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Robert (Bob) Sample Passes

Written by Cliff Green
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Gary Thurow, Superintendent 5th Division, PNR / NMRA

It is with great sadness that have to inform you of the passing of Robert (Bob) Sample. Bob passed away Tuesday, January 10th, at around 8:30 am. I do not have any details on services at this time.

He was a life member of the NMRA and a close friend. He will be greatly missed by all of us that know him.

(From Ed Liesse: According to Shirley, “he was telling jokes and his witty comments up until the end and got to be home where he wanted to be.” She also asked that we pass on the news to others as well. Shirley Sample is the current PNR Vice President and a long-time member and leader in the 5th Division. The 5th Division covers Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Montana.)

News

Pacific Science Center Model Train Show Starts Tomorrow – Last Call for Volunteers

Written by Cliff Green
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David Yadock

This is a “last call” for volunteers to help out at the Pacific Science Center show, which runs Saturday through Monday. I can’t do anything about Seattle traffic but the Pacific Science Center does provide free parking for the volunteers. I don’t think there will be too many mad post-holiday crowds at the PSC since all the folks will be able to see model trains! This train show is the premier fund raiser for the 4th Division and can’t operate by itself. There will be a number of smaller layouts that require train operation.

If you want to run some trains and mingle with the public come help at the show – contact me at hi61izq@hotmail.com.

Model Train Show

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic December 2016 Report – Christmas Wassail

Written by Cliff Green
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Article and Photos by Rich Thom Except as Noted

Fig 1 – The Blake Christmas Layout

The Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA Clinic revived an earlier tradition of our group by enjoying a Christmas wassail in place of the usual programs of modeling tutorials and hands-on sessions. All right: It’s a bit of a stretch since wassailing originally was the practice of people going door-to-door, singing and offering a drink from the wassail bowl in exchange for gifts (click here for additional history). No singing tonight (thank goodness, knowing our group) or wassail bowls either, but plenty of merriment and a good program, too, by long-time member John White, who along with wife Valerie hosted our original wassails. Twenty-eight enjoyed the evening including several spouses, and an abundance of potluck finger-food prevented starvation.

In the spirit of the season, Clinic Chair Rich Blake skipped his usual announcements and calendar review, but did bring a Christmas tree with (of course) a train running around it (Fig 1). OK, we’ve all had circles of track around a Christmas tree, but with a pair of sidings for switching? Note the cargo: wrapped candy kisses.

This little “layout” traveled around the world during Rich’s long Navy career and meant a lot to his family. Thanks for bringing it, Rich.

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Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Volunteers Needed for Volunteer Park Lionel Holiday Train

Written by Cliff Green
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Kurt Laidlaw

The conservatory at Volunteer Park is looking for volunteers to help run their Lionel Holiday Train. Shifts are 11 am – 1 pm and 1 pm – 3 pm Tuesday through Sunday. The holiday train will run through the 1st of January. If you are in Seattle and don’t have plans to work at the Washington State History Museum Train Fest, please consider helping out at Volunteer Park. For more information, contact David Helgeson at david.helgeson@seattle.gov.

Model Train Show

PNRA and BEMRRC Holiday Open House

Written by Cliff Green
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Gary Tarbox, PNRA Executive Director

For anyone within driving distance of the Puget Sound area, the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive (PNRA) and the Boeing Employee Model Railroad Club (BEMRRC) are holding an open house December 26 – 31, 2016.

BEMRRC will have their new modular layout running for the first time and their permanent HO layout (under construction) at PNRA will also be open for tours.

PNRA will have displays and conduct tours of the preservation storage area with its newly installed mobile shelving.

Held in the archives are Northern Pacific (NP), Great Northern (GN), Milwaukee Road and Spokane, Portland, and Seattle (SP&S) materials, as well as logging, Interurban, Amtrak and short line resources.

Date: December 26 – 31, 2016 (Mon thru Sat)
Time: Noon to 6:00 pm on Monday thru Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday
Location: 425 SW 153rd Street, Burien, WA 98166

Please contact me for information at Info@PNRArchive.comcastbiz.net or 206-349-6242.

Layout Tour, Railroad History

Model Railroading in Alaska (and Arizona)

Written by Cliff Green
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Mike Philo

Editor’s note: In a recent e-mail newsletter I mentioned Marty Quaas’ web site about Alaska model railroading (which includes his wonderful layout “The Consolidated South Western Railroad” as well as his well known display layout “Mooselip, Alaska”): http://alaskamodelrrnews.homestead.com/, and reminded 4th Division members that Alaska is part of this division. This is Mike’s reply.

Your recent note on model railroading in Alaska prompted me to write to you. I live in Anchorage and am a member of the NMRA. I belong to the Military Society of Model Railroading Engineers, based on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage. Our club has permanent layouts in HO, HOn3, N and O scales, plus modular layouts in HO, HOn3 and N scales.

For many years we have been displaying our three modular layouts (N, HO, HOn3) at an Anchorage winter festival called Fur Rendezvous (“Fur Rondy” for short). Until a few years ago, Marty Quaas was displaying his Mooselip layout at Fur Rondy, too. It is a wonderful layout and the crowds loved it. So did I. Unfortunately, Marty has not been able to attend Fur Rondy in recent years, probably in large part due to the long drive from his home to Anchorage. Many people, including me, miss him and Mooselip.

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Articles, Convention or Meet, Model Train Show

A Plea – an HO-Scale Picture Setting for my RDC Camera Car

Written by Cliff Green
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Brian Pickering

I’m in the final stages of getting an article published in a major model RR publication. However, the editor has asked if I could get pictures of the subject (the RDC “Camera Car” I assembled for the 4D HO Modular Group) on a sceniced layout.

Is there anyone with a sceniced layout on which I could take some pictures in the next week or so? While the article won’t be published for a couple of months, the layout is coming due. I’m in Sammamish, WA, so obviously the East Side is most convenient for me, but I’ll be down at the Washington State History Museum model train show in Tacoma on the 26th and 31st, and am willing to drive a reasonable distance to get the shots I need.

Thanks. I can be contacted at bpickeri@gmail.com.

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Eastside Get Together North (Redmond) Clinic Report for December 2016

Written by Cliff Green
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Article and Photos by Syd Schofield

Russ Segner’s Sn3 scale steam critter.

The East Side Get-Together North Clinic (Redmond), held on 15 December 2016 at the Old Redmond School House, had the usual Bring-and-Brag plus the annual Dirty Santa gift exchange. Dave Cook brought things together after the coffee and doughnuts warmup.

Dave Enger displayed seven of his side dump gondolas for the evening’s viewers choice, and first (and last) gift pick. Russ Segner also brought in a dandy steam critter in Sn3 scale to show. Then on to the main event for the evening, the railroad-themed gift exchange.

The “Dirty Santa” exchange rules established way back when steam was king (I’m told) had some strategy to somehow finagle one’s choice during the proceedings. Early picks were at a disadvantage as maybe their choice for the evening may not have been revealed. Each item has to be unwrapped at the time of selection thus exposing it to a pack rat exchange. However, the pirated “victim” then has the choice of any other item that has been picked.

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Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic