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2024 Spring Meet Report

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Bill Messecar, Photos By John Thompson

Weeks of planning between two 4D Board members, Kurt Laidlaw and Bob Kenworthy and the staff at the NW Railroad Museum near Snoqualmie culminated in a day 4D attendees won’t forget. It started with a train ride from the old NP depot at North Bend to the museum in beautiful spring weather. We divided into groups to attend a clinic given by Greg Wright MMR, a tour of the museum Lionel and HO layouts and a behind the scenes visit to the museum restoration shop where we saw several engines/carts being restored. The museum staff also discussed their archives of equipment blueprints and drawings. There were two more opportunities for a layout or shop visit or attend Burr Stewart’s enjoyable clinics on videography of his layout and sage advice on achieving your goals in layout building. Burr has his own YouTube channel so you can check out those great videos.

At noon we then took a 30-minute lunch break to enjoy drinks and a delicious box lunch. Bill Messecar 4D Superintendent led the 4D Annual Meeting where he introduced the 4D Superintendent elect Mike Stepner as well as the current 4D BOD members. After the meeting we had a chance to explore the many museum exhibits and then boarded our train for the return journey to North Bend. To complete a great day of Model Railroading we had the opportunity to see four excellent layouts in the area.

Members wait at the museum for the return trip to the North bend depot after a fun day.
NP Parlor Car undergoing complete restoration in the museum shops.
Weyerhaeuser FM H-12-44 on display at the museum.
NWRailway 4024 Baldwin 4S-RTC ready to pull our train to the museum.

If you were not able to make the spring meet this year—be sure to attend in 2025. It’s a great opportunity to meet local modelers and have a train filled day. This sort of event is one of the many benefits offered for your NMRA membership. Hope to see you next year.

Bill
4D Superintendent

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Manager of Donations

Written by Anton Faulk
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By William Messecar

The 4th Division of the NMRA based in Western Washington and Alaska is looking for a volunteer to serve as Manager of Donations. The 4th Division occasionally receives donations of model railroading supplies/books and products from individuals and families looking to clear out surplus or estate items.

We need an individual in the Puget Sound area who would evaluate items offered and accept those items which can be resold for use by 4D and provide our IRS 501-C3 information (tax deductible group). Donated items would then be offered for sale at swap meets or online and the raised funds used for the benefit of 4D. The manager would be able to evaluate proposed donations, store a limited amount of such items and price, sell and ship such items. If you love going to swap meets this is the job for you.

Please apply to the 4D Division Superintendent William Messecar if interested.

Superintendent’s Message,

Call for Clinicians – Surrey Excursion 2024 PNR Convention

Written by Anton Faulk
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By Bill Messecar

Hello members of the 4th Division—my name is William Messecar the Superintendent of 4D, and I am planning to attend the 2024 PNR convention next year in Surrey, BC.

The PNR convention Surrey Excursion 2024 is the annual convention of the Pacific Northwest Region of the NMRA.  This year the 7th Division of the PNR is hosting the convention in lieu of the Railway Modelers Meet of BC.  The Convention will take place May 22nd to 26th, 2024 and will have clinics, layout tours, operating sessions, displays and much more.

2024 Surrey Excursion PNR Convention

The 7th Division is looking for clinicians as speakers at next year’s convention. Marc Simpson is the Clinic Coordinator for the upcoming 2024 Surrey Excursion PNR Regional Convention.  They have had an excellent response to their request for clinicians, however they wanted to spread the word that they are looking for clinicians for the program. They are looking for a broad range of topics that will appeal to convention attendees.  Whether you are an experienced presenter or a new clinician, it doesn’t matter.  All you need is an interesting topic that clinicians are interested in sharing with others.

In addition to the regular clinics, we are looking for people interested in presenting a tabletop clinic. This is a shorter time frame, more hands-on type of presentation for those who don’t want to prepare a full clinic presentation. Any assistance in making the Surrey Excursion clinic program a “can’t miss” event is greatly appreciated.  If you have any questions, please contact Marc Simpson, his contact information is listed below.  

Marc Simpson
surreyexcursionclinics@gmail.com
Surrey Excursion Clinic Coordinator

Bill

Convention or Meet, Superintendent’s Message

Thank You Mike

Written by Russ Segner
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By Russ Segner

Thank you, Mike Donnelly.

I want to make known to all the Fourth Division membership my deep gratitude to Mike for his superb performance as our Treasurer. Mike has served in that position for 7 years. He has been diligent in reorganizing some of our approaches to budgeting as well as documentation of expenditures for reimbursements. Our finances are in good order.

Mike has been an active member of the 4D Ntrak modular group for many years. He designed their superb carrying carts for loading and storing their modules. Mike’s skills as a designer at Boeing came in handy when he measured and drew plans for the new wood cab for the rebuilt Northern Pacific 0-6-0 at Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie. He is now preparing the working drawings for the new headlight.

Mike continues his volunteer work at the shops in Snoqualmie. Better yet, now he is busy expanding his home HO scale layout. It is designed for operation with an industrial theme of a railway in Maine. It will be well done I am sure.

Thanks again, Mike

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

News, Superintendent’s Message

4D Election Results

Written by Lisa Murray
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The election for one Director position and the 4D Superintendent has concluded. 

Ed Ives will return for another term as a Director and Russ Segner will serve another term as 4D Superintendent. 

A total of 14 paper ballots with 14 votes for each candidate were returned by mail.

A total of 105 completed email ballots were returned, with 104 votes for Ed Ives and 105 votes for Russ Segner.

Congratulations to Ed and Russ!

Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Murray, Nominating Committee Chair.

News, Superintendent’s Message,

Annual Meeting will be Online

Written by Russ Segner
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By Russ Segner

We are going high-tech! This year’s Annual Meeting cannot be held at a hotel, so no mediocre lunch or uncomfortable meeting room chairs. In fact, it’s FREE!

You can attend in your casuals, just need tops for sure. We will meet online using Zoom. All you will need is a computer with camera and audio or a tablet or smartphone . Many of you have already been in such meetings and know how it works.

All 4D Board Members will be there. We will convene a brief business meeting which will give opportunity for any members to ask questions.

A brief review of last year will be given and some ideas of how we will go forward, including any changes required to deal with the current health crisis.

We will also present the Golden Grab Iron Award, as well as some special recognitions by the Superintendent.

The meeting will be followed by two online clinics, each 45 minutes, including time for questions.

So, save the date. You will receive an invitation a few days before the meeting via email with a link to the meeting and the password you’ll need to get in.

So mark your calendar: May 23 at 9:30 AM

Russ Segner
206 200 2211
russseg@gmail.com

News, Superintendent’s Message

ANNOUNCING A DIORAMA CONTEST!

Written by Russ Segner
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By Russ Segner

Let’s build something! Announcing a contest to build a diorama for display at the Pacific Science Center Show next January. Here are the guidelines:

  • 12” x 24” maximum footprint – use a 12” x 24” piece of ¾ inch pink foam or equivalent. Home Depot has 24” x24” pieces. Cut a base and use remainder to build elevations.
  • Any scale
  • Must have a railroad theme
  • Should exhibit skills and techniques common to model railroading
  • May be animated and/or lighted. No external power will be available.
  • Entrant must be an active member of 4D/PNR

Entries will be judged at the Boeing Swap Meet this Fall and many will be displayed at the Pacific Science Center Show in 2020.

Here are some fine example dioramas from years past, built by 4D/PNR members:

Mike O’Brian’s N Scale Diorama, 2016
  • Clearing the Cut on Jon Wilbert’s Diorama, 2017
  • Cliff Aaker’s Station Scene, Platform Side, 2017

Russ

News, Superintendent’s Message

A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner

The Fourth Division celebrated November, which is National Model Railroad Month, with the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) over Thanksgiving weekend. Three of our modular groups had a great weekend: Hi-Railers, HO and NTRAK participated, along with a small On30 demonstration module.  Attendance at MOHAI was way up and we received many positive comments from the public and MOHAI staff.

A BIG “Thank you” to those who set up and operated for three full days:

Hi-Railers: Sam Hayden, Gordon Sandell, Ed Ives, Woody Mathews, Dan Peters, Craig Ives, Marc Sachnoff, Mark Elster, Christoff Elster, Dave Enger, David Yadock

HO: Brian Pickering, Larry Sloan, Rob Staples, Aidan Murray, Lisa Murray, Ian Murray, James Monroe , Lou Davis , Bruce Davis., Mike Slease

4dNTRAK: Al Lowe, Dave Cook, Dennis Terpstra, Doug Bulger, Kurt Laidlaw, Mike Donnelly, Neil Clift, Peter Clift

On30: Russ Segner, Dan Kellogg, Robin Peel

MOHAI Memories

Click on any photo to enlarge

4dNTRAK Modular Group, Hi-Railers Report, HO Modular Group, Superintendent’s Message

The Footplate, July 2018

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

Bill Scheef’s Wind River Railway logging layout

Most of us spend a lot of time planning and building our dream layout. Sometimes, however, it comes time to tear one down and sell or give away special parts. What do you do with pieces of a marvelous layout which is being taken down?

The incline lands in the Wind River yard.

As your Superintendent, I get frequent calls from families who need to dispose of a layout. Right now, some of us are removing parts of one of the very finest logging layouts I have ever seen. Parts of it will go to the Mt Rainier Scenic Railroad and Logging Museum.  The mechanism, sound and lights are all intact.

Although it’s 11′ long, it is movable.

It has been moved once before and, although it is Sn3, changing the track to HO, HOn3 or On30 is all that is needed to make it the centerpiece of any layout. Contact me if you are interested at 206-200-2211.

The tram house is at the top of the incline.

Superintendent’s Message

The Footplate for June 2018

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

Chuck Ricketts at the Spring Meet

Summer is here – put away the umbrellas and galoshes! It’s time to get outdoors and do some railfanning, ride a train, or visit one of our historic rail sites. I’m heading for Colorado again to ride the Cumbres & Toltec. Some are heading to Train Mountain in Oregon, others may head to Sacramento to the California Railroad Museum. Some will stay local and take the kids or grandkids to visit Thomas at Snoqualmie. In any event, get out there and check out some new rail location.

Make & Take Clinic

June has been a very busy month. The PNR meetings in Portland drew many of us to Jantzen Beach for some great clinics and layout visits. It was a chance to meet many of our fellow modelers from all over the Northwest. Jim Fugate, publisher of Model Railroader Hobbyist, was there demonstrating LokSound decoders and a really nifty control unit that emulates the control stand of the modern diesel engine.

The Pacific Northwest Region is one of the very best and most active regions in the entire NMRA. Your own Fourth Division is strong and very active. We just completed our Spring Meet in Redmond which was well organized and executed by Al Lowe and clinicians Alex Brikoff, Larry Sloan, Byron Osborn, MMR Bill Messecar, MMR Didrik Voss, MMR Max Maginness and MMR Chuck Ricketts. MMR Jack Hamilton, conducted a well-received Make and Take clinic building wood trestles. Make a point to attend in 2019!

Your Fourth Division is beginning a major effort to establish additional modular groups, at least one for HOn3 and possibly a Free-Mo HO group. Another group will begin building museum-quality dioramas to display at shows.

So, you have all summer to experience real trains, locally or around the world. Take lots of pictures and come back this fall prepared to share and perhaps present a clinic on what you have modeled or experienced. As a favorite beer commercial says: “One life right, don’t blow it. Mahalo!”

Convention or Meet, Superintendent’s Message