Category: Seattle-North Clinic

By Jeff Moorman

Important note regarding meeting arrangements. For the months of February, March, and April we will be meeting downstairs in the church Fellowship Hall, not upstairs where we have been. That space is being used to temporarily house a tax service. However, the church hosts community dinners in the Fellowship Hall on the evenings we meet. Those dinners end at 7:00, so their clean-up will overlap our set-up. Therefore, we may encounter some situations where we need to be flexible.

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, February 2, 2017. The agenda includes a “surprise” video which is supposed to build on the theme of our last meeting, the “Rocky Mountain Express”. If time permits, we will also do another installment of our fallen flags mini-clinics and/or start a discussion of creating layout backgrounds.

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By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, January 5, 2017.

The movie “Rocky Mountain Express” is just out on Blu-ray. So, if everything works out, we’ll take a peek and discuss a little about how the movie was made. Of course, seeing it at clinic pales in comparison to seeing it on the big Imax at the Pacific Science Center where it is now showing (hint, hint). Hopefully we’ll whet your appetite for the larger scale visual experience.

We will also do another installment of our fallen flags mini-clinics and (if time permits) start a discussion of creating layout backgrounds.

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By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, December 1.

We’ll do another installment of our fallen flags mini-clinics, discuss things to consider if we are offered the chance to acquire someone else’s model railroad, and maybe view a little video on winter railroading.

Last Clinic:

Dennis T presented a mini-clinic on the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway (or SP&S, reporting marks SPS). Interestingly the railroad was chartered in 1905 by James J Hill and never laid tracks anywhere near Seattle. The line mostly ran between Portland and Spokane, following the north shore of the Columbia River for a good part of the way. The story goes that Hill added the name “Seattle” to confuse his business rivals.

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By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, November 3. I should have posted this notice earlier, but I have had some trouble finalizing an agenda. At a minimum we’ll get an update on the Pacific Science Center Show for 2017, do another installment in our fallen flag series, and discuss some things to consider if we are offered the chance to acquire someone else’s model railroad.

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By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, October 6. Planned topics include designing and building control panels, plus the next installment in our fallen flag series.

Last Clinic:

September’s clinic included a discussion of “What did I do this summer (railroad-wise)?” and short videos on Union Pacific’s newly restored 844 FEF-3 steam locomotive and model locomotive maintenance. When the first clinic of the season precedes Labor Day, attendance usually suffers and this was no exception. Thanks to those who turned out and participated.

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By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, September 1. Planned topics include: (1) review of the WHO RR show; (2) a short video of Union Pacific Frontier Days with the newly restored 844 FEF-3 steam locomotive; and (3) another video on Model Locomotive Maintenance. Also, if time allows, we’ll do another in our fallen flag mini-clinic series.

Last Clinic:

Our previous clinic was May 5 and included a short overview of Mexican railroads. We were also treated to a recruiting pep talk by the 4D membership chair. Thom K shared an audio-visual presentation on “Urban Transit” done by Dave Honan for Winter Rail. Dave was unable to attend in person as he has in the past, but we appreciate his making this piece available. You can check out more of his railroad-related photography on his website, davehonan.com.

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By Jeff Moorman

The Seattle-North June layout tour has been cancelled. There are lots of things that have to come together to have these events, and that just didn’t happen this year. Sorry.

So, there is no regular Seattle-North meeting in June and unfortunately no tour either. Have a great summer and we will see you in September.

By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is this Thursday, May 5. Seeing that it is Cinco de Mayo, one of our topics will be Mexican Railroads. Other topics include a short audio/visual presentation on urban transport and a video on what it takes to get the fire started in a steam engine.

Last Clinic:

We didn’t get to our fallen flag mini-clinic, so we’ll hold that for some later date. What we did do was listen and participate in a clinic on track warrants presented by Ed and Ken L. Two things I took away from the clinic were:

1. Track warrants only apply to mainline track. Other rules govern what is known as auxiliary track.
2. Radio protocol states that the person/location calling is given first followed by the person/location being called. For example, “This is engine 4233 calling Dispatch.” And NOT “Dispatch this is Engine 4233.” Note that the latter is what you might expect from military or amateur (ham) radio experience.

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By Jeff Moorman, Photos by Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is this Thursday, April 7. The main topic will be Track Warrants. Come learn about this scheme used by railroads to control what train is allowed on what track and when. Depending on the era and prototype you model, track warrants can also be applied to operations on a model railroad. Time permitting the program will also include another installment of our continuing series on fallen flags.

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By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is this Thursday, March 3. The program will include the continuing series on fallen flags and a report on January’s Pacific Science Center model railroad show along with a discussion of the likely nature of future shows.

Astute readers will recognize that the proposed program is what was scheduled for the last clinic. But, as explained below, that meeting did not playout as planned. So, we will try it again.

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