Cliff Green, our Editor is retiring.  Opportunity to Excel Awaits.

The Grab Iron is the primary means of the Fourth Division to communicate with our members and to keep them advised of ongoing programs and upcoming events. Over the past several years different formats have been used. One process minimized the direct effort and intervention by the “editor” because it relied on direct postings from clinics and committee chairs and an associated automatic notice of those postings to members. A second process involved the editor collecting information and then posting and publishing it on a periodic basis with posting notification to the members. Both systems have worked well in keeping members informed. Notwithstanding the ease of handling the editor duties, our current editor, who has done an exceptional job, has a need to retire to concentrate on more pressing matters in his family. Consequentially we need a replacement Grab Iron Editor.

The “job description” for Editor is rather simple. The Editor will work with our website which uses Word Press. The Editor also requires a bit of writing skill and the ability to be proactive in contacting members who write articles and share news helpful to 4D members. That list of contact is currently defined as the local clinic managers/leaders and the various Division Committee Chairs. The task includes preparing some original work (Editorial input, if you please) and exercising some reasonable oversight on materials posted by others. The Editor may also directly solicit materials that they believe to be of interest and value to the members. The current Grab Iron format is to publish news and articles as received from members and the groups such as local clinics and modular clubs. A monthly newsletter is an option at the discretion of the Editor. The Editor is responsible directly to the Division Superintendent and receives all required support and assistance from that office. Execution of Editor responsibilities, once in the “groove”, should require less than 10 hours a month. Software support, if require, is the responsibility of the Division.

If you are interested, please call Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent at 206 200 2211.

What’s on your workbench?

Any plans for a new project;
build some new structures, weather a locomotive or tackle some scenery?.

While I have some travel plans and am still working on some small structures for my layout, I am interested in promoting some new projects to be worked on through the summer and into the fall.

First, I am planning to build two or three small modules for a switching layout that can connect to some of the HO modular groups as a branch line.

Second, I am looking for some help in constructing some exhibits for the Newcastle Historical Society. These would be specific dioramas of coal mine scenes. To keep them small, they will probably be N scale or HOn3.

So, if you are interested, give me a call or an email.

Russ Segner,
206 200 2211
russseg@gmail.com

By Russ Segner

This Thursday is our last meeting this season in Burien.
We will resume our regular meetings in September.

Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive
425 SW 153^rd Street
Burien, WA 98166
Map

The meeting is very important as we will evaluate what we want to do next season. There will be some changes, so be there to share your thoughts.

Several of us attended the Pacific Northwest Region meeting in Spokane last week and will report on our experiences there. It was a very interesting four days.

Our program will focus on industrial switching modules and possible establishment of one more group, probably in HO.
Our meetings are at 7:00

Some good news and some bad news

Election brings some new experience and energy to the BOD

Two new members will be added to the Board of Directors.  Anton Faulk and Robin Peel are running unopposed for Director positions.  Both are professionals in the tech industries and each model in slightly different aspects of our hobby: Anton models  European railways and Robin is a narrow gauge modeler.  And we get to keep Al Lowe who will move to Assistant Superintendent.  So, look for some real emphasis on the technologies emerging in our hobby.  Kurt Laidlaw, our current Assistant Superintendent, has agreed to take on Education Chair.  He will coordinate creation of new clinics and expand the successful Make and Take Clinics.

Some new layouts are underway – Mike Stepner is well into his new layout, Steve Cox is beginning and Larry Sloan has a new house getting ready for layout plans.  But, some are going away.  Bill Scheef passed away last winter and his layout will be open for one last time on the 17th.  Another friend of mine,  Stafford Jones has a fine layout in Issaquah, but it must be torn down and removed completely by September. So, his loss is perhaps an opportunity for some of our members to get bargains from his extensive inventory. Much of his layout maybe can be salvaged for reuse.  Here is a link to photos of his layout.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AhBTSQSpn0dng5B1jiQS6M2Z6kr_iA

It is HO with SP&S, GN and NP equipment. He has many fine structures, new electronics such as Tam Valley Frog Juicers and circuit protectors, code 75 Peco track, etc. He will hold an open house June 17 from 9:00 to 4:00.  His address is:  2151 NW Pacific Elm Drive, Issaquah ( a condominium complex, watch for signs).  His phone is 425 223 0139.

Our summer will be very busy outside at local railway museums.  Many will travel to railway sites around he region and some will attend regional and national Conventions.  Next week is the PNR Convention in Spokane, July will see many at the NMRA Convention in Orlando and a bunch of us will travel to Denver in August for the Narrow Gauge Convention.

So, get out and do some rail fanning, attend a convention or visit a location like Kitsap Live Steamers or Train Mountain.  All of these will inspire us.

Russ Segner, your Division Superintendent

206 200 2211

The PNW RPM is this Saturday!

The Pacific Northwest RPM crew is back for another year of Rails By The Bay, the Northwest’s own Railroad Prototype Modelers (RPM) meet. The gathering is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2017, 9am to 5pm, in Monroe, WA at the Evergreen Fairgrounds. There is a great clinic lineup this year, including a special guest from a well-known industry manufacturer:

-Bruce Barney: Modeling Gunderson Chip Gons with 3D printing.
-Craig Townsend: The Yellowstone RR.
-Jim Ruffing: Great Northern boxcars
-Blaine Hadfield: The Past, Present, and Future of Exactrail.
-Robert Scott: Simpson logging.

You can see more details as they develop, here on the northwestrpm.com website:

http://northwestrpm.com/RPM_Meet.htm