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2024 G.O.P.H.E.R.S. Meet Succeeds 1000 Times Over!

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Jim Sabol

The 16th Annual Greater Olympia Prototype History & Engineering Research Society met at the DuPont Museum on June 1 to inspect equipment from the last narrow gauge railroad in Washington State. 17 modelers and 6 guests heard presentations on the powder plant rail operations from former employee Jim Sabol, a review by Fred Foreman of restoration and renovation efforts by 4D members Russ Segner, Robert Grove, Roger Nulton, Jim and Mary Sabol and friends—especially efforts to save 21′ boxcar 506 used to carry munitions and explosives to the wharf–and Vince Mendenhall’s exciting videos of projects completed by his company, Historic Railway Restoration. Members were wowed by Chip van Gilder’s 3D models of #506 and lined up to buy kits. Jim’s grilled hot dogs failed to poison anyone, Don Melnick’s butterscotch brownies disappeared in a hurry, and the rain held off. When it came to pass the contribution jar as a memorial to our fallen brother member Chuck Ricketts, museum staff Zach Lyday counted $965.00 for 506 restoration. An observant modeler tossed in another $35 to make it an even $1,000.00 contributed by generous and caring Olympia area 4D members. 

Boxcar 506
2024 GOPHERS
Narrow Gauge, Olympia Clinic, Railroad History

April Olympia Clinic

Written by Brian Ferris
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In the final instalment of our operations series, Scott Nelson, of the OMRS will discuss his switching layout and how he uses JMRI (a computer based operations generator) to operate his railroad operations.

Scott will describe and show his layout and talk about how he envisioned it to operate, then put that vision into JMRI to create the scenarios.  

This clinic will give you both practical small railroad ideas and technical computer generated operational ideas.  You won’t want to miss it!

Time: Apr 19, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85050094529?pwd=deeCgW3D64zObUwrFCjcoTaYjSuYex.1

Meeting ID: 850 5009 4529

Passcode: 357612

In Person: Panorama City

Address: 1751 Circle Ln SE, Lacey, WA 98503

Our clinic will be in the basement auditorium of the Panorama Quinault Apartment building known as the Seattle Room (across the hall from our old meeting room).

Olympia Clinic

Clinics For The Week Of March 16 Are Cancelled

Written by Anton Faulk
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The Clinics for the week of March 16 are cancelled due to the situation with the COVID-19 virus. As the situation changes day to day, the events calendar is being updated as needed.

Clinics cancelled this week:

  • Mount Vernon Clinic, Monday March 16th
  • Eastside Clinic, Wednesday March 18th
  • Olympia Clinic, Friday March 20th

If you have a question about the status of an event, you can check the events calendar or contact the clinic organizer who can be found on the clinics page.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic, Mt Vernon Clinic, News, Olympia Clinic

Olympia Clinic and the 39th National Narrow Gauge Convention

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Gregory Wright

Four members of the Olympia monthly clinic group travelled to Sacramento to the 39th National Narrow Gauge Convention in September. Two members brought models for the contest room and five of the six models won awards. Greg Wright won a second place in internal combustion. Harry Avis won a third place in maintenance of way, a second place in rolling stock and two first places, one in cabooses and one in special equipment.

Greg Wright and Harry Avis show their prize winning models at the September 20, 2019, Olympia Clinic
  • Harry Avis’ On3 scratch built boxcar
  • Harry Avis’ HO scale kitbashed RR barge tug
  • Harry Avis’ 1:32 scale scratchbuilt caboose
  • Harry Avis’ 1:24 scale scratchbuilt velocipede
Harry Avis’ 1:24 scale scratchbuilt velocipede

The Olympia Clinic meets on the third Friday of each month. Contact Greg Wright, gregorywright2002@yahoo.com for details. The group plans a review of the national narrow gauge convention at their February 21, 2020 meeting. Other topics in 2019-2020 include scratchbuilding, weathering and prototype photos tours.

Gregory

Convention or Meet, Olympia Clinic

Olympia Clinic – December Meeting

Written by Al Turnbull
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by Jim Younkins

It is time for our December 15 meeting.

Alexander Zelkin’s Degulbeef & Cradding Railroad,
a Video Tour and Narration
by Don Melnick

Don fell in love with the Dolley Varden Mine Railroad located at Alice Arm, BC, which became his Sn3 modelling prototype. Many modelers have modeled it and Don constantly sought photographs of their work which ultimately led him to Alexander Zelkin. Don visited Mr. Zelkin in France; Don will talk about meeting him and seeing his railroad the Degulbeff & Cradding Railroad based on the prototype Dolly Varden Mine Railroad at our December clinic. Don will present a video done by Mr. Zelkin of his railroad that has been featured in the ‘Shortline and Narrow Gauge Gazette’.

