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Eastside Clinic Call for Presenters

By Doug Oldenburg

The Eastside Clinic of the Pacific Northwest Region 4th Division of the National Model Railroad Association is seeking individuals to share their railroad knowledge and skills at its monthly clinics.

We would like to broaden the circle and refill the pool of presentations. Might this be you or someone you know?

This is a call for clinics or presentations on any railroad-related topic, whether it’s model railroading or prototype railroading. Modelers are always interested in clinics that share scenery and weathering techniques. We also welcome presentations related to the region’s historic and current railroads – Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Spokane Portland & Seattle, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, subsidiaries or short lines, logging or mining roads.

Clinic Opportunities:

  • Show and Tell is one great way to get involved. Even if it is your in-work project or layout.
  • Presentation Clinics: Share your knowledge on any railroad topic. Presentations typically last 30 minutes followed by 15 minutes for questions. Longer or shorter sessions can always be accommodated.
  • Interest in in-person clinics is still being evaluated. We have attendees from here and yonder, and have not had very many people express interest in driving out to a clinic on a Thursday evening (usually third Thursday of the month).
    • Possible Make-and-Take Clinics: Engage attendees with hands-on demonstrations or workshops where they can actually see how something is done.

Why Present?

  • Share Your Expertise: Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or new to clinics, this is a fantastic opportunity to share your passion and knowledge.
  • Support and Resources: If you’re new to presenting, we can help you prepare.
    • We often use PowerPoint to organize our thoughts, photos, sketches and diagrams. Don’t worry – if you don’t have this, we can put it together for you (with your help) 😊

How to Get Involved:

Russ Segner is our current master of ceremonies, and Doug Oldenburg has been helping with some of the admin tasks. We would welcome anyone who wants to join in. Russ would very much like to retire from leading the clinics and we would love to see someone step up.

We hope you’ll consider presenting at one of our upcoming clinics and contributing to an enriching and educational experience for all attendees. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to your participation!

Our March clinic is scheduled for 3/19 so here’s your first opportunity!

Sincerely,

Russ Segner:  russseg@gmail.com
206-200-2211

Doug Oldenburgdouglas.oldenburg@yahoo.com
425-577-2928

Whidbey Clinic 11 Feb 2026, 7:00pm Zoom Link

Steve Cox presents Japanese Trains.
Japanese trains have continually set global standards. We will explore the evolution of Japan’s rail system and how that passion for trains is captured and celebrated through Japanese model railways.

We will attempt to get the Zoom media going again, here is the link info

Rich Blake is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Whidbey Clinic 2026-02-11
Time: Feb 11, 2026 06:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84845859150?pwd=F3ypIp0gTaC9iI64xJ4HQTwKhwxF5i.1

Meeting ID: 848 4585 9150
Passcode: 424841

Join instructions
https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/84845859150/invitations?signature=0R7DvoK_9vRhdAvOvFGRVlFn1xTsV6KK3D0xvzHSZSk

Help Wanted

By Kurt Laidlaw

At the Maple Valley Train Show I met a woman named Lorraine Jacobs. Her husband died and she is looking for someone who can help her finish his N scale layout. From our conversation it was clear she didn’t know much about model railroading, but she wanted to honor her husband by finishing his 4’ x8’ layout. If there is anyone who lives relatively close to her who would be willing to help her finish the layout, she would really appreciate it. If you would like to call her and see what the project would take to finish, please call her at 425-443-5648.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help with this project.

Kurt

October’s “Second Saturday” Zoom layout tour is cancelled

There is no “Second Saturday” layout tour Zoom meeting on Saturday, October 11. The next layout tour Zoom is planned for Saturday, December 13. We always skip November so we can attend the Boeing Swap meet, this year on November 8. For more information on the swap meet, see https://bemrrc.org/events

And please consider presenting a layout tour on your own layout’s progress. Everyone is as interested in seeing construction progress reports as they are in seeing a finished masterpiece. Contact Lee Marsh or Burr Stewart to get going on scheduling your layout for a future “Second Saturday” online Zoom event!

Eastside Clinic Thursday – September 18

By Russ Segner

The next Eastside Clinic is this week on Thursday September 18th. Our program will be a presentation by Bob Kenworthy on the