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What’s happening now in the 4th Division

Steam Still Runs – Continued

September 2, 2021Written by Anton Faulk

By Dan Peters

My personal thanks to everybody who provided feedback to the previous article about the “working steam engine” on the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad, at the Northwest Railway Museum. And especially to those whom I spoke with at the Snoqualmie Railroad Days festival over the weekend. Just my personal opinion, but we cannot have too many working steam engines here in Washington state. As modelers, preserving railroad history is what we do all the time.

Because of a scheduling conflict, there were too many authorized steam crew members on Saturday and not enough on Sunday. So there were no photo run-by’s on Sunday. But the good news is, those extra crew members have made themselves available for continued operation through the fall. Problems with the tender water tank have been fixed, but there is still work needed on the air brake system before Northern Pacific number 924 is certified for passenger train operation.

So, if you missed it this past weekend, you still can see our “working steam engine” in operation this fall. Plans are for the Northwest Railway Museum to continue brake testing, and photo run-by’s, on the first Saturday in October ( October 2nd ) and November ( November 6th ). As always, it’s smart to call the museum first at (425) 888-3030, or check the web site at https://trainmuseum.org.

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to run a prototype steam engine, the museum is always looking for volunteers. Steam engine crew members must be certified to run the diesel train first, and then go through additional training on the steam engine. But heck, our grandpa’s and uncles did it, why can’t we? For more information, contact Emily Boersma, Volunteer & Program Coordinator, at Emily@TrainMuseum.org or 425-888-3030 x 7203 or 425-772-8870. You can tell your grand-kids you ran a steam train “back in the day”.

Before picture of the NP 924:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1264131

After picture:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5431490

Articles, News, Northwest Railway Museum

Zoom Meetings – How To Do It Better

September 2, 2021Written by Russ Segner

North End Clinic this Thursday, September 2

August 30, 2021Written by Lisa Murray

Zoom meetings will continue for some time.

August 30, 2021Written by Russ Segner

Steam Still Runs

August 22, 2021Written by Anton Faulk

5 Comments

By Dan Peters

There are still a few of us around, who remember when “locomotive” was synonymous with “steam engine”. Big, noisy, smelly, labor-intensive, and almost alive. A machine with all the working parts on the outside, where you can see and hear them.

We used to be able to see working steam engines in our part of the country. But one by one, they’ve fallen by the wayside. The logging demonstration at the Tacoma zoo – gone. The Royal Hudson passenger excursion to Whistler – gone. The Lake Whatcom line – replaced by a short little speeder ride. The Mt Rainier Scenic excursion line in Elbe – still closed and up for sale ( while their current owner the Durango & Silverton tries to avert bankruptcy ). The Tolt River Railroad ( 2 ft narrow gauge ) at Remlinger Farms – gone. The steam engine at the Chehalis and Centralia Railroad – gone.

All is not lost. There is one last steam engine still running in our area. Starting in 2014, the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie restored Northern Pacific steam engine number 924 to operation. At the same time, they converted it to run on wood instead of coal, so it could continue running while compliant with current environmental regulations.

https://trainmuseum.blogspot.com/2020/07/924-testing.html

Even when we’re not in the middle of an epidemic crisis, this piece of living history only operates 3 times a year : on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Snoqualmie Railroad Days.

Snoqualmie Railroad Days, the 140-year-old town’s historic and cultural festival, will be moved from the third weekend in August to the fourth weekend this year, as life starts to return to normal. What does that mean? The number 924 will be in operation this coming weekend! That’s right. Steam engine 924 will be running on August 28th and 29th, 2021.

This is your chance to see a real steam engine running under its own power. It will not be powering the passenger excursion trains ( which are still diesel powered ). But, it will be providing “steam demonstration runs” ( as in, photo run-by’s ) all weekend. Parking is free.

You may have one or more steam locomotives on your layout. Maybe a vintage Lionel tinplate model. Maybe a rare brass import. Maybe a modern model with DCC and a state-of-the-art sound system. Now is your chance to renew the inspiration you had when you got that steam model in the first place.

Tell ’em George Stephenson sent you.

News, Northwest Railway Museum

Arduino Sessions: Your input required

August 15, 2021Written by Ted Becker

By Ted Becker

The series of Arduino sessions that were a spinoff of the introduction to Arduino clinic I presented earlier this year took a break for the summer. Your input is needed to determine if the Arduino sessions will resume and if so, what form will they take. The following questions need to be answered:

How many people will participate? Especially asking questions.
What topics to cover?
Go back to basics?
Get into more advanced topics?
A mix of the two?
Repeat previous lessons? Which ones?
What day of the week and time of day works best?
Other suggestions?

Send your replies to Ted Becker rail.bird@att.net.

