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March’s “Second Saturday” Zoom features Jerry Boudreaux’s large HO Santa Fe layout

March’s 4dPNR Zoom layout tour is going to inspire you for sure! Long freights often exceeding 50 cars and 6 units, 14 car passenger trains with sparkling warbonnets in the lead, and southwest mountain scenery punctuate the Pasquinel Division of the Santa Fe Railroad.  This 1200 square foot HO scale model railroad running thru the wilds of 1967 Arizona features a 650 foot mainline, large yard, and a number of smaller towns.  The Pasquinel is fully operational and 14 person crews keep it humming once per month.  Come join us next Saturday (March 9) for a trip  thru the red cliffs and distant mountain vistas of northern Arizona.  Jerry Boudreaux will show us his framing, track plans, electrical, scenery techniques, trains, operations forms, and even Santa Fe’s definition of a “Shooter!”  This Zoom-only presentation will start at 10:00 am PST, and we will open the meeting at 9:30 for meet and greet. Here is the Zoom info to join the meeting:

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

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

Hi-Railers Annual Train Trip 2024

Article by Dan Peters, Photo by Al Lowe

It’s that time of year again. Time to put on your engineer’s hat and work boots and red bandana, and take a ride on a REAL ( prototype scale ) passenger train.

This year we’re heading south, to the beautiful Nisqually River Valley, to ride the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. Our passenger train is powered by Polson Logging Co. number 70. This 100-year-old steam engine is a 2-8-2 logging locomotive, built by Baldwin and later used by Rayonier timber company on the Olympic peninsula. It’s been beautifully restored, and is ready to begin operations now that the COVID epidemic is past.

Our trip will be on on Saturday May 11th, 2024. We depart the station in Elbe WA at 11:00 am, for a round trip to the logging museum at Mineral WA. The museum is still closed for construction work by the new owners, but we should get views of the railroad equipment stored outside.

Our annual train ride and picnic is put together by the Hi-Railers module group, but is open to all Fourth Division and NMRA members.

To book your ride:

The adult ticket price is $37.00 ( or is it $40.00 ? ), with discounts for kids. Sorry, there is no discount for seniors. Don’t forget to select the number of tickets in each age category.

Bring your receipt, either a print-out or on your cell phone, and check in at the ticket office in Elbe. They will issue you an “official” ticket before you board the train.

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad

Join us for a fun steam train ride. And tell ’em John Henry sent you.

Dan

Eastside Clinic – Thursday at 7PM

Our Clinic this week will feature two parts. The first will be a discussion about operations on a layout. We will use the feedback from four sessions held on my layout, the Coal Creek Lumber Company. We will talk about how operations help us to better design our track plans and develop more interesting operating sessions..

The second part will feature a presentation by Bob Kenworthy who will share photographs of an HO model of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad’s Engine House and Shop in Carson City, NV. The model was built in the 1980s or 1990s by the late Tom Mercer of Sacramento. Tom scratch-built models of most the V&T’s structures between Carson City and Virginia City. Bob acquired these models when Tom disassembled his layout in 2014. The engine house model is interesting in its size, the use of some unusual materials, and the attention to detail.”

Join us and share your interests in model railroading. The link to the meeting will be sent to all on our Eastside email list. If you are not on our list and want to join us, contact Doug Oldenburg at douglas.oldenburg@Yahoo.com

Russ Segner

Feb 10 “Second Saturday” Zoom Layout Tour by Chuck Lee of Puyallup

Here is how to join us on February 10 at 10am for a layout tour by Chuck Lee, covering his HO scale Colorado Front Range RR. The pike is based on Denver, CO and features local industries such as the massive Coors operation, features 3D-printed and LED-lit models, such as Denver’s Union Station, and even includes a full-size CTC control panel for the dispatcher.

This Zoom-only presentation will start at 10:00 am PST, and we will open the meeting at 9:30 for meet and greet. Here is the link to join the event:

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

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

Opportunity to Run Trains

I am looking for volunteers to run trains on my logging layout next week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I live in Newcastle.

My layout is Sn3 and runs geared locomotives. Sessions will be 10 to noon and/or maybe afternoons from 2 to 4. Each session can accomodate 4 or 5 operators. If you are interested, please call me at 206 200 2211.

Russ Segner

Chuck Lee to deliver February’s “Second Saturday” Zoom layout tour

Join us on February 10 at 10am for a layout tour by Chuck Lee, of Puyallup, WA, covering his HO scale Colorado Front Range RR. The pike is based on Denver, CO and features local industries such as the massive Coors operation, features 3D-printed and LED-lit models, such as Denver’s Union Station, an oil pipeline under construction and even a full-size CTC control panel for the dispatcher.

This Zoom-only presentation will start at 10:00 am PST, and we will open the meeting at 9:30 for meet and greet. The Zoom link will be posted here and in the GrabIron a few days before the event.

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

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


Mount Vernon Clinic 12/18/2023

The Mount Vernon Clinic for December will be on Monday December 18 at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1411 Cleveland Street. Mark Malmkar, MMR, will be presenting a clinic on “Passenger Car Interiors.” Doors open at 6:30 for socializing. Or come to Round Table Pizza, 115 East College Way in Mount Vernon at 5:00 pm for a bite to eat. They feature pizzas, sandwiches and a salad bar. Bring a tool or material for Tool Time, and a model (in progress is encouraged) for Modeler’s Showcase. Further information: Al Carter, tabooma10@gmail.com