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Clinics Listed For 4D Spring Meet

Written by Cliff Green
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Russ Segner

There will be a full Saturday of clinics at the 4th Division Spring Meet to help us all enjoy our hobby more and become better model builders. A list of the clinics and the presenters has been posted to the Spring Meet web site. Come and enjoy learning from some of our best.

The date is Saturday, June 6 at the Bellevue Sheraton Hotel. Registration is available by mail or online and includes lunch. Additional details including online registration are in the previous Grab Iron post.

We will hold our 4th Division Annual Meeting during lunch and hand out some special recognition to some of our members for their fine work and contributions to the hobby.

Convention or Meet,

Making Tracks – 4th Division 2015 Spring Meet, Saturday June 6th

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green

The 4th Division’s 2015 Spring Meet – “Making Tracks” – will be held on Saturday June 6th at the Sheraton Bellevue Hotel, 100 112th Av NE, Bellevue Washington. There will be layout tours on June 7th.

Eight great clinics will be offered including (at least):

  • Prototype locations for planning ideas
  • Bridge construction
  • Modules
  • Large layout design and operation
  • Layouts in smaller spaces
  • Fast Tracks hands-on
  • Freelancing

The registration is $25 for NMRA members if registered online or by mail before May 31st or $35 at the door for those not pre-registered. Lunch is included. For online registration and additional details visit http://wnrr.net/4dspringmeet/. A printable poster can be found at http://wnrr.net/4dspringmeet/SpringMeetPoster.pdf.

Please contact Russ Segner at russseg@gmail.com or 425-228-7327 for more information.

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Portland Meet ‘N March, Saturday, March 28

Written by Al Lowe
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Al Lowe

The annual N scale Meet ‘N March swap meet will be held Saturday, March 28 in Portland, Oregon at the Valley Catholic High School, at the intersection of TV Hwy. and Murray Blvd., in Beaverton (on the west side of Portland). The show will open to the public at 10:00 a.m. and will feature three N scale layouts, vendors selling N scale model railroad products, and clinics for intermediate to advanced modelers.

If you attended in the past and thought the old warehouse where it was held was too cold, it has been moved to a school (with actual heat).

4dNTRAK Modular Group, Convention or Meet, Tacoma N Scalers Clinic, , , , ,

Tacoma Northwestern Model Railroad Club Show and Swap Meet at Freighthouse Square Mar 21 and 22

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green

The Tacoma NW model railroad club show and swap meet is being held March 21st-22nd at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma.

The TNW is excited to host their fourth Model Railroad Show and Swap Meet at Freighthouse Square. Many clubs from around Washington will be in attendance as well as vendors with various railroad items to sell spread through three floors, two very large rooms and various shops. Freighthouse Square always offers a variety of eating establishments and interesting shops for browsing. A portion of the ticket sales from the show will benefit a local charity.

The hours are 9-4 on Saturday and 10-3 on Sunday and admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children under 12, seniors and active military personnel, and children under 3 are free. Additional information including directions and contact info can be found on the TNW web site.

Convention or Meet, Model Train Show, , , , , ,

16th Northwest Santa Fe Mini-Meet Saturday, March 21, Auburn

Written by Cliff Green
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John Thompson

This is your invitation to attend the 16th annual Mini-Meet of Santa Fe Railway fans and modelers in the US Pacific Northwest. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sat., March 21, 2015, at the Messiah Lutheran Church, 410 H Street NE, Auburn, WA, 98002.

Presentations include Bill Messecar on “Traveling the Santa Fe System in 1953” (from Keith Jordan and Wally Abbey), Bill James on “Modeling the Super C (Freight Train)”, John Thompson on “Santa Fe’s E-Units” (from Steve Sandifer), Colin Kikawa on “Upgrading Brass Steam with DCC and LEDs”, and Greg Martin on “Modeling a Santa Fe Bx-40/Fe-25 Boxcar in HO”.

Cost for the event and handouts is now $10 to cover our costs of renting the room and copying the handouts. Sale tables are available for a $10 fee per table.

For additional information contact me at jthomp1945@aol.com.

