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August Eastside Layout Tour Changed to Sunday, Aug 28th

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

The Eastside Layout Tour has been changed to Sunday, August 28th (from Saturday Aug 27th)

Two of the layouts originally scheduled for the Eastside layout tour in August have had to cancel. (Mike O’Connell’s mother passed away suddenly and the service is scheduled for the 27th; my wife, Susan, will be recovering from major back surgery the week of the 27th.)

The great news is that we will have two very special layouts open to 4D members and guests on Sunday, August 28th. Steve Depolo invites you to tour his Sn3 Alaska Pacific Rwy in Woodinville. The theme is “Mining in Alaska”.

This is a very large layout with all trackwork finished and scenery almost complete. Steve has scratch built many large mining structures and two complete waterfront scenes. All locomotives have sound decoders and are controlled by NCE. This layout will inspire you.

Al Lowe is one of our NTrak leaders and will show us how he uses his modules in a home layout. When not setting up at local shows, Al has several of his modules organized as a layout in his Bellevue home. These modules are highly detailed. Al has a very creative way of setting them up in his garage.

Both layouts will be open from 1 PM to 5 PM. For addresses and directions, email me at russseg@gmail.com and I will send maps and contact information.

Note – there will be another Eastside layout tour in October in the Renton and Maple Valley areas.

4dNTRAK Modular Group, Burien Clinic, Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic, Layout Tour

Clinicians Wanted for 4D Clinics

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

The 4th Division fall clinic season will soon begin. While most of our area clinics already have their lineups set, there is always a need for additional clinics ready to present.

If you have a topic you think would be of interest to model railroaders and would like to share it, please let me know. We definitely have openings for the Eastside Get Together (both the North Branch in Redmond, and the South Branch, currently in Renton).

Topics of interest: Prototypes, building structures, scenery, trackwork, interesting and special tools, electronics, track planning, and operations. These are just a few. Let me know if you are willing to share. Presentations are about 45 minutes and we supply the projectors at all locations. I can be contacted at russseg@gmail.com or 425-228-7327.

Burien Clinic, Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic, Superintendent’s Message

Eastside Get Together North Clinic (Redmond) – Great News, Meeting Space Finalized

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

We have located and contracted for a meeting space for the Eastside Get Together North Branch Clinic (Redmond). Commencing on September 15th, which is the third Thursday of the month, we will meet at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center in downtown Redmond. The meetings will begin at 6:45 and end at 9:00 PM.

Click here to see the updated 4D web site Clinics page (including a map).

This space easily will accommodate 40 of us, has good parking and good access to the freeways. Dave Cook and a leadership group is meeting now to plan sessions. Set your calendars now for every third Thursday. If you have suggestions for clinic topics or would like to present a clinic, contact me at russseg@gmail.com or 206-200-2211 and I will pass the information on to Dave.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get Together North Branch (Redmond) Clinic Report, June 2016

Written by Cliff Green
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Syd Schofield

4th Division, PNR, NMRA, Eastside Get Together North Branch (Redmond), 16 June, 2016 clinic

Dave Cook called the group gathering to order at 6:40 Thursday evening at the Redmond city library. About twenty people were in attendance for this last meeting of the 2015-2016 season.

The “Bring and Brag” items were a pre-fab production laser cut modular structure made in the UK, and a flat car with a specialized load. As usual, the items were of outstanding quality.

Brain Pickering gave a presentation of Digital Command and Control programming and operation with Decoder Pro from JMRI. Of the many features available with the several brands of decoders, Brian discussed and demonstrated some of the features and methods to simplify programming. The system has several hardware interface units available from different manufacturers with a common open-source (and available for free) software.

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Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get Together on Thursday, June 16

Written by Russ Segner
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Dave Cook

This Thursday our Eastside Get Together will once again be at the Redmond Library – 15990 NE 85th Street – Redmond WA 98052, 6:30 pm. Maps and directions are available on the Clinics page.

Our program will feature Brian Pickering who is very knowledgeable of all the aspects of DCC (digital command control) and Decoder Pro (a subset of the JMRI application). He will describe features as well as installation and programming tips for DCC.  Come and get your questions answered.

Bring a model to share and brag about! Coffee and doughnuts will be provided.

This will be our last program of the season and it is very likely we will be meeting at another location this fall. We will discuss location options and will solicit your opinions. It is up to you to show your support for this effort.

See you there.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Reminder – No Eastside Get Together in May

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

There is no Eastside Get Together clinic tonight (May 19th) in Redmond. There will be an Eastside Get Together Clinic meeting in Redmond in June on the 16th. The program in June will feature Brian Pickering with an outstanding presentation on DCC and Decoder Pro.

The Renton Clinic is on for Thursday, May 26th at the Renton Highlands Library at 6:30. That program will feature a presentation on the Dynamite Train at DuPont. Click here to see additional details.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Layout Tour Proposal

Written by Cliff Green
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Russ Segner

Many of us visited layouts open in Olympia on April 30th. So far, several groupings of layouts throughout the region are open on weekends during the year, but there is no such opportunity on the Eastside (East of Lake Washington). These open houses are usually Saturdays from 1 to 5.

I am proposing a layout tour in the Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Renton, Maple Valley, Kent, Auburn, and other close by areas for a weekend in mid July.

If you have a layout you would be willing to open to members sometime this summer and are located in one of these areas, please contact me at 452-228-7327 or by email at russseg@gmail.com.

Burien Clinic, Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic, Layout Tour

Reminder – Eastside Get Together is Thu April 21

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

This is a reminder the Eastside Get Together is Thursday April 21.

Place: Redmond Library
Time: 6:30
Program: Neil Stanton discussing radio control and battery power for your locomotives. This technology can work for HO, S, On3, and larger scales. Solve the problems of dirty track and eliminate complicated wiring.

Neil has been working with these systems for years and can answer your questions about starting with this system or retrofitting your existing system.

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Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get Together in Redmond on Thu, April 21

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

Thursday April 21st, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Redmond Public Library, 15990 NE 85th Street, Redmond, WA 98052

Program: Use of Battery Power and Radio Control

Our next meeting on the 21st will feature Neil Stanton discussing how to run your layout using batteries and radio control. This technology can work for HO, S, On3, and larger scales. Solve the problems of dirty track and eliminate complicated wiring.

Neil has been working with these systems for years and can answer your questions about starting with this system or retrofitting your existing system.

Model of the Month – bring something to share and brag about!

Doughnuts and coffee will be available. There will be a discussion of future programs and possible alternate locations for this clinic.

Questions: contact David Cook at 206-542-3383 or eastside_organizer@4dpnr.com. Maps and other information is available by clicking here.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get Together This Thursday, 3/10

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner

Note – The Eastside Get Together is on the 2nd Thursday in March (instead of the usual 3rd).

This month John Morrison will present The Mt. Pilatus Railway (Pilatusbahn) which operates from a Luzern suburb to an altitude of 6,778 feet on Mt. Pilatus. It climbs a continuous grade of up to 48% and is the steepest rack (cogwheel) railway in the world. All the other railways with grades above approximately 25% use a cable and are called funiculars.

The Pilatusbahn uses a unique Locher rack, together with some very interesting switches. It was built in 1886 and most of the original infrastructure is still in use. It operated under steam until 1937 when it was converted to electric traction. John’s presentation was a result of his second visit to Switzerland last September. He will also be prepared to discuss any of the other mountain railways he has visited on his trips.

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Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic