Author: Russ Segner

Please join us to share your ideas about what topics we want to focus on this Fall and Winter. Do you have a topic that you want to present? Do we have anyone interested in organizing a monthly segment on tools and techniques?

We will also share some thoughts and memories about two of our recent members JJ Johnston and Chuck Ricketts.

If you are not on our list to receive the Zoom link each month, let me know. Invites go out by Tuesday evening.

Russ
206 200 2211

One of our 4D MMRs has passed away. Chuck Ricketts left us on Aug 6th at Harborview Hospital. His balance had been deteriorating for the last year, and a fall resulting in a severe head trauma took him from us. I will miss his friendship and sharing of all things related to model construction and in particular the railroad hobby. His imagination, hobby expertise and enthusiasm to get everyone involved in operations created fine comradery. His Sherwood, Shelton & Sarazen (S. S. & S.) included a unique feature at the time, a movable barge “floating” traffic between Oyster Bay and South Seattle, a separate location and operating system.

Thanks to the efforts of Roger Nulton and Dale Kreutzer, the S. S. & S. is in the Oct 2020 issue of the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. Bruce Petrarca MMR #574, one of Chuck’s Arizona friends, has created a Vemio, vimeo.com/536949514 about Chuck’s S. S. & S. that I thought clever. Chuck sold the house in Lacey with railroad intact. Or perhaps from a modeler’s perspective sold the railroad with the house intact.

Never giving up model railroading, the Baja Sienna was his next railroad in Tumwater. You’ve seen various articles and YouTube presentation about this one. My perspective, with a laugh, is the materials used were largely gathered at the local foam recycler’s dumpster. Once again after reaching the operation stage, this layout was carved up and sold to a Seattle railroad modeler. Chuck moved again, staying in Tumwater and had, in the planning stage, a shelf layout in the works for the new garage. With a sigh, I say goodbye to Chuck who was an exceptional friend to me, the Olympia model railroaders and the whole Puget Sound model railroading community.

A Celebration of Life will be announced to take place in Olympia at a presently unknown date. Chuck’s partner, Janet Spencer, will appreciate emailed condolences at janetinbastrop@gmail.com. She looks forward to meeting all of you at his Celebration of Life.
Submitted by Jim Elder

JJ Johnston was one of our Fourth Division leaders for many years. He was a fine model builder and friend to many in the Fourth Division.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 12 at 2PM. The service will be at:
1st Presbyterian Church of Bellevue
1717 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA

I have been asked to speak about his involvement with us in the Fourth Division. Please call me with any special memories of JJ.
Russ 206 200 2211

We will resume in August on the 17th.

Russ

Here is the information on JJ. The Celebration of his life will be August 12 in Bellevue. I will post again Early August.

Russ

AUG
12
Celebration Of Life
Saturday, August 12, 2023
2:00PM – 3:00PM
1st Presbyterian Church of Bellevue
1717 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004

This is a reminder that this month’s Eastside Clinic will feature an opportunity to share our memories of JJ Johnston. I will share some pictures of JJ in railfanning and some memories of time together with him. I am sure many of us have things to share.

Doug Oldenburg will be posting the link to the meeting soon to all on our list. If you are not on the list and want to be included, contact Doug at douglas.oldenburg@yahoo.com

Russ Segner

We meet again online June 15 at 7PM.

Our meeting will feature A discussion on benchwork ideas and practices designed to encourage us all to build better and more quickly. Bring your experiences and suggestions to share, including some photos.

We will start, however with “A time to remember JJ Johnston, one of our best”. Take some time to remember and relate to us some of your memories of JJ. The family has not yet announced plans for a formal Celebration of JJ. That information will be shared as soon as it is available.

If you are not on our list to receive the link to the meeting, contact me at russseg@gmail.com.

Russ

Russ Segner

JJ Johnston passed away on Friday, May 26 at his home in Bellevue with his wife, Patt, at his bedside. JJ was a friend to many of us in the Fourth Division, a leader and fine model builder. He served many years as the leader of the Eastside Clinic and built it into one of our best attended. He was honored in 2011 with our Golden Grab Iron Award. He had a high regard and respect for his fellow modelers, many of whom became valued friends over the years.

We will remember his great smile, sense of humor and positive attitude. I never heard a cross word from him. We also remember his fine HO layout, The Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway. It was covered with detailed structures and humorous scenes, many of which told a story of their own. He was author of several articles in the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, had a cover on the Model Railroad Craftsman magazine and a DVD of his layout done by Trackside Model Railroading.

JJ was well known and respected for his work for over 30 years as a real estate professional. JJ was active as an instructor for the Association of Realtors and a member of the Master Builders. He handled the sale and acquisition of our homes twice for my wife, Susan, and me. He brokered several real estate investments for us as well.

He was a valued friend and good companion as we traveled together to model railroad conventions, especially to Colorado as I tried to lure him into narrow gauge.

He is missed.

Al Lowe has a short video tour of JJ’s layout on his YouTube channel here:

Most of you know JJ Johnston who led our Eastside Clinic for many years. JJ is now home in hospice care due to some long-standing health issues. Let’s send him some cards. If you don’t have his address, let me know.

Russ Segner
206 200 2211
russseg@gmail.com

There will not be a session this month. Instead, I am urging all 4D members to take a look at some of the recorded sessions from Off the Beaten Track, especially the May 9 session. That session included a presentation on DCC by George Bogatiuk of SoundTraxx. George is extremely helpful in understanding how DCC works, especially the CV’s.

Here is the link:
Click here to view our most recent sessions. This link will take you to a New YouTube channel “Narrow Gauge Off the Beaten Track”. There are clinics, vendors and layouts to view.

Our next Eastside session will be a discussion of benchwork; Basics like L Girder, Modules, Track height, Helixes, Support for backdrops, etc.

If you want to participate in our Eastside session, be sure you are on our email list by contacting Doug Oldenburg at douglas.oldenburg@yahoo.com

Russ Segner, russseg@gmail.com