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Steam Still Runs – Continued

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

Steam Still Runs

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.

O Gauge Layout At The Snoqualmie Valley Railway

Article & Photos By Ed Ives

A request in the Grab Iron called for restoration of an O gauge layout at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, obviously a golden opportunity for the Hi Rail modular group to take action. The layout had formally been in the now defunct Bellingham Railroad Museum and would be resurrected in Snoqualmie. The Hi Railer’s would take on this task.

Contact with Emily Boersma the Museum volunteer coordinator was made to schedule a visit Friday November 20th for a quick assessment of the task at hand. Removing and relocating model railroad layouts might be done in one piece, unlikely, or with a chainsaw, more than likely. Emily advised that the Museum was looking at reopening on December 14th, pandemic allowing and would like the layout up and running by then. Friday came and the visit revealed a layout in essentially one piece, comprising three tracks and needing something like a modular set up at a show. We were advised that running on one of the tracks was never reliable and needs to be fixed. Yes, we can do this no problem. Hum, yes we hope so?

The first work session was scheduled for Tuesday November 24th where the team set about sorting all the tote boxes under the layout into trains, accessories and electrics. A quick look at the locomotives revealed that the mechanisms were dry as a bone and appear to have never been lubricated. A look under the layout revealed a spider work of wiring that was literally cut out to aid transportation, no color coding and any one’s guess as to which goes where. The easiest solution is to rewire, not something we normally do on a show set up. Lubricating locomotives and stock ensued, new color coded power feeders were added to two of the tracks. Soon we were testing locomotives and track. A good percentage of the locomotives needed something more than lubrication, one, a nice Great Northern electric on test made it part way round the layout before stopping in a cloud of smoke. Not good. Well not as bad as it could be as a light bracket in the locomotive decided at that moment to fail shorting out on the frame thus frying the wire. Cut off the wire and the locomotive runs fine but is without a working headlight.

In discussion with Richard Anderson, the museum director, he wished that by the 14th we have all three tracks in full reliable operation, all accessories working. As he said, he would like to see light and action. There is no evidence of previous automatic operation of signals nor barrier crossings and it would appear such operation would be desirable in the future. It was decided that this feature would be put on the back burner and handled in the New Year after everything else is fixed and operational.

December 1st was the next work session. Having gone through all the locomotives, lubricated all, repaired some and others put away for a more extensive overhaul. We moved on to the accessories to check them out, each showing evidence of extensive use. The lower inside track had been glued in place but about a six foot stretch had come adrift. The loose track was screwed down. The track was cleaned as best we could considering there are two tunnels on the line where the track is inaccessible within. Our first attempt to run a train on this track had the locomotive enter the tunnel at full gallop and derail out of sight and out of reach. Consistent running was finally accomplished by all locomotives on all tracks except for Thomas the tank. The wheel bearings on his passenger cars were so worn, through lack of lubrication, that the wheel flanges were scraping on the underside of the car floor. The drag of these cars causing Thomas to derail on the corners. The Museum did not consider they wished to buy new cars as would be reasonable. We offered to take these cars away to see if we could accomplish a repair as they are less than useless otherwise. 

December 4th revealed the Thomas passenger cars with new brass bearings replacing those original Lionel plastic ones. Thomas now runs fine. GREAT!!!! The rest of the day was devoted to powering the lights, accessories and compiling a list of spare parts required.

December 8th and in what we thought would be the final day of work before the 14th taking our stock of new light bulbs and parts for repair of ailing accessories. Work was progressing in fine order even to a bit of beauty treatment to the scenery when Richard dropped by with the disheartening news of an extension of the lock down to January 4th and that the museum would remain closed through then. Not a huge surprise but obviously a hit to the museum with lost revenue during the holiday season. A quick assessment of our ‘plan’ showed that a revision was needed, we cannot justify delaying automation of the accessories until January and in reality that should be accomplished prior to Christmas. The rest of the work session was devoted to testing the signals as well as the barrier crossings for operation.  As with most other parts of this layout few worked as is and by the end of the day by a means of cannibalization the three required functional barrier crossings were made out of seven nonfunctional ones. Neither of the signals were functional and both needed new components to make functional. It is doubtful that we can source parts locally considering these signals are at least 50 years old. Where is the Boeing swap meet when you need it?

