Category: News

Todd Von Stup moved to Seattle just a few years ago and is now avidly constructing a double-deck N scale layout based on the Montana Rail Link. For the presentation tomorrow (June 11, 10am PST), our last Zoom layout tour until the fall, Todd will show us his layout plans and progress to date. As usual, the meeting will open at 9:30, and his presentation will start at 10:00am PST. Here is the Zoom info:

Topic: 4dPNR June Layout Tour – Todd Von Stup
Time: Jun 11, 2022 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89699848127?pwd=OVpMWmhmK3hQekxHUk9GS0lpcEtJUT09

Meeting ID: 896 9984 8127
Passcode: 149005
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Al Lowe

The results of our recent election are in and, not surprisingly, both of the unopposed candidates won – unanimously! Congratulations to Bill Messecar and Ed Ives who will begin their two-year terms on September 1.

Election data:

407 emails were sent out. 42 paper ballots were mailed to members without an email address on file. We received 96 votes; 90 electronically and 6 via postal mail. Bill Messecar received 94 votes, with 2 abstentions. Ed Ives received 93 votes, with 3 abstentions. There were zero write-in votes.

If you’re calculating, that’s 96 responses out of 449 ballots for a 21% response rate. Not bad, considering they ran unopposed.

Respectfully submitted by your election committee: Dan Kellogg, Burr Stewart and Al Lowe.

Al Lowe

Even if you didn’t preregister, we still want to see you at the 2022 4D Spring Meet! There will be some great clinics, our Annual Meeting, the results of the election, and more. So come anyway. Complete details here – but don’t try to register. You’re too late. Just show up!

And when you come to Everett, don’t come empty-handed — bring a model with you! Any model that began life as a kit. No scratchbuilt. No paperwork. All we need is the name of the kit, your model’s name, and your name. That’s it.

There will be no judging, no ranking, no trophies – just the joy of sharing your hard work with others who appreciate it!

Al Lowe

Don’t come to Everett this Saturday empty-handed — bring a model with you!

It can’t be scratchbuilt. It must be a kit. And bashed.

No paperwork needed. Just tell us the name of the kit, your model’s name, your name, and your NMRA number. That’s it.

Bring anything you want. Something you did thirty years ago? A tank car kit converted to a Vanderbilt tender? A passenger car that’s a diner or a shed or both? A flat car into a bridge? As long as it’s railroad‐related and suitable for a layout.

There will be no judging, no ranking, no trophies — just the joy of sharing your hard work with others who appreciate it!

You have until midnight Monday evening to pre-register at the 4D Spring Meet website. Or you can register at the door Saturday morning and get a non-printed, handwritten badge. Either way, we want to see you. In person!

The 4D’s annual Spring Meet is less than a week away! This is your last chance to register and get a free lunch. If you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time to click here to register now.

If this is still a surprise to you, you can learn all about it here, or here, or here, or here.

Come have a fun day with friends and trains! See you June 4th!

The Pacific Northwest Archives is featuring Lowell Smith of RailSmith of Railroad Models as guest speaker this Wednesday at 1PM. RailSmith features outstanding N scale models.

Here is the link to the Zoom meeting. Please do not forward this to anyone not a regular reader of the Grab Iron.

PNRA Admin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: PNRA Admin’s Zoom Meeting
Time: May 25, 2022 12:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83745654188?pwd=UjU5bU0xa1pKZ25QcW5uRU9zNlg2QT09

Meeting ID: 837 4565 4188
Passcode: 375006
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Meeting ID: 837 4565 4188
Passcode: 375006
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcTRRuBPx5

Al Lowe

Yea, verily, thy deadline approacheth!

You have only 10 days left to get your free lunch. Oh, and also to register for a day filled with fun, knowledge, comradery, fellowship, and donuts.

The annual 4D Spring Meet will be held for the first time since Covid on June 4 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Jackson Conference Center on the Everett Community College campus, 2000 Tower Street, Everett. There will be clinics, a model contest with no paperwork(!), and an in-depth FastTracks Make & Take session.

In addition, the 4th Division’s annual meeting will be held during lunch. We’ll announce the 2022 Grab Iron Award winner, some new Master Model Railroaders, the results of the ongoing 4D election (vote now if you haven’t!)  and much more.

Register by Monday, May 30 to get your free lunch! Or register afterward and you can watch the rest of us eat. Or bring your own lunch. Just come!

What are you waiting for? It’s easy to pay online with Paypal. Click here to register now!

The PNRA is hosting Lowell Smith founder of RailSmith, a producer of N scale passenger cars. This is a Zoom meeting next Wednesday, May 25 at 1PM. I will forward the link as soon as it is released.

Jeff Schultz reports that All Aboard Washington, the rail passenger advocacy group, will have a general meeting and auction this Saturday, May 21 at 1:00 PM in the Centralia Depot’s Multi-Purpose Room, 210 Railroad Avenue, in Centralia. Masks required.

This is a chance to learn about passenger operations in the Northwest.

They will also host an in-person-only auction of books, models and prototype items. Membership is not required. Registration is suggested. To attend on Zoom, register for connection information.

Agenda:

1. Silent Auction (Photos of available items)
2. Roll, determination of quorum (Rocky)
3. Welcome (Kathy)
4. Pledge and Donation Request (Hendrik)
5. Cascades Update (WSDOT, Luis) 
6. Planning for 2023 Legislative Session (Luis)
7. Interstate Bridge Replacement, Just Crossing Alliance (Charlie)
8. Regional and National Updates (Dan Bilka, Charlie) All Aboard Northwest, Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit, 2022 Train Trek
9. Upcoming events and meetings
10. Adjournment