Category: News

By Ted Becker

The Golden Grab Iron Service Award is given each year to a member of the 4th Division, Pacific Northwest Region, National Model Railroad Association, who exemplifies extraordinary service to the organization. The selection committee is comprised of the immediate past three honorees. It is time to solicit nominees for the 2019 recipient. A list of past recipients is on the 4D website here.

Submit your nomination with the name of the member and a list of their contributions to the hobby, the NMRA and the 4th Division plus a short bio. If you have submitted a nomination in the past, please resubmit. Email your nominations to Ted Becker at: rail.bird@att.net.

Ted

Mike Donnelly, Treasurer 4D-PNR-NMRA

The June 23 4D Board meeting is our annual budget meeting. Please develop your annual budget requests and get them to me by June 9^th.

Modular groups should break their requests into three categories:

• Operations and Maintenance
• Capital improvements
• Travel

Modular groups should include a list of the shows they plan to, or may, attend in the upcoming fiscal year (Jul 2018 to Jun 2019).

I can be contacted at treasurer@4dpnr.com.

by David Yadock

Attention-

All voting members of the 4D. The ballots for this year’s election are in the mail. You should have received the ballot in the mail or you will receive it very shortly. Please vote and return the completed ballot as soon as possible. Thank you for your participation in this election process.

Also, please note that a flyer for the upcoming Spring Meet was sent with the ballot. Please save the date and attend the Spring Meet.

 Dale Kraus

Digital Command Control (DCC) is a boon to model railroaders.  In it’s essence it is simple, straightforward, and user friendly [geekspeak for easy to use.] Nevertheless, several myths persist.  Those who use DCC  will chuckle at these, but many new model railroaders  find them confusing.  So without further ado, here, in no particular order, are the myths.

1. Each locomotive will require a dedicated throttle. If I have five locos I need five throttles.   No.  Each operator will need a throttle, which can control any decoder equipped loco.
2. DCC systems must be connected to a computer.  No.  The command station IS a single-purpose computer. It’s all you need to run your locos.
3. Loco programming requires a computer.   No.  All basic programming can be done through the command station using the throttle that came with the set. You can use your computer for advanced programming, but it’s a “nice-to-have” and not a necessity.
4. Older (pre-DCC) locomotives cannot be used.  No.  Any locomotive, be it 2-rail, 3-rail, DC or AC powered, can be converted.  Some will require more work than others.
5. The track must be re-wired and existing control panels removed.   No.  Existing wiring can be  used.  If your control panels are set up for multiple cabs set them all to the same cab and attach the DCC system to the inputs for that cab.
6. “DCC friendly” turnouts must be used.   No. If your layout runs fine with the current turnouts it will run fine on DCC.  All-rail turnouts are OK too if  insulated  rail joiners are properly used.
7. Blocks are unnecessary.  No and Yes.  Conventional DC blocking  is overkill.  The wiring can be simplified into maintenance/troubleshooting sections. e.g.: A town with a passing siding and several spurs  can be wired as one section.
8. DCC systems are not compatible with each other.  All DCC systems will talk to all DCC decoders, regardless of brand.  Generally, however,  the command station and throttles must be the same brand.

Finally, remember that this is technology, not magic.  If you’re using 2-rail  all the rules concerning polarity, reversing sections, and insulation must be followed. But fear not, for there are devices available to overcome these problems.

Dale Kraus

Remember, the Tacoma clinic has moved.  We will meet on Thursday, April 12 at

PARADISE BOWL 12505 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA 98444

The clinic starts at 7PM.

by Alex Brikoff

The April 2018 Eastside Get Together Clinic will meet on April 19, 2018.

Don’t forget that the Clinic is at the:
Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village
6505 176TH AVE NE, Rm. 202
REDMOND WA 98052-4930

Doors Open at 7:00 PM and Meeting starts promptly at 7:15 PM

We will begin by mentioning any noteworthy, upcoming model railroad and railfan events in the area. We will also have our Model of the Month contest and Rail Photo of the Month contest. So, please bring your best models and photos for the contests! Winners will have first choice of many fine items from our Door Prize table.

This month’s clinic will be about “Preparing and Presenting a Model Railroad Clinic” and be presented by Russ Segner. This clinic will show how to organize your thoughts and ideas for a clinic, move it to an outline and to prepare and present a clinic at an NMRA event. We all have some unique ways of doing things while we work on our layouts or while building that award-winning freight house or trackside industry. Have you ever wanted to share those techniques with your fellow modelers as a well-crafted and well-presented clinic? This month’s clinic will certainly help you get there! Come and learn how to create an outstanding clinic on your favorite topic!

We will have refreshments and snacks available. We’ll also have a great selection of Door Prizes to give away at the end of the clinic.

See you there!!

by Bill Hupe

Hello all!
Hope everyone is well.

Next Tuesday, April 10th is our clinic.

This month’s clinic “Track Laying Basics” by Jack Hamilton, MMR.

Time: 7:00
Place: Kitsap United Way, 645 4th St , Bremerton, WA 98337

As always coffee and cookies will be served.
Bring a friend and something to share