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Trains 2014, Burnaby, British Columbia

Written by Cliff Green
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7th Division, PNR, NMRA

Trains 2014 is British Columbia’s premier model train show and meet and is being held on Friday, November 7th through Sunday, November 9th. Trains 2014 is the Lower Mainland meet of the 7th Division, Pacific Northwest Region of the National Model Railroad Association. The show consists of two components, NMRA members meet with various activities for registrants, and a two-day public train show. Activities for the NMRA meet are self-guided layout tours, clinics, contests, banquet, and admission to the Public Train show. Registered NMRA members have access to the train show at 9 AM, one hour before it opens to the general public.

Online registration will be open until Wednesday, November 5th. Online registration is $55. At-the-door registration is $65. NMRA members receive a $5 discount. The venue for Trains 2014 is the Cameron Recreation Complex, 9523 Cameron Street, Burnaby, BC. More information here.

Convention or Meet

Last Day to Save on Sn3 Symposium

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner, Convention Chair

Sn3 2015The 30th Annual Sn3 Symposium will be held in Bellevue, Washington next April 16 – 19, 2015. If you REGISTER TODAY, you’ll save big bucks!

It will be hosted by the same bunch that brought you the great 2012 National Narrow Gauge Convention. With over 15 narrow gauge layouts, 16 great clinics, and lots of time with fellow narrow-gaugers. At least seven Sn3 layouts will be open for operating sessions, with slots filled first-come, first-served.

Held at the excellent Bellevue Sheraton, there will be plenty of room for clinics and contest entries. 75 rooms have been reserved at very good rates for attendees.

For more information, see sn3symposium-2015.com, or email Registrar Robin Peel.

Today is the last day to get the early registration rate!

Convention or Meet, Narrow Gauge

Sn3 Symposium Discount Sign-Up Ends Soon

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner, Sn3 Symposium Coordinator

Sn32015Do you have a fondness for narrow gauge trains or just admire fine modeling? Then you can’t miss the annual 2015 Sn3 Symposium to be held in Bellevue next April 16! This is a national event with participants from all over the world.

The Symposium committee has lined up 16 layouts in several scales, most of which are not usually open. There will be several operating sessions available; clinics by nationally-recognized modelers; a model and photo contest; and vendors from across the nation. The Bellevue Sheraton has been selected as the convention hotel, with easy access to freeways and free parking.

Take advantage of the early registration rate of just $45 until September 10! Check out our website to see all that we have in store for you.

Convention or Meet, Narrow Gauge

PSX 2014 – The PNR Convention in Tacoma, WA

Written by Al Lowe
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Walt Huston

The day before the convention began several home and museum layouts were open for visitors who were on their way into Tacoma to view, including mine. I had ten drop by and am quite pleased. The convention took off with the Board of Directors meeting at 10:00 Wednesday morning. That was followed by a series of clinics Wednesday afternoon, and the first big mixer, the Ice Cream Social, Wednesday evening. The ice cream was delicious, as were the many toppings available. There was no ice cream left over, that’s for sure.

Thursday began bright and early with the bus leaving for the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Tour and BBQ at 7:30 and clinics beginning at 8. The self-drive layout tours were in the area of Olympia, WA and were well attended.

Friday kicked off with the Tacoma Rail tour bus heading out at 8, while clinics headed into day 3. The layout self-drive tours were in the area of Puyallup, Spanaway and Lakewood. (I was open again.) Again, the layouts drew good numbers of visitors. (I had 39.)

Saturday the clinics again started at 8. There were no bus tours on Saturday, however, the self-drive layout tours were open in the Tacoma and Fife areas. Again, well attended. The General membership meeting was conducted beginning at 10 and adjourned at close to 11. A very good member attendance kept things lively and interesting.

The Banquet was held Saturday evening. The food was excellent; a good time was had by all. Awards were given to the contest winners, the 4D Golden Grab Iron Award (Person of the Year) was presented to Jim Sabol of Spanaway for the overwhelming amount of service Jim has given, not only over the past year, but also over a very long time. The highlight of the evening was the award of The President’s Award to Gary Hazell of the 7th Division. Gary is another PNR member who has given so very much of himself to his Division, to PNR, and to model railroading in general.

This was my final convention as President and it was a great way to bow out. Thanks to everyone who assisted me over the past four plus years. I’m not done visiting the cities and towns within the PNR, but from now on, it’s going to be for pleasure and to do AP assessments with the Jack Hamilton 4D Hit Squad. Or, maybe augmenting local assessors, who need a helping hand.

Keep on Training!

Convention or Meet