sent out to those on the notification list. We have a lot of information and some great model train photos on the 4D web site (including all Grab Iron posts) – click here to navigate to the front page.

Photo by Cliff Green

Ron Hopkins On30 layout, under construction with mock-up buildings, in Edmonds, WA.

My job as Grab Iron editor is to publicize info relating to model and prototype railroading in the 4th Division and surrounding areas. I get paid well for this. Not in money (definitely not, hah!), but in the hobby relationships I’ve made and in the personal satisfaction of helping this organization. And I’m guessing that every 4D volunteer would say something similar.

But I don’t produce the content for the Grab Iron and the 4D web site – the articles and posts and web page content (mostly) come from other people. I may organize and edit and manage it, but I don’t originate it. For that I rely on our 4D members and Grab Iron subscribers.

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