Category: News

Eastside Virtual Clinic will be held on THURSDAY, March 18, 2021 at 7:00 PM (lobby opens at 6:45 PM ) PDT

Our next Eastside Clinic will be held virtually on ZOOM this Thursday, March 18, starting at 7:00 PM with our virtual lobby opening at 6:45 PM.  I would like to extend an invitation to all the 4^th Division to virtually attend next Thursday.  So be sure and save the date for the March Eastside Clinic this Thursday, March 18 at 6:45 PM!  The log in info for the clinic is below.   

The Eastside Clinic is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting:
Topic: Eastside Virtual Get Together Clinic for March 2021
Time: Mar 18, 2021 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join the Zoom Meeting at:
https://zoom.us/j/96911542068?pwd=Rm94eHNJdnpvL29pVXd4MFo3S1BEZz09

Meeting ID: 969 1154 2068
Passcode: 845242

Our Clinic this month is titled “How to Shoot and Edit a Model Railroad Video”.  Our clinician this month, Burr Stewart, will provide an overview based on his recent work, of editing 4DPNR videos and a series of operations videos on his own layout. He plans to give us a tour of the equipment he uses, planning for the shots, simultaneous shooting, and some of the steps involved in editing and publishing videos to YouTube.

After the Clinic, there will be an opportunity for other folks to show off their latest model work in our “Show and Brag” event. 

Alex Brikoff, 03/11/2021    

By Ted Becker

Mount Vernon Virtual Clinic will be held on Monday, March 15, 2021 at 7:00pm. Meeting opens at 6:30.

The topic this month is Mike O’Brien showing the progress he has made on his new layout in Northern Idaho. Mike has taken a unique approach to developing the backstory for his layout and it is interesting how he has worked that backstory into his layout.

Topic: Mount Vernon Clinic for March 2021
Time: Mar 15, 2021 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91246007133?pwd=dm5selBTOG9CSWU1R2JQUWMxL3czZz09

Meeting ID: 912 4600 7133
Passcode: 144004

A Nominating Committee has been appointed to receive nominations for the upcoming election of the ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT and two DIRECTORS.

The duties of these positions are as follows:
The ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT shall perform all duties assigned by the Superintendent and serve in the Superintendent’s absence.
DIRECTOR. Serve as the direct representative of the members. Act in the best interest of the members In the management of the Division.

The Board of Directors currently meets 6 times a year generally in the area of Tukwila or Kent. These meetings last usually for about two hours. We have been meeting virtually over the last year and that may continue.

The current holders of these positions will be asked if they wish to continue and if so, their names will be placed on the ballot together with any others who come forward and are qualified. If you know of someone interested and willing to serve, or if you wish to nominate yourself, contact one of the Committee members:

Al Lowe al@allowe.com
Bill Messecar santafe-mail@comcast.net
Dennis Terpstra dennis@dterpstra.com

Russ Segner, Superintendent

The March 2021 SV&W Clinic will be “The Railway that Ran by the Tides” a history of the narrow gauge Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Co. presented by Oysterville resident and railroad enthusiast/modeler Mark Clemmens.  The IR&N was a 36” gauge railroad that ran along what is now called the Long Beach Peninsula from the mouth of the Columbia River to the northern terminus at Nahcotta from 1888 to 1930.  It was the longest lasting narrow gauge railroad in Washington and one of the most unique lines in the nation at the time.  Join us on Zoom for this special presentation.

6:30 meeting open for chit chat

7:00 presentation followed by question/answer period

8:00 (or whenever done with presentation) Show and Tell if you have something

Topic: Whidbey Clinic March 2021

Time: Mar 10, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96809468050?pwd=N2dTekFjQVo2SU5PQzNDSlllUzJKdz09

Meeting ID: 968 0946 8050

Passcode: 907978

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,96809468050#,,,,*907978# US (Tacoma)

Click here to read the March 2021 issue of The Flimsy Board from the Bremerton Northern Model Railroad club.

By Ted Becker

Monday, March 8 at 4:00pm PST will be the first of a series of Zoom meetings on using Arduino in model railroading. These sessions will be held every Monday except the third Monday of the month.

The topic of the first session will be the IDE, editor, compiler and uploader features and settings. It is recommended that you download and install the Arduino IDE 1.8.13 software from https://www.arduino.cc/en/software.

Topics of subsequent sessions will be determined by the interests of the participants.

Topic: Arduino Session

Time: Mar 8, 2021 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96749044862?pwd=ZS92MEZCQitIekFPZmthNU5LM3U4Zz09

Meeting ID: 967 4904 4862

Passcode: 507135

posted by Al Lowe

Eric Olsen has an N scale layout available for FREE to a good home. If you’re interested, contact him by email at beakenator@hotmail.com. Here’s his description and photos of it:

I have a small n-scale MRR that began its humble life as an old wooden door.  Overall it is approximately 7’ x 3’ in size and includes block wiring for 2-cab operation.  The track layout features a main station with 3 tracks, a regional station with 2 tracks and a branchline station with a single track.

The MRR structure is notable in that it has a cantilevered fold-up design so that it takes up much less space when not in use.

Features:

• Cantilevered folding table design.  Reduced footprint in erect position.  Safety lock in up position.  Attached legs fold with the table.
• Peco code 80 track with Peco code 80 electrofrog switches
• Tortoise switch machines with frog wiring and 12V DC power supply
• Control panel with block wiring for 2 throttle control
• Parking track (electrical off) for engine shed in main station
• Branch line station also has electrical off switch position for parking a train
• Dual throttle pack included

Size:

• Raised position 3.5’ w x 7’ l x 2’ d
• Lowered track height is 34” so suitable for children

Caveats:

• I disconnected all the switch frogs electrically while trying to track down a short. The wiring is there but the short remains (somewhere)
• The outer track on the double-track end is of marginal quality at the join and should probably be reworked at some point
• Like all MRRs, it’s never been completed but that’s part of the fun

By Gregory Wright

Kipert’s garage Museum in Olympia is a little known gem of interesting transportation and farm items, just south of Olympia next to the Tumwater Airport.  The owner has a number of railroad related items, some full size.  Part of the collection is being auctioned in March.  Follow the link to the Aumann Auctions for auction information.  Note that there are two listings to cover some 600 items up for sale.  

I have spoken to the owner and most of the full size items are being retained, including the narrow gauge Shay he is rebuilding and a near full size D&RGW caboose.  He hopes to have those items available for limited viewing at some point in the future.

Kips Garage Museum Collection – Day 1

Kips Garage Museum Collection – Day 2

Gregory