December 11th, the final day and big push to put this program to bed with four members working on the layout; two servicing reluctant accessories; one under the layout wiring for the barrier crossings; one doing the final scenery touch ups and all tidying up around the layout. One of our members raided his home layout for a couple of color light signals set for automatic block operation that he donated to the project. These were added to the layout in the final minutes of the session. We have now been made official museum volunteers and need to sign in and sign out. A little training session will be required for other museum volunteers in how to operate the layout; put it to bed at the end of the day and awaken it in the mornings. 

Overall it was nice meeting and working with Emily and Richard; good to work on a layout again and not quite like a set up at a train show. It was a learning experience especially in automation that we might add to our modular layouts. On the negative side if there was one, the floor of the building was darned cold and hard.

Ed Ives 

Hi-Railers Attention

By Russ Segner

Mike Donnelly has been a volunteer at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie for many years now. The Museum has acquired an O scale layout from the former Bellingham Railway Museum.

They are looking for “experts” to reconnect the track and accessory wiring, and to refresh the scenery. There is a little bit of trouble-shooting on the lower level, which has reportedly never been fully reliable.

The entire layout is Lionel 027. The Northwest Railway Museum will provide any materials needed.

Anyone interested should contact volunteer coordinator Emily at emily@TrainMuseum.org

Russ

PSC Show A Great Success – Thank You To All The Volunteers

Article & Photos By Russ Segner

The Pacific Science Center Show last weekend was a great success.  It was attended by 13,948 paid visitors and was our largest crowd in seven years.  The credit for this belongs to the following groups and individuals:

Lisa Murray handled much of the organizing of volunteers and paperwork needed to keep things running. This was in addition to her being an active participant with the HO modular group.  Her son, Aidan, was also there as an operator. Lisa also chairs the Seattle North Clinic.

The staff at Pacific Science Center was excellent and were able to respond quickly to some of the last minute adjustments that always occur with such a large show.

The 4D Hi-Railers, led by Ed Ives, were set up right inside the Denny Way entrance with a 14’ x 20‘ configuration. Club participants included:

Wayne Grinnell
Ed Ives
Jack Klapwyk
Woody Mathews
Ed Pennington
Dan Peters
Gordon Sandell

The 4D N-Trak layout, led by Al Lowe, was set up in the Ackerley building. Per Al: “We staged an 1,800 square foot layout, which was set up in the allotted four hours and removed from the building in 61 minutes. Between which, we ran dozens of trains, did a lot of switching, and discussed model railroading with hundreds of guests. All in all, yet another good showing for our club, the Division, and the NMRA.” Participants included:

Neill Clift
Stephen Clift
Dave Cook
Mike Donnelly
Thomas Dye
Edwin Hill
Kyle Ilk
Kurt Laidlaw
Al Lowe
Dennis Terpstra
Bud Thompson
Cole van Gerpen

The 4D HO Modular group,led by Mike Slease, was also set up in the Ackerly building with a 24’ x  28’ layout. The layout featured its well-known video camera car, which drew a large crowd around the TV monitor.  Members participating included:

Gordon Crawford
Norm Curtis
Bruce Davis
Lou Davis
Paul Fischler
Brian Pickering
James Monroe
Aidan Murray
Ian Murray
Lisa Murray
Joel Scott
Mike Slease
Larry Sloan
Rob Staples

Thirteen other individual displays were involved in the show:

  • A Northwest Railway Museum booth was set up by Emily Boersma. She was assisted by several volunteers: Peggy Barchi, Jim Hale, Pete Kirchgessner, Michael Ledingham, Dennis Snook, and Harry T.
  • Bill Harper brought his interactive HO switching puzzle which challenged visitors (and volunteers) both young and old.
  • Mike Pettruzzelli had two operating N scale layouts on display.  He was assisted by Jeff Weinstock and Caleb Wright.
  • Al Turnbull had two displays—one the kids could operate and one that clearly demonstrated the construction involved in building a module.
  • Operation Lifesaver had an info booth manned by volunteers Weylin Doyle, Carol Kachadoorian, Alan Nelson, Brian Sims, Mike Turcott, and Martin Young throughout the weekend.
  • Bob Stafford brought his N scale industrial layout depicting some of the switching involved at Boeing in Everett. His interactive display drew quite a crowd.
  • Russ Segner’s On30 display was also popular with little operators and had visitors queued up waiting their turns all day.
  • The 4D/PNR/NMRA Booth was manned by John Owens.  He almost ran out of magazines and literature.
  • Baby Gramps was there along with Doreen to display his intricate and fanciful dioramas. They were assisted by Kevin Buster and Frances Wolfe.
  • Dan Kellogg had an excellent display and demonstration of techniques in modeling water features.
  • Kurt Laidlaw demonstrated the construction of an N scale module complete with track work and wiring.
  • Larry Sloan built and demonstrated a very effective display demonstrating the application of DCC systems.
  • The vendor, Ravensburger, brought loads of Brio and wooden trains for the little ones to explore throughout the busy weekend.

