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What’s happening now in the 4th Division
The Tacoma Northwestern Model RR Club and the NRHS Tacoma Chapter have lost their homes. We both must be out of the Freighthouse Square by May 1st. If any one knows of an old retail or warehouse space please put them in touch with me at petermcoulton@gmail.com or 206-550-4583.
There is a new E magazine in town! Trackside Model Railroading
Trackside Model Railroading Digital Magazine download or view online.
is a digital model railroad magazine, published monthly. Each month on the first, subscribers receive an email containing the links to download the new magazine. There is a choice to download the full size magazine in a zipped file that is intended for desktop computers, and it also includes two images that can be used for your computer desktop. Another option is to view the magazine online with the option to save it to your computer once it opens using the Adobe tools. There are also smaller versions of the magazine formatted for tablets and cell phones.
Each magazine includes two layouts which the staff have visited and photographed extensively. There are about 20-35 images per layout in the magazine, so you get to see many different scenes. You can zoom in on a picture if you wish.
Trackside Model Railroading wants readers to feel that they have experienced a thorough tour of each layout. Accompanying the photographs is an article about each layout and its owner. Whenever possible, high definition video of the trains running on the layout are included. Actual prototypical railroad sounds are dubbed into the video of the models, giving the realism that you are actually railfanning the layout. Several layouts owned by 4th Division PNR members have already been featured in the magazine. Additional 4D PNR member layouts have been visited, photographed and videoed for future articles.
Video links are inside the magazine. As you read a model railroad layout article, you will come across a video capture image which shows a play button. Just click on the picture and the video will launch. This does, however, require that you have an internet connection, as the videos are too large to embed in the magazine.
Each month includes an article instructing the reader how to build or design something relating to modeling. Sometimes these are very specific, and sometimes they are more conceptual in nature. Now and then, extra content like large panoramic images is included within the magazine that you can download and have printed to use as a backdrop on your model train layout.
You can re-access the magazines as many times as you like, and it is fine to download them on your desktop computer as well as a tablet or smartphone if you wish. You can purchase a month here and there for $1.89 or purchase a full year subscription for $14.99, making each month of the magazine just $1.25 per issue. If you have any questions Trackside Model Railroading can be contacted at questions@tsmrr.com.
Your 4D Board of Directors approved this “Policy for Reimbursement of Expenses Groups Attending Events” at its February 21, 2015 meeting:
1. Requests for reimbursement must be turned into the 4D treasurer within 30 days of an event.
2. Travel reimbursement will be made at the current Federal non-profit reimbursement rate for the vehicle(s) towing the trailer(s) carrying 4D-owned equipment from its storage location to the show and back. If no parking is available at the event, multiple trips for the same event may be claimed.
3. 4D will also reimburse tolls for ferries and bridges for the vehicle(s) towing the group trailer(s).
4. 4D will not reimburse drivers of other vehicles attending a show without prior approval. (Group funds managed by 4D may be spent as desired by each modular group. Budget requests are for specific projects approved by the BOD as part of the budget process.)
If you have questions, feel free to contact the 4D’s treasurer, Mike Donnelly. His (and every other officer’s) address is on the 4D website’s Contact Us page.
Yes, the 4th Division Board of Directors meeting is tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 21st). The 4D web site main page at 4dpnr.com was incorrect and has now been corrected (you may need to “refresh” the page in your web browser).
The meeting is at 9 am at the Yankee Grill which is at the Red Lion in Renton, WA. As always, all 4D members are invited to attend.
The 4th Division, PNR, NMRA Nominating Committee is seeking names of individuals to run for three positions on the Board of Directors. Nominations are for the position of Assistant Superintendent and two Directors positions. All three positions will be for terms of two years each beginning on September 1, 2015. Members can nominate themselves or nominate someone else by contacting JJ Johnston at 425-643-1000 or jj@jtwice.com.
Nominations must be submitted prior to March 1, 2015. A candidate statement should accompany the submittal.
Nominations now being accepted for Asst. Supt and 2 Directors.
Grab your copy of the latest issue of the national NMRA Magazine, check out the cover, and then turn to page 34 to read 4D member David Yadock‘s feature article, “The Sky’s the Limit.” It has many construction photos by David’s wife, Wendy, and some spectacular scenery photos by Paul Gornitzka.