FYI, on August 18 at 4:00pm I will be presenting an Introduction to Arduino and how I have been using them on the New Tracks Modeling show. If you are interested search for New Tracks Modeling and sign up for their emails or, if you email me Wednesday before the show I will email you the Zoom link.

Ted Becker

News

David Yadock’s Dry Gulch & Western Update 6

August 11, 2021Written by Anton Faulk

1 Comment

Article & Photos By David Yadock

Dry Gulch & Western, Update 6

One of my favorite locations is the steep, narrow gulch that is next to Alpine on the layout. This is my attempt to copy the famous French Gulch scene that was on the Gorre & Daphetid. A swift moving river with several cascading waterfalls provides plenty of visual interest to this gulch. Just like John Allen’s layout all four levels of the mainline traverse this area. This creates an excellent photographic location, but also created a very difficult scene to complete. Like with other areas of my layout there are lots of things going on in a very small amount of space. Six bridges, 4 tunnel portals, and a major water feature all had to be carefully planned and executed.

Photo 28 is probably very familiar since it was used in my last update but gives a very good view of the gulch in its infancy. It also shows how I attached some of my rock castings. I usually “glue” them in place with simple expanding foam, I then cover the exposed foam with joint compound. Once the joint compound is dry, I then paint it with earth colors. Later on, I blend the colors with other paints and ground cover. I used to use primarily lacquer-based paints but have switched to more water-based paints. Yes, there are 6 bridges at this location. One is on the left, 4 are in the center of the photo, and the last is a small wooden trestle just past the oil rig.

Photo 29 is taken from the Dry Gulch access hatch. This view normally can’t be seen from any aisles. The photo shows just how close the various towns are on the layout. At the top right is Alpine, just to the right of the oil rig in the center of the photo is Potter Flats, and down at the bottom left is the town of Raade Springs. The raised elevation of land that Raade Springs sits on completely hides Potter Flats from the front of the layout. Using these types of scenery dividers helps with making the towns seem further apart from each other. You can also see the completed rock castings and how they have been blended into the rest of the scenery.

Photo 30 gives you a close-up view of the bridges and the Conoco oil operation at Potter Flats. It also shows how little space Potter Flats occupies! Lots of tall timber trees surround the gulch giving it a wilderness atmosphere. I made those trees following Jack Work’s method of using tapered wooden dowels. Dyed asparagus fern “branches” are then glued into tiny holes drilled into the dowel.

Photo 31 is an “action shot” of a freight train crossing the steel trestle while Shay #9 pulls an empty log train over the wooden bridge. The wooden bridge is scratchbuilt and carries my dual gauge line.

Photo 32 gives you an idea of the vertical separation of the tracks on the mainline. Those little locomotives have some steep mountain terrain to climb! This follows John Allen’s idea of using the same scenery on some of the sections of his layout for the mainline tracks. Stacked multi-deck shelf layouts with divided scenery limits a photographer’s ability to produce dramatic photos. John Allen’s method allows for continuous scenery between the levels to create photos with depth.

Photo 33 has the Dry Gulch & Westerns lone diesel in the photo. I guess the engineer in Shay #9 decided to take a break since the locomotive hasn’t moved since the last photo! When compared to photo 28, this photo gives you a good example of how the addition of rock castings, trees, and ground cover can change a scene. Note how this photo really doesn’t need a backdrop, the layout, due to its depth, becomes the backdrop for this photo.

Next time we will take a second look at Potter Flats and the use of the mainline as part of the branch line. I will also show you the completed scenery in that area. There have been several subtle changes made in that location, so it warrants a second look.

David

Articles, News

Get Back To Railroading

August 10, 2021Written by Anton Faulk

1 Comment

By Dan Peters

In our latest Hi-Rail Group newsletter, Ed Ives complains that there hasn’t been any group railroading for 17 months, I’d like to report on my contrary experience.

Last winter, Ed advertised for volunteers to help restore the Lionel layout from the former Bellingham Club, which lost their location. They donated their Lionel layout to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie. The layout suffered the expected damage and wear-and-tear from being dismantled and moved 4 or 5 counties away in the back of a semi.

Not having a whole lot going on during the epidemic stay-at-home routine, I went to several work parties ( at that time limited to 2 or 3 people, practically in haz-mat suits. ). I found the people at the Northwest Railway Museum to be congenial train nuts ( sound familiar? ). So after the Lionel layout was up and running I stayed on as a Museum volunteer.

Right around this time, late spring, the Museum staff combined with Mattel Toys ( owner of the “Thomas” franchise) decided to take a gamble that the epidemic was easing enough to resume their flagship “Day Out With Thomas” event, after a hiatus of 2 years. Work at the Museum shifted gears completely, to get ready for the resumed event. This is their major event of the year and their largest source of revenue ( comparable to our Pacific Science Center show ).

To take precautions with the on-going epidemic, ticket sales were limited to one-fourth capacity, and at-the-door tickets were eliminated. In keeping with Federal Railroad Administration ( FRA ) regulations, face masks are mandatory, even for vaccinated people, and “social distancing” is observed.

For this re-imagined event, activities were re-located from the Snoqualmie Depot to the “History Campus” about 2 or 3 miles East, where fully restored equipment is displayed indoors in a museum setting. The “back lot” was transformed into a 2 or 3 acre mini-theme-park, with kids’ activities, display booths, Thomas play tables, a band-shell, hay maze, building-block projects, and multiple photo opportunities ( including a live “Sir Topham Hatt” ).

The advantage of re-locating the kids’ activities to the “History Campus” is that it gives the visitors the feeling of having “a place to go” on their train ride. The tour starts at the Snoqualmie downtown depot. Next is a station stop at the “History Campus” for the kids and families to spend an hour at the activities and exhibits, followed by a return train ride to view the dramatic Snoqualmie Falls ( higher than Niagara Falls ) and back to the depot.

Hi-Rail group members ( along with many other museum volunteers ) joined in this family event, to run the Lionel Layout for the visitors, talk about Hi-Rail trains from the 40’s 50’s and 60’s, and Ooh and Aah with the kids at the model Thomas train.

Well, the good news is, the event was very successful, even with the challenges of re-starting the event after a 2-year pause. And since not all the “Heritage Railroads” that usually host the “Day Out With Thomas” event are ready to resume operation, Mattel and the Museum are able to schedule a third weekend, in September.

So, here’s your chance to get back to railroading.
Either model railroading, helping run the Lionel layout, or prototype railroading, as a crew member on the full-size passenger train.
The museum is looking for new volunteers, for a half-day shift or the whole weekend.
The third weekend of “Day Out With Thomas” is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12, 2021.
Parking is free, and lunch is provided to volunteers.
If this is something you want to do, or if you want more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Emily Boersma at Emily@TrainMuseum.org ( 425-888-3030 x 7203 or 425-772-8870 ).

Tell ’em Thomas sent you.

News

Free Magazines

August 9, 2021Written by Russ Segner

1 Comment

I’m clearing out all my magazines. These are;

Model Railroaders from the 50’s to this year

Craftsman

Timber Times

Train Shed Cyclopedia

All are in good condition and organized by year.

They are free to anyone who will come and get them. Call me at 206 200 2211 or email me at russseg@gmail.com

News

Back to the Beach, Clamshell Days in Ilwaco with the PNW On30 Modular Group

July 26, 2021Written by Rich Blake

2 Comments

After a Covid induced cancellation for 2020, the PNW On30 Modular Group is back on the train show circuit for 2021 starting with arguably our favorite venue – Clamshell Days at the Pacific Columbia Heritage Museum in Ilwaco WA. The annual event was held on the typical second weekend of July 17-18^th. “Clamshell Days” is the celebration of the narrow gauge Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Co history which ran along the length of the Long Beach peninsula. The museum hosts the event where a small model railroad exhibition is provided with several modular displays, railroad centric kids activities and tours of the various historic structures along the original line of the IR&N.

Overview of the layout in the main exhibition hall of the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum.

This would be our first train show since Monroe in February 2020 and the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. We certainly appreciated the opportunity to get back together here in Ilwaco and owe a huge thanks to the Pacific Columbia Heritage Museum staff for making the event happen. Although we remained masked up the entire weekend for precautions, this show was a good indicator that we are finally in the initial stages of putting the pandemic behind us and getting back to normal routines which is having fun with friends and trains!

View from Bay Lumber Company Camp 4 to the far side of the room where Ed Konchar is operating a train illustrates the vast expanse of the layout.

On18 locomotive working Rich Blake’s cranberry bog module. The loco is built on an N-scale mechanism which runs on Peco HOn30 track. Rail vehicles were frequently used over roads in early cranberry bog farming as the ties would keep equipment from sinking into the soft soil.

A majority of our time on the layout is spent running operations. Left to right, Masked up operations veterans Stephen Winter, Paul Vaughn and Byron Osborn conducing a passing move on the wye.

A small Baldwin 2-6-2 tank loco detailed by David Brockmeier for the Shoalwater Bay Railway and Navigation Company. Shoalwater Bay was the early settler’s name for Willapa Bay.

View of the Shoalwater Bay module set built by newest PNWOn30 member David Brockmeier.

Trim little Class-A Climax locomotive built by Jim Elder stretching out some skeleton cars.

View of newly built coaling module built by Budd Lather.

News