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March’s “Second Saturday” Zoom now posted on YouTube

Written by Burr Stewart
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If you missed the March 9 “Second Saturday” Zoom layout tour by Jerry Boudreaux, on his HO Santa Fe layout near Corvalis, OR, it is now posted on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/sGjaFgxJeUA

It’s well worth watching! Not only does he walk through his track plan with illuminating photos and videos, he also explains in some detail a number of his benchwork, wiring, scenery and trackwork techniques. It’s a layout tour and useful clinic rolled into one. We plan to have Jerry back for a “part 2” presentation on his operations techniques at the September 14 “Second Saturday” Zoom meeting.

Layout Tour

2024 Spring Meet Set For June 8th

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Bob Kenworthy

The 4th Division’s 2024 Spring Meet will be held June 8th, 2024.  The Spring Meet will be held at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA.

The schedule will be:
7:30 to 8:30 am – Registration at the North Bend Depot
8:30 to 9:00 am – Train Ride from North Bend to Museum
9:00 to 9:10 am – Gathering Time
9:10 to 10:00 am – Clinics 1 and 2
10:10 to 11:00 am – Clinics 3 and 4
11:10 to 12:00 noon – Clinics 5 and 6
12:00 to 1:00 pm – Lunch and Annual Meeting
1:00 to 1:30 pm – Free Time at the Museum
1:30 to 2:00 pm – Return Train Ride to North Bend
2:00 to 3:00 pm – Travel Time
3:00 to 5:00 pm – Layout Open Houses

Additional information will follow as plans are finalized.  Mark your calendar now and plan to attend.

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PCR 2024 Convention Early Bird Registration

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Russ Segner

The great Early Bird convention rate will expire on January 15th, register now to not miss this offer. The 2024 PCR Convention will be hosted by the Coast Division at the Sonesta San Jose Hotel from April 24-28, 2024. The Sonesta is ideally located for great layout tours, prototype visits, and other activities. The hotel has great convention facilities, enabling a vendor and swap meet.

Register Now

To encourage members to register early, we are offering two prizes in a give-away drawing for all in-person attendees registered by January 15th. Register now so you do not miss out!

Early Bird Give-Away

All PCR 2024 attendees that have registered by midnight on January15th will be eligible for a drawing for two great prizes.
Prize 1 – Free Upgrade to a Sonesta Suite for up to 4 Nights
This prize will let the winner upgrade their room from the normal $139/night hotel room to a suite. This will be valid for up to four ($) nights during the convention. Win and you can not only sleep in style, but have a party with your friends in your suite!
Prize 2 – $50 Gift Certificate
This prize is a $50 gift certificate that can be used to purchase any item in in the Vendor, Swap Meet or PCR Consignment Depot. The prize will be in the form of 10 – $5 certificates that can be used with any of the vendors or swap meet sellers.

Russ

Convention or Meet, Layout Tour

January’s “Second Saturday” Zoom layout tour will feature Greg Wright’s outdoor G (F) scale fun!

Written by Burr Stewart
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Join us on Saturday, January 13, at 10:00am PST for a Zoom presentation by Greg Wright of Olympia, WA on what he’s learned from a series of operating sessions on his new back yard model railroad. As usual, the meeting will open at 9:30am for meet and greet, and last until about 11:30. We will also record the meeting for the 4dPNRMovies YouTube channel.

Here is the information on how to join the meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87210657142?pwd=ZHhIWnZGMUU0YnAwNVUvMENheEZSUT09

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

Layout Tour, News

October Layout Tour “Second Saturday” Zoom to feature Burr Stewart’s HO/HOn3 Burrlington Northern

Written by Burr Stewart
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Join us on Saturday, Oct 14, at 10:00am for the next 4dPNR Zoom Layout Tour. Burr Stewart will give an overview of how and why he designed and built his 800 sq.ft. basement HO/HOn3 layout, based on the 1973 BN, MILW and UP in the Seattle region, including prototype research and how it translated to model form. Progress photos as well as finished scenes and operations scenarios, will be included in his slide show. Lee Marsh will host the event, and here is the Zoom link to join the event:

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87210657142?pwd=ZHhIWnZGMUU0YnAwNVUvMENheEZSUT09

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

The November Second Saturday Zoom is cancelled, so that many of us may have a chance to attend the Boeing Swap meet that weekend (Nov. 11-12).

Layout Tour

April’s “Second Saturday” Zoom (4/8, 10am PDT) to feature Bill Adkins on the life and works of Brian Ellerby

Written by Burr Stewart
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April’s “Second Saturday” Zoom will feature Bill Adkins, from Bend OR, giving a talk and slide show about the layouts of the late, great, Brian Ellerby. Bill was a friend of Brian’s and has some interesting slides to share with us. As usual, the meeting will open at 9:30am and the program will start at 10:00 am PDT. Hope to see you there!

The Zoom info to join the meeting is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87210657142?pwd=ZHhIWnZGMUU0YnAwNVUvMENheEZSUT09

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

Layout Tour

Layout Tour this Saturday Jan 14 on the OMRS

Written by Burr Stewart
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The Olympia Model Railroad Society is a gem in our midst! This Saturday’s Zoom layout tour will feature a tour of the track plan and its key features, as well as how they use JMRI for signalling and ops, and many other interesting tips. Don’t miss it! You may even want to become a member!! 🙂

As usual, the meeting will open at 9:30 for chit-chat (and possibly some preview videos) and at 10:00 The presentation will start, followed by Q&A. The zoom info is as follows:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87210657142?pwd=ZHhIWnZGMUU0YnAwNVUvMENheEZSUT09

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

Layout Tour

January’s “Second Saturday” layout tour is the Olympia Model Railroad Society

Written by Burr Stewart
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Join us at 10am PST on Saturday, January 14 for a video presentation on the Olympia Model Railroad Society (OMRS) HO scale model railroad layout, presented by its club president Scott Nelson. This HO layout features great scenery, working signals, JMRI operations and many other features you may be interested in. As usual, the meeting will open at 9:30 for chit-chat (and possibly some preview videos) and at 10:00 Scott will start his presentation, followed by Q&A. The zoom info is as follows:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87210657142?pwd=ZHhIWnZGMUU0YnAwNVUvMENheEZSUT09

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

Layout Tour, News

PNR 2023 Convention

Written by Kurt Laidlaw
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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