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Operating Sessions and Work Sessions on the PNWRR and Cherry Valley RR

Written by Cliff Green
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Steve Haas

Operating sessions are continuing on (the late) Tom Enloe’s Pacific Northwestern Railroad and Cherry Valley Railroad (located in Duvall, Washington), although our remaining time to take advantage of the layout is limited. Carol Enloe will be placing the property on the real estate market in late August or early September.

As a result, we will have an Ops Session on the second Saturday in September, the 10th. This is of course subject to an early sale and closing on the property. Doors will open at 10 AM, we will try and start the clock at 11 AM. Beyond that, operations will tentatively continue on a month to month basis, subject to the sale of the property and the closing of the sale. Please be aware that any given Ops Session on the layout could become the last, with very short notice. Come on out and enjoy the layout one, two, or a few more times – Tom would have wanted that!

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Operations

Westside Clinic in Bremerton on Tuesday, Aug 9th

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Bill Hupé

Tuesday August 9th is our next 4th Division Westside Clinic.

For our newcomers the clinic is held at the United Way of Kitsap Building in downtown Bremerton (647 4th Street) at 7:00 PM. Additional details (including a map and contact info) are on the Clinics Page.

We may have two clinic presentations this month. First clinician is Steve Hauff. He will be presenting his clinic on “Making Your Own Decals”. Steve presented this at this year’s NMRA National Convention. Second clinician is Jack Hamilton. Jack said he will give us his “How a Steam Engine Operates”. He wasn’t sure if he would have it ready or not.

Bring a friend!

As always bring in your latest project to share and refreshments will be provided.

Please contact me if you have any related question at whopay@tscnet.com or 360-621-5041.

Westside Local Clinic

Web Site for Narrow Gauge Railroads of Western North America

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Syd Schofield

For narrow gauge fans, check out the information at http://www.pacificng.org/. From the web site home page:

“Welcome to PacificNG.com, dedicated to the history of narrow gauge railroading in western North America. Our goal is to create a central hub for accurate data, history, imagery, and reference materials relevant to fans of narrow gauge railroading west of the Great Divide.”

If any of these are within road trip distance, check out museums and visitor centers along the way. They have more information (maps, books, pictures, displays, etc) of interest.

Narrow Gauge

Background Buildings for the Dry Gulch & Western

Written by Cliff Green
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By David Yadock

Photo 1 - Background needing buildings

Photo 1 – Background needing buildings

I was needing to make background buildings for a section of my HO scale layout. (See Photo 1.) I had placed some of the Walthers paper cutout buildings but I found them unacceptable. They looked unrealistic where they were located and how they were positioned. The scene really needs depth and detail! The major issue is that the area only has approximately an inch of space between the wall and the railroad track right-of-way. Additionally, there are several lineal feet of wall to cover with the appropriate background/backdrop. I envisioned the scene to be a gritty industrial area with the foreground containing my steam engine facilities.

Photo 2 - Cardboard cut to size with a straightedge and sharp knife

Photo 2 – Cardboard cut to size with a straightedge and sharp knife

Please note, with background construction one must remember that the buildings are just that, a general background (building or otherwise) to be used to direct the observer’s attention away from a blank wall or other offending item. Modelers need to be sneaky when constructing their layout since every standard layout room has many offending characteristics to it. The trick is hiding the problem areas while creating a functional scene. This process makes for some interesting challenges for scenery construction.

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Articles

Steamy Season and Railroad Days Festival in Snoqualmie at the NW Railway Museum

Written by Cliff Green
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Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

Snoqualmie Railroad Days – August 19, 20, 21, 2016
Northwest Railway Museum Snoqualmie Depot 125th anniversary celebration

Northwest Railway Museum Snoqualmie Depot 125th anniversary celebration

It’s “steamy” again in Snoqualmie – steam train season, that is! Guests can step back in time to experience firsthand what Edwardian era train travel was like in the Pacific Northwest at the Northwest Railway Museum. The steam train will be running every weekend through Labor Day on September 5. Just as those early steam trains did in the 1890s, the steam train rides include a trip to view Snoqualmie Falls – from opposite the usual viewing side. New for 2016 – most steam train excursions include a stop at the Train Shed Exhibit Building to view more of the collection “up close and personal”!

The 78th Snoqualmie Railroad Days festival showcases Snoqualmie’s “Trains, Timber, Traditions” on August 19, 20, and 21, 2016! Join the fun with a ride on a steam train as the Santa Cruz and Portland Cement locomotive 2 pulls the trains during the Railroad Days festival. Railroad Days highlights the uniqueness of Snoqualmie’s past, present & future!