Several volunteers helped in the loading in Friday night and loading out Monday evening.  They also assisted the many exhibitors with rest and lunch breaks. Volunteers included:

Dave Enger
Anton Faulk
Fred Hamilton
Eldon Jacobson
Aidan Murray
Ian Murray
Paul OldenKamp
Burr Stewart
John Thompson
Dave Woodrell
David Yadock

All in all, it was an extremely successful event.

Russ

Day Out With Thomas Returns to Snoqualmie in July, Tickets on Sale March 6th

Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

Thomas The Tank Engine™ To Visit Snoqualmie, WA on July 14-16 and July 21-23!

Thomas the Tank Engine at the Northwest Railway Museum

All aboard! Thomas the Tank Engine invites little engineers to join him for a day of friendship and family fun at “Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017”. Children everywhere can spend the day with their friend Thomas when the #1 Engine pulls into the Northwest Railway Museum on July 14-16 and July 21-23. “Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017” is presented by Mattel.

This fun-filled event offers children and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series. In addition, they will meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway and enjoy a day of Thomas-themed activities. The tour, now in its 22nd year, will make 42 stops across the U.S. and Canada and is expected to welcome nearly one million passengers in 2017.

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Northwest Railway Museum Rides Begin on April 1

Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

It’s no joke – Northwest Railway Museum train rides begin on April 1st!

Excursion train ready to depart at the NW Railway Museum depot in Snoqualmie, WA.

It’s “Not Just A Train Ride” at the Northwest Railway Museum this train season! Beginning on the weekend of April 1-2, visitors can explore more of the Museum’s collection as most train excursions will include a stop at the Train Shed exhibit building in 2017. With a call of “All aboard!” Northwest Railway Museum visitors can step back in time and experience rail travel as it used to be aboard historic railway cars. The train excursions give visitors a glimpse back in time to discover how railroads influenced settlement and everyday life in Washington State.

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Northern Pacific Parlor Car 1799 Move and Restoration

Richard Anderson, Executive Director, Northwest Railway Museum

Note from Kent Sullivan: Hello regional NMRA friends, I am helping Richard Anderson of the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie to get the word out about saving this amazing all-wood Northern Pacific passenger car. It is rare in the extreme to find one in such complete condition. The issue is a chunk of money needs to be raised quickly in order to move it very soon, before the property owners condemn and destroy it. (It’s horrible to consider this happening but that’s exactly what is in store for the car in a couple of months.) The total cost to rehabilitate this car, if it can be moved soon, is projected to be far less than the typical restoration these days, due its superior overall condition.

Please, if you can donate to help raise the first chunk of money, contact Richard. His contact info is at the bottom of this posting. And, please forward this posting to anyone you know who might have an interest in helping – NP enthusiast or otherwise. The link is https://4dpnr.com/northern-pacific-parlor-car-1799-move-and-restoration/. Merry Christmas.

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Special Victorian Santa Train Offered in 2016 at the Northwest Railway Museum

Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

New for 2016 – Victorian Santa Train on Friday, December 16

Step back in time and enjoy the ambiance of the historic 1890 Snoqualmie Depot with a special visit with St. Nick himself.

This year for the first time, the Friday, December 16th Santa Train will be a Victorian Santa Train complete with a 19th Century Father Christmas to greet children and their families!

Victorian St. Nick at the Northwest Railway Museum

Victorian St. Nick at the Northwest Railway Museum

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All Aboard the Halloween Train at the Northwest Railway Museum

Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

All Aboard the Halloween Train (Oct. 22-23) & Halloween Storytelling Train (Oct. 29-30)

Hands-on cider pressing as part of the Halloween Train event at the Northwest Railway Museum

Hands-on cider pressing as part of the Halloween Train event at the Northwest Railway Museum

This Halloween season, guests to the Northwest Railway Museum can choose between two Halloween Train experiences! On the weekend of Oct 22-23, steam train excursions include cider pressing demonstrations, treats for kids, hot cider to ward off the chill, and the full train ride which includes a visit to the Train Shed Exhibit building and the view from the top of Snoqualmie Falls.

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