Skip to main content

42nd National Narrow Gauge Convention – less than 2 weeks away

Written by Robin Peel
Leave a Comment

By Robin Peel

The 42nd National Narrow Gauge Convention is less than two weeks away! It will take place from September 1-4, over the Labor Day weekend, at the Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma, WA. This is a national – international – convention being held in our backyard, sponsored by 4D, and it is NOT just for narrow gauge modelers – we will have 60 clinic sessions, many of which will appeal to standard gauge (and armchair) modelers, too!
https://www.seattlenngc.com/clinic-schedule

The star of the show will be the Hangman Creek Lumber Company modular layout, which will be operating adjacent to our registration desk. This outstanding On3 layout won “Best in Show” at our 2012 National Narrow Gauge Convention (in Bellevue, WA), and has been extensively refurbished since then. It is a great opportunity to view this layout one more time, along with three other great display layouts (two On30 and one HOn3). Details of each are on our website at:
https://www.seattlenngc.com/modular

Details on the Hangman Creek Lumber Company in On3
Amazing trestles on Hangman Creek Lumber Company in On3
The Palisades module, from the Arizona Division of the Mudhens, in HOn3

Standard registration for the full, Thursday – Sunday convention is $150, including a free spouse pass, but we are offering a special one-day rate for local modelers for $50 (available only on the day, at the registration desk) that will give access to all convention activities that day (clinics, contest viewing, vendor room, modular displays and 34 home layouts).

We are looking forward to seeing you in Tacoma in just a few days! Head to our website for full details.
https://www.seattlenngc.com/

info@seattlenngc.com

Convention or Meet, Narrow Gauge, News

PNR 2023 Convention

Written by Kurt Laidlaw
2 Comments

By Kurt Laidlaw

It’s official. The 2023 Pacific Northwest Region Convention—”The Prairie Line Experience”–will take place in Tacoma, WA on May 10-14, 2023. The host committee is working to put together an exciting set of activities for the convention, including multiple tracks of clinics, layout tours spanning the region, contests, AP evaluations, train spotting opportunities, tours and non-rail events.

2023 is the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad at Commencement Bay on the Prairie Line. It is also the 150th Anniversary of the City of Tacoma. Add to those significant dates the 50th Anniversary of the NTRAK modular model railroad standard, and you have exciting possibilities for celebration. The City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Historical Society have events planned throughout the year and we hope to leverage those activities to enhance our convention. Work continues on the Prairie Line Trail, which crosses the University of Washington Tacoma campus before continuing past the Tacoma Art Museum toward the original Northern Pacific Half Moon Yard.

Northern Pacific Railroad HQ: Tacoma Historical Society photo
Prairie Line Crossing Pacific Avenue. UWT photo

The convention hotel is the Comfort Inn and Suites next to the Tacoma Dome and one block away from the AMTRAK, Sounder and Tacoma free light rail stations. This location provides quick access to downtown Tacoma with its many restaurants and museums, Seattle and points beyond. We will be opening hotel registrations as soon as possible. The hotel has given us a great deal on room rates for the convention. Standard rooms are offered as follows: two doubles at $119, two queens at $129 and single kings at $129. The hotel provides free breakfast and free parking. See their website for more information on amenities: Hotel in Tacoma, WA | Comfort Inn® Official Site | Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown Tacoma.

We are still finalizing the registration costs and will have registration open on the website soon. The convention website is located here: PNR Convention 2023 – Prairie Line Experience. We will populate the website as information comes available so check back often. The Host committee is dedicated to making this an affordable convention. We are working hard to keep costs down so everybody can afford to join us next year. Mark your calendars and reserve the dates now. We look forward to seeing you in Tacoma next year.

Kurt
PNR 2023 Convention Host Committee Chairman

Convention or Meet, Layout Tour, News

Narrow Gauge Convention Volunteers Needed

Written by Anton Faulk
Leave a Comment

By Gregory Wright

To all modelers!  We need volunteers to help support the 42nd National Narrow Gauge Convention in Tacoma on September 1 to 4, 2022.  You don’t need to be a narrow gauge modeler or even a train enthusiast to appreciate the high quality of this national (international) model railroad convention.  If you are wiling to serve as a volunteer you will have a front row seat to a world class event. 

I can use people that are registered for the event and others that would just like to see it first hand for a day.  If you are a single day volunteer, you will not need to register, so even if you only have one day to share with us, we need you!

Please email me that you would like to volunteer.  I will create a schedule that covers assignments in areas such as registration, clinic room, contest room, and vendor room.  Feel free to call me if you have any questions. 360-870-9449

https://www.seattlenngc.com/

Gregory
Safety and Security Coordinator, 42nd National Narrow Gauge Convention

Convention or Meet, Narrow Gauge

Skykomish Tunnel Days & Train Swap Meet

Written by Anton Faulk
Leave a Comment

By Michael Walcker

On June 18th, the city of Skykomish is hosting Tunnel Days, a city event honoring the GN railroad and James Hill.  There will be a train swap meet included in the event.  Vendors can bring their own table, one table per vendor, and set up at no cost.  There is no admission fee and there is room for 20 vendors inside the fire truck barn with all others outside by the little train depot.  The indoor sites will be on a first come basis. Table space can be reserved by emailing mawalcker@aol.com.  The meet will be from 9am to 3pm, with a pancake breakfast at 7am and many family fun events planned for the entire day.

Michael

Convention or Meet, Railroad History

PNR 2023 Convention

Written by Anton Faulk
Leave a Comment

By Kurt Laidlaw

4D members, we need your help. We are scheduled to host the PNR regional convention next year. Putting on a regional convention takes a lot of work by a dedicated group of people. The convention will take place in Tacoma (tentatively May 18-21, 2023). We are two years behind schedule planning the event because of the pandemic, but we can make it happen if people pull together and step up to work as a team.

We still need volunteers for the following committee chairperson positions as soon as possible:

Treasurer
Publicity/website
Non-Rail
Awards and Favors
Layout Tours
Prototype Tours
Souvenir (shirt/hat)
Transportation

As we get under way, committee chairs will need help on their various committees. If you are willing to help or have questions about what is involved, please contact me at ananas99@klaidlaw.net or call me at 253-495-8351.

Kurt Laidlaw
2023 PNR Convention Host Committee Chair

Convention or Meet, News

Olympia Clinic and the 39th National Narrow Gauge Convention

Written by Anton Faulk
1 Comment

By Gregory Wright

Four members of the Olympia monthly clinic group travelled to Sacramento to the 39th National Narrow Gauge Convention in September. Two members brought models for the contest room and five of the six models won awards. Greg Wright won a second place in internal combustion. Harry Avis won a third place in maintenance of way, a second place in rolling stock and two first places, one in cabooses and one in special equipment.

Greg Wright and Harry Avis show their prize winning models at the September 20, 2019, Olympia Clinic
  • Harry Avis’ On3 scratch built boxcar
  • Harry Avis’ HO scale kitbashed RR barge tug
  • Harry Avis’ 1:32 scale scratchbuilt caboose
  • Harry Avis’ 1:24 scale scratchbuilt velocipede
Harry Avis’ 1:24 scale scratchbuilt velocipede

The Olympia Clinic meets on the third Friday of each month. Contact Greg Wright, gregorywright2002@yahoo.com for details. The group plans a review of the national narrow gauge convention at their February 21, 2020 meeting. Other topics in 2019-2020 include scratchbuilding, weathering and prototype photos tours.

Gregory

Convention or Meet, Olympia Clinic

A Very Busy Spring

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

By Russ Segner

The 2019 Sn3 Symposium is just around the corner.  Come explore some of the finest Sn3 model railroads on the planet. There will be excellent clinics, a vendor room, world-class layouts on display, and a contest.

Register now at www.sn3seattle.com!

Sn3 Symposium – Bellevue Sheraton
April 4 – 6
12 clinics featuring national instructors
Local layout tours
Check the website for details.
www.sn3seattle.com

Other notable events coming soon:

  • Kootenay Express 2019 | May 29 – June 2, 2019
    • The Cranbrook History Centre is a museum and archive dedicated to the research, preservation, and restoration of heritage pertaining to the history of Cranbrook and the Canadian Pacific Railway. It is located adjacent to both active railway operations and the Convention Hotel.  https://www.kootenayexpress2019.ca

Convention or Meet, Layout Tour, News

The Footplate for June 2018

Written by Al Lowe
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

Chuck Ricketts at the Spring Meet

Summer is here – put away the umbrellas and galoshes! It’s time to get outdoors and do some railfanning, ride a train, or visit one of our historic rail sites. I’m heading for Colorado again to ride the Cumbres & Toltec. Some are heading to Train Mountain in Oregon, others may head to Sacramento to the California Railroad Museum. Some will stay local and take the kids or grandkids to visit Thomas at Snoqualmie. In any event, get out there and check out some new rail location.

Make & Take Clinic

June has been a very busy month. The PNR meetings in Portland drew many of us to Jantzen Beach for some great clinics and layout visits. It was a chance to meet many of our fellow modelers from all over the Northwest. Jim Fugate, publisher of Model Railroader Hobbyist, was there demonstrating LokSound decoders and a really nifty control unit that emulates the control stand of the modern diesel engine.

The Pacific Northwest Region is one of the very best and most active regions in the entire NMRA. Your own Fourth Division is strong and very active. We just completed our Spring Meet in Redmond which was well organized and executed by Al Lowe and clinicians Alex Brikoff, Larry Sloan, Byron Osborn, MMR Bill Messecar, MMR Didrik Voss, MMR Max Maginness and MMR Chuck Ricketts. MMR Jack Hamilton, conducted a well-received Make and Take clinic building wood trestles. Make a point to attend in 2019!

Your Fourth Division is beginning a major effort to establish additional modular groups, at least one for HOn3 and possibly a Free-Mo HO group. Another group will begin building museum-quality dioramas to display at shows.

So, you have all summer to experience real trains, locally or around the world. Take lots of pictures and come back this fall prepared to share and perhaps present a clinic on what you have modeled or experienced. As a favorite beer commercial says: “One life right, don’t blow it. Mahalo!”

Convention or Meet, Superintendent’s Message

2018 Spring Meet on Saturday June 9th

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner

The 4th Division’s 2018 Spring Meet will be held at the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village (formerly Lake Washington Institute of Technology), 6505 176th Avenue NE, Redmond on Saturday, June 9th.

The Spring Meet web site is 4dSpringMeet.com, which includes an online registration page and venue details. The cost is a measly $20 for NMRA members. If you register by Tuesday May 29, you’ll get a free box lunch. You can register at the door, but you’ll probably not get a box lunch. Non-NMRA members are still welcome; if you haven’t been a member for a while, you join the national for a six-month “trial membership” for another $20.

There will be at least two simultaneous clinics, plus a Make & Take session. Click here for complete details.

Convention or Meet