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Northwest Railway Museum

PNR Social Media Person Needed

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green, Grab Iron Editor

@PNRNMRA is the PNR (Pacific Northwest Region of the NMRA) Twitter account. It is in need of someone to populate and manage it.

NMRA at the national level is using social media at an increasing level – I’ve noticed NMRA Facebook posts pop up in my personal Facebook feed the last couple of months. The regional and divisional levels could benefit from more presence on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Please contact me at gi_editor@4dpnr.com if this volunteer position is of interest.

Grab-Iron

Tacoma Trains One Year Anniversary Sale

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Paul Pellegrino

Tacoma Trains and Hobbies is having its One Year Anniversary Sale under new ownership this week. 20% off all in stock items. (Discount does not apply to special orders or consignment items.) Sale starts Monday July 25th at 10 am till 6 pm daily, and runs through Wednesday July 27th.

We carry HO, N, O, and G scale. Do you need scenery items? We have a large selection to choose from. Not into trains? We have models, rockets, kites, T-shirts, and hobbies supplies. Have a kid into Thomas & Friends? We have that covered too.

Come see us and shop for a birthday, Christmas, or just “because I want it”.

Tacoma Trains and Hobbies, 3813 N. 26th Street, Tacoma, WA 98407

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Olympia Clinic June 2016 Report

Written by Cliff Green
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Robert Grove

On the left is a 22 ton Shay waiting for restoration. Three foot gauge rolling stock is on the right, including D&RGW caboose #0582 and a Plymouth low cab locomotive used in mining.

On the left is a 22 ton Shay waiting for restoration. Three foot gauge rolling stock is on the right, including D&RGW caboose #0582 and a Plymouth low cab locomotive used in mining.

The Olympia June Clinic Field Trip tradition continues! This time 26 of us visited a private collection in Tumwater, Washington. As we did not have a park available for “Hot Dogs by Jim & Mary Sabol,” we enjoyed great service, excellent breakfasts and Jim Sabol comedy in the River’s Edge Restaurant at the Tumwater Valley Golf course.

Kipert’s Korner Feed owner Craig Kinnaman has gathered several gauges of railroad equipment, 15 inch to 4’ 8 ½.” He also has old model trains, classic trucks, riding toys, large machinery, and much more.

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Olympia Clinic

Eastside Get Together North Branch (Redmond) Clinic Report, June 2016

Written by Cliff Green
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Syd Schofield

4th Division, PNR, NMRA, Eastside Get Together North Branch (Redmond), 16 June, 2016 clinic

Dave Cook called the group gathering to order at 6:40 Thursday evening at the Redmond city library. About twenty people were in attendance for this last meeting of the 2015-2016 season.

The “Bring and Brag” items were a pre-fab production laser cut modular structure made in the UK, and a flat car with a specialized load. As usual, the items were of outstanding quality.

Brain Pickering gave a presentation of Digital Command and Control programming and operation with Decoder Pro from JMRI. Of the many features available with the several brands of decoders, Brian discussed and demonstrated some of the features and methods to simplify programming. The system has several hardware interface units available from different manufacturers with a common open-source (and available for free) software.

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Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get Together South Branch (Renton) Clinic Report, June 2016

Written by Cliff Green
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Syd Schofield

4th Division, PNR, NMRA, Eastside Get Together South Branch (Renton), 30 June, 2016 clinic

About a dozen folks came to the Renton over-the-Cedar-River library for the Thursday evening clinic. Russ Segner brought the group to order for the presentations of photos of model railroad interest. JJ Johnston brought an example of his craftsmanship in a small HO scale store building decked out with signs, merchandise and the proprietor.

We had pictures of layouts and railroad prototype examples suitable for modeling ideas. The layouts presented were in various stages of completion showing finished rolling stock, buildings, structures as well as different scenery techniques in process. There were the fixed installation chicken wire armature overlaid with a plaster cloth skin, wadded newspaper bulk covered with masking tape and a paper mache skin, and window screen patches covered with a slurry of gypsolite. These ground contour shapes could then be covered with rock castings and vegetation.

Another method of a light weight material allowing some portability from the work bench to the layout was the foam epoxy in a mold that was draped over supports during the curing process. If the final shape is undecided and some exploratory shaping is needed for visualization, there was an example of foam insulation planks cut to approximate ground contour and laminated with adhesive such as latex house paint. This allows some shape and study before the final “commitment” to the finishing process. Both foam material-based methods provide for a sturdy yet light scene construction.

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Burien Clinic