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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

Tacoma Events

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Kurt Laidlaw

The PNR 2023 Convention is just around the corner, but as part of the larger celebrations of Tacoma’s 150th anniversary and the Northern Pacific Railroad 150th anniversary, the Tacoma Historical Society is putting on a series of events throughout the year. I wanted to share some of these with you, especially if you live in Tacoma or nearby cities.

First is the free ongoing exhibit at the society’s building highlighting 150 years of the NP in Tacoma.
The exhibit is filled with railroad memorabilia and looks at the impact the railroad had on the various groups of people living in the area.

Exhibit Photo by Kurt Laidlaw

The second item is a special event, which also is a major fund raiser for the Tacoma Historical Society—Dinner with Teddy Roosevelt ($150 per person) on April 29th. While not to everyone’s taste (pun intended) or within everyone’s budget, it should be an exciting evening if you can make it.

For more upcoming events tied to this year’s celebrations check the website WWW.NP150.ORG.

Kurt

News, Railroad History

In-Person & Zoom Meeting With Jack Christensen January 21

Written by Anton Faulk
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Jack Christensen’s Great Railroad Paintings and Their Stories

On January 21st, 2023 the PNRA, NPRHA and Highline Heritage Museum will hold an in-person and Zoom presentation by Jack Christensen of ten of his most loved railroad paintings from 1:00 to 2:00 pm PST. This will be followed by the signing of his recently updated book “Tales of the Northern Pacific” and some of Jack’s painting prints available that day. The signing will be held at Highline Heritage Museum in Burien and is a rare opportunity to have your book copies and painting prints personally autographed from 2:00 to 3:00 pm PST. The event is free and open to the public.

Register Here

News, Railroad History

Skykomish Tunnel Days & Train Swap Meet

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Michael Walcker

On June 18th, the city of Skykomish is hosting Tunnel Days, a city event honoring the GN railroad and James Hill.  There will be a train swap meet included in the event.  Vendors can bring their own table, one table per vendor, and set up at no cost.  There is no admission fee and there is room for 20 vendors inside the fire truck barn with all others outside by the little train depot.  The indoor sites will be on a first come basis. Table space can be reserved by emailing mawalcker@aol.com.  The meet will be from 9am to 3pm, with a pancake breakfast at 7am and many family fun events planned for the entire day.

Michael

Convention or Meet, Railroad History

Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society Meeting Saturday March 30th

Written by Anton Faulk
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By David Yadock

Yes, this year starts off with celebrating the 165th anniversary of the Pennsy Horseshoe Curve!  At the time this was an engineering marvel and is still in operation today allowing freight to quickly move across the mountains of Pennsylvania.  The meeting is held at the Northwest Railroad Archives building in Burien.  The Archives location is at 425 SW 153rd Street in Burien.  The meeting will be held on Saturday March 30th and starts at 12:30 PM.

Al Baker will do the honors of presenting a condensed version of the History of the Pennsylvania Railroad from the perspective of an Altoona native.  This is the presentation he gave at the 50th annual meeting of the PRRT&HS last year.  He will also provide videos of the Horseshoe Curve as it was when he was in high school.  This presentation was well received at the Annual meeting and should provide a wealth of information about the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Horseshoe Curve, and the local Altoona area.

Mike Bergman will be bringing several books to the meeting.  These will all be for sale.  If you want books about the PRR, NYC, EL, B&O, or LV now is the time to get them.  The proceeds will go to the National Railway Historical Society.     

As always, everyone is invited to attend.  There is no cost to come to the meeting.  The meeting goes to about 5 PM.  After the meeting there is a no-host casual dinner across the street at Vince’s.

Railroad History

Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society Meeting Saturday October 20th

Written by Anton Faulk
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By David Yadock

There will be a meeting of the PRRT&HS on Saturday October 20th. There is no cost to attend. The meeting will be held at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien (425 SW 153rd St, Burien, WA). Check the website www.pnrarchive.org for directions. The meeting starts at 12:30 pm but the building will be open earlier.

This meeting will be a round robin of presentations from the attendees. It will be a group format and will be about the PRR and what is available on the internet about this famous railroad. It will be a way of compiling a list of information and entertaining videos that are available on the internet about the PRR. The meeting is very informal. Come and join us. As always, we even welcome New York Central fans!

After the meeting there is a no host dinner at Vince’s across the street.

Railroad History

Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society Meeting this Saturday

Written by Al Lowe
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David Yadock

There will be a meeting of the PRRT&HS this Saturday, July 21 at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien, 425 SW 153rd St. For directions, see www.pnrarchive.org. The meeting starts at 12:30 PM, but the building will be open earlier.

This meeting will be a little different format. It will be about anthracite coal. It will be a group format and, anyone with information about this type of coal, its production, use, or other information with regards to the PRR, will be welcome to present. It will be very informal, so don’t be shy. The Pennsylvania Railroad was at one time the world’s largest coal hauler, so just what were they and others doing with all that coal? Come to the meeting and find out. If you have information come and enlighten the rest of the group.

There will be a movie about the anthracite hauling railroads which should be very interesting. As always, we even welcome New York Central fans!

After the meeting there is a no host dinner at a local restaurant.

Railroad History

Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society

Written by Al Turnbull
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by David Yaddock

PRR Herald There will be a meeting of the PRRT&HS on Saturday October 21st. The meeting will be held at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien (425 SW 153rd St, Burien, WA). Check the website pnrarchive.org for directions.
The meeting will start at 12:30 pm with the building open earlier.
The guest speaker will be David Durkoop. He will go through the history and mechanics of the Raymond Loewy designed Broadway Limited passenger car “Mountain View”. He has firsthand knowledge of this since he owned and lived in the car for several years. This will be a very interesting presentation that will go into the fine details of passenger cars.
If time permits there may be a slide presentation from the Bill Volkmer collection.
There is no cost to attend this meeting and all are welcome.
We even welcome New York Central fans!!

After the meeting there is a no host dinner at Vince’s across the street.

News, Railroad History

PNRA and BEMRRC Holiday Open House

Written by Cliff Green
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Gary Tarbox, PNRA Executive Director

For anyone within driving distance of the Puget Sound area, the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive (PNRA) and the Boeing Employee Model Railroad Club (BEMRRC) are holding an open house December 26 – 31, 2016.

BEMRRC will have their new modular layout running for the first time and their permanent HO layout (under construction) at PNRA will also be open for tours.

PNRA will have displays and conduct tours of the preservation storage area with its newly installed mobile shelving.

Held in the archives are Northern Pacific (NP), Great Northern (GN), Milwaukee Road and Spokane, Portland, and Seattle (SP&S) materials, as well as logging, Interurban, Amtrak and short line resources.

Date: December 26 – 31, 2016 (Mon thru Sat)
Time: Noon to 6:00 pm on Monday thru Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday
Location: 425 SW 153rd Street, Burien, WA 98166

Please contact me for information at Info@PNRArchive.comcastbiz.net or 206-349-6242.

Layout Tour, Railroad History

Northern Pacific Parlor Car 1799 Move and Restoration

Written by Cliff Green
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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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Northwest Railway Museum, Railroad History