Don’s layout had been in the visualization phase for several years and last winter he framed the first module for a layout in his home at Panorama City.

Remember, we are at the Thurston County Court House, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW. Building 1, Room 152.

Join us at 7:00 pm on December 15, 2017.

Olympia Clinic

Olympia Clinic

Written by Al Turnbull
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by Greg Wright/Jim Younkins

It is time for the Olympia Clinic November 17th meeting.

Bill Busacca will be presenting:
Weathering RTO cars with Pan Pastels and other weathering tricks.
Bill will show photos of a number of different techniques—both paint types and powders to create the affects you need to create the best scenery you can.

Remember, we are at the
Thurston County Court House,
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW.
Building 1, Room 152.

Join us at 7:00 pm on November 17, 2017.

Olympia Clinic

Olympia Clinic

Written by Al Turnbull
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by Jim Younkins

It is time for our October 20 meeting.

Scott Groff will be presenting
Dead Rail; Are you ready for battery powered locomotives?

Scott has been researching this topic and batteries in general. Come learn about this fascinating topic that might mean no more cleaning of the rails.

Remember, we are at the Thurston County Court House, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW. Building 1, Room 152.
Meeting starts at 7:00 pm.

Olympia Clinic

Request for Photos of the HO Scale Rawlins, Lincoln, and Greeley Railway in Olympia

Written by Cliff Green
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Robert L Grove

Turntable on Robert Grove's HO scale Rawlins, Lincoln, and Greeley Railway layout (Cliff Green photo)

Turntable on Robert Grove’s HO scale Rawlins, Lincoln, and Greeley Railway layout (Cliff Green photo)

The Rawlins, Lincoln & Greeley Railway was one of the HO scale layouts in Olympia, Washington. It has been dismantled in preparation for a move. After dismantling most of the 9’×13′ three level core of the plan, I realized I had not taken any photographs in the past few years.

Anyone who visited “Central Wyoming in the summer of 1950” who has photos they are willing to share may e-mail digital copies to me at grove25@comcast.net. The RL&G was open during the 2015 and 2016 layout tours and open houses in Olympia. Your help will be appreciated and whatever you have will be accepted with joy.

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Layout Tour, Member Ads, Olympia Clinic

Olympia Clinic on Oct 14, Chuck Ricketts On Using Computers to Build Paper Structures

Written by Cliff Green
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Greg Wright

On October 14 at the Olympia Clinic Chuck Ricketts will be presenting: Using Computers to Build Paper Structures.

Chuck received an American Flyer electric train on his first birthday. He was running it himself by age three and received a Lionel train at the end of WWII. A few years later, he switched to HO scale. Over the years, he modeled in HO, N and HOn3. Since 2006, he has been in On30 and started his current home layout in Washington in 2007. He recently achieved the NMRA Master Model Railroader status (MMR number 562). His railroad, the Sherwood, Shelton and Sarazen, has been viewed by people from all over the world who attended the National Narrow Gauge Convention in 2012.

(Editor’s note: A photo of the wharf scene on Chuck’s layout is the first layout image on the 4D web site. Click here to see a previous Grab Iron post about operating on the Sherwood, Shelton and Sarazen.)

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Olympia Clinic

Olympia Clinic June 2016 Report

Written by Cliff Green
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Robert Grove

On the left is a 22 ton Shay waiting for restoration. Three foot gauge rolling stock is on the right, including D&RGW caboose #0582 and a Plymouth low cab locomotive used in mining.

On the left is a 22 ton Shay waiting for restoration. Three foot gauge rolling stock is on the right, including D&RGW caboose #0582 and a Plymouth low cab locomotive used in mining.

The Olympia June Clinic Field Trip tradition continues! This time 26 of us visited a private collection in Tumwater, Washington. As we did not have a park available for “Hot Dogs by Jim & Mary Sabol,” we enjoyed great service, excellent breakfasts and Jim Sabol comedy in the River’s Edge Restaurant at the Tumwater Valley Golf course.

Kipert’s Korner Feed owner Craig Kinnaman has gathered several gauges of railroad equipment, 15 inch to 4’ 8 ½.” He also has old model trains, classic trucks, riding toys, large machinery, and much more.

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Olympia Clinic