Congratulations, David, on a beautiful cover and article!
Congratulations to our 4th Division Superintendent Russ Segner who was recently published in the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette. A recipient of the Golden Grab Iron Service Award in 2013, his featured story is about his Sn3 Coal Creek Lumber Company model railroad. His home layout represents a 1930’s freelance logging and mining branch set in the state of Washington. A major structure based on the prototype Sanger Lumber Company mill is scratch built as is his LRB Mines mineral bunker. His mythical interchange between the Denver & Rio Grande Western and the Coal Creek Lumber Company gives Russ a chance to show off his motive power including Shays, Climaxes, Heislers and some rod locomotives. Finished scenery and great photos by Russ and Dale Kreutzer highlight four pages and promote the upcoming 30th Annual Sn3 Symposium to be held locally in Bellevue from April 16-18. Russ will hold an open house of his railroad during the convention.
At the Tacoma Clinic on Thursday, January 8th, 4D Secretary Bill Messecar was presented with Master Model Railroader #543. Presenting Bill with this honor were PNR President Michael Highsmith, PNR Past President Walt Huston, 4D Superintendent Russ Segner, NMRA Director Jack Hamilton and members of the evaluation team, Roger Nulton, Ed Liesse and Ken Liesse.
Bill Messecar receives congratulations from Michael Highsmith, Walt Huston and Russ Segner.
Bill earned certificates for Author, Scenery, Structures, Volunteer, Dispatcher, Cars, and Prototype Model. Bill models the Santa Fe railroad in Southern California, and those who have seen his HO layout are always amazed at the detail, especially the oranges in their shipping crates. Bill has written several books and articles on modeling the Santa Fe and is active in the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society. His layout has appeared on 4D tours several times. If you haven’t had a chance to visit, make sure you watch for his layout to be on tour.
From the NMRA Achievement Program website: “The Achievement Program is a system of requirements for demonstrating a superior level of skill in various aspects of our hobby. It covers not only building various types of models, but also building other things which are important to the hobby, such as scenery, structures, track work, and wiring. It also recognizes service to the hobby and the NMRA, which are important as well. Use the links on the right to explore the different certificates and requirements.”
“An NMRA member qualifies as a Master Model Railroader when he or she has obtained at least seven of the eleven Achievement Certificates provided that he or she has earned at least one Achievement Certificate in each of the four areas of the Regulations. Earning the title of Master Model Railroader is the ultimate goal for many participants in the Achievement Program.”
Ralph Oxhandler (my father) passed away on Jan 6, 2015. He was a 4th Division member in the 1960’s and early 1970’s.
Ralph performed publicity functions for the 1972 Seattle NMRA Convention under the name “P. C. Shay”. He also performed publicity for the 1973 Atlanta Convention under the name “The General”.
He attended most of the clinics at Loyal Heights Field House and the Burien Hobby Center. During his time in the Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) of the NMRA he modeled primarily in HO scale but also worked in N, Z and Large Scale. Shay’s were his big thing, having bought one of the first two truck models that Pacific Fast Mail (PFM) imported and was the first to buy the Pacific Coast Shay when they were released. He enjoyed going to the Cass Scenic Railroad many times over the years.
Ralph joined the NMRA while we lived in the Baltimore, MD area with a date of January 1952 and over the years was a member of the PNR, PSR, SSR, LSR, and MER regions.
No services are planned. If people wish they may make a donation to the NMRA in his name. E-mail can be sent to me at nathan@gvtc.com.
The Tacoma N Scalers meet on the first Thursday of the month at the Fircrest Rec Center, 555 Contra Costa, Fircrest, WA at 7 PM. There is no meeting on January 1st. They will begin 2015 clinics Thursday night February 5th with a clinic titled “What I Got For Christmas and What I Am Going to Do With It”.
The March Clinic will be Thursday night March 5th, “How to Convert to Body Mounted Couplers”. Later in the year there will be clinics on laser structures, electronics, “EZ” trees, setting up operations, and more.
For more information about the activities of the Tacoma N Scalers contact Tom Todd at gntrains@yahoo.com, 360-349-1968, or Kurt Laidlaw at tccrailroad@gmail.com, 253-566-7042.
N Scale modeling by Jim Younkins. Bob Stafford Photo.