Skip to main content

Selkirk Express 2016, PNR Convention – A Special Report

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

By Rich Thom, Photos by Rich Thom

Editor’s note: In this month’s Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic’s PDF newsletter is a special report on the Selkirk Express 2016 PNR Convention which was held in Salmon Arm, British Columbia this past June. This is a very nicely written article with many photos.

Rich’s special report has been extracted to a separate PDF (thanks, Al Frasch!), and is available at https://4dpnr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Skagit-Valley-Whidbey-SpecialRpt-SelkirkExpress.pdf.

As usual with PDF files your computer (or smart phone or tablet) may need to install an Adobe PDF viewer application (click here for the Adobe download link; I recommend un-checking the optional software offers).

Articles, Convention or Meet, Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Travels to 2016 Selkirk Express Regional Convention

Written by Cliff Green
5 Comments

Alex Brikoff

My wife and I traveled to Salmon Arm, BC last month to take in the 2016 Selkirk Express PNR Regional Convention. The drive from Hope, BC to Kamloops and then on to Salmon Arm was a beautiful drive through some beautiful mountain scenery. The convention hotel was on the shore of Shuswap Lake. The view overlooking the lake was spectacular.

But what I found even more spectacular was that the 4th Division was well represented. It seems like everywhere I turned was a familiar face! Overall, I thought the convention was very well put together with a number of clinics that were historical in nature as well as covering a number of modeling topics as well. Although we didn’t go on any of the tours, I heard reports from folks that the tours were excellent. There were some incredibly well built models and great photographs entered in the contests.

Read More

Articles, Convention or Meet, Model Train Show

Ted Becker Receives Golden Grab Iron Award for 2016

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Jim Sabol, Photos by Ken Liesse

Ted Becker receiving the 2016 Golden Grab Iron Award at the 4th Division Spring Meet.

Ted Becker receiving the 2016 Golden Grab Iron Award at the 4th Division Spring Meet.

On May 14th at the NMRA/4D Spring Meet, a surprised Ted Becker was presented with the 2016 Golden Grabiron Service Award for 2016 (formerly the Man of the Year Award). Called to the podium during the annual business meeting, Ted was presented with the award by a committee of the previous years’ winners Jim Sabol, Russ Segner, and Jim Younkins. In presenting the award, committee members remarked on how easy it was to unanimously and enthusiastically select Ted as his name kept popping up for all his many and continued services to the Fourth Division.

Among those clapping loudest for Ted were several previous award recipients: Scott Buckley, J.J.Johnson, Walt Huston, Ed Liesse, Gay Liesse, Al Lowe, Jeff Moorman, Jack Hamilton, Di Voss, Gene Swanson, Dale and Diane Kraus.

Read More

Convention or Meet, Grab-Iron, News

Pennsy Technical & Historical Society to meet July 16

Written by Al Lowe
Leave a Comment

David Yadock

prrherald1

The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society (Pacific Northwest Chapter) will meet July 16th at 12:30 p.m. at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien. Click here to see event information, including a map to the PNRA.

Anyone who is interested in the Pennsylvania Railroad or would like to learn more about the Pennsy, please come. The meeting consists of informative clinics followed by dinner at Vince’s restaurant. We are a newly chartered group of the PRRT&HS for the Pacific Northwest area. All are welcome.

Convention or Meet, Railroad History

4th Division 2016 Annual Meeting

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent, Photos by Ken Liesse

Ted Becker receiving the 2016 Golden Grab Iron Award at the 4th Division Spring Meet.

Ted Becker receiving the 2016 Golden Grab Iron Award at the 4th Division Spring Meet.

Over 75 members attended our 4th Division Annual Meeting at Tacoma Community College last Saturday, as part of the Spring Meet. Kurt Laidlaw, our Assistant Superintendent, was in charge of planning the Spring Meet event and put together a fine list of clinics and presenters. We had several first time participants and very positive comments, especially from those attending the “Hands On” clinic (building laser cut structures). Many of the presentations focused on operations for layouts and we can expect to see more layouts use prototype methods in operating sessions.

Thanks to all who shared their experience and knowledge to help us enjoy this special part of model railroading.

Read More

Convention or Meet, Grab-Iron, News, Superintendent’s Message

4D Spring Meet on May 14, Last Call

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

Our 4th Division Spring Meet is this Saturday, May 14th. This is a full day of clinics and a chance to meet other model railroaders from our area. It is also our Annual Meeting where you can discuss with your leaders the major directions the 4th Division will take over the next two years.

Your Division Superintendent gets to hand out a few awards to some very deserving individuals at the lunch break. There is a fine schedule of clinics presented by many of our best model builders. There is a special “Hands On” clinic on building laser cut kits. This is a limited space event and you must pre-register for this extra fare session. Click here to see the full clinic schedule.

While it may be too late to guarantee lunch, you can still register online and either pay online (through PayPal) or at the door. Click here for the main registration page (the “Hands On” registration is on the Clinics page).

Read More

Convention or Meet

4D Spring Meet Mailed Registration Forms Address Correction – Off by One!

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Cliff Green

For those of you who are software developers, you are familiar with the term “off by one” – a common type of error in software programming. There is a different type of “off by one” error that is in the printed registration form for the 4D Spring Meet (most of you should have received this form inside the 4D election ballot mailed earlier this week).

The correct address for Mike Stepner is:

6403 Stewart Avenue E
Puyallup, WA 98372-5065

(The incorrect address on the mailed form is 6402.)

If you have registered online (or are planning to register online) this won’t affect you. It affects you only if you are registering by mailing the printed form to Mike Stepner (and it will probably get to him even with the incorrect address, but … we’d rather not depend on it).

Read More

Convention or Meet

4D Spring Meet Clinic Info Updated

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Cliff Green

The 4th Division Spring Meet is less than two months away! If you haven’t registered yet, click here to register and reserve a lunch (which is included as long as you are registered by May 1st).

The clinic information has been updated – click here to see the latest (including one clinic track that is all about operations). The hands-on clinic now has a link to register as well as information on what materials to bring.

The Spring Meet will be held at the Tacoma Community College on May 14th, with clinics running from 9 am to 4 pm. The website will always have the most current info: http://www.wnrr.net/4DPNR/.

For more information contact Kurt Laidlaw at tccrailroad@gmail.com or 253-566-7042.

Convention or Meet

4D Spring Meet Website Is Live, Register Now

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Cliff Green

The 4th Division Spring Meet will be held at the Tacoma Community College on May 14th, with clinics running from 9 am to 4 pm. The website is up and running and taking registrations: http://www.wnrr.net/4DPNR/.

There are three clinic tracks, with the third track consisting of “hands on, make and take” clinics (there are additional costs with the “make and take” clinics).

The cost for the Spring Meet is only $20, which includes lunch – a great deal! (You must register by May 1st to receive lunch.)

Read More

Convention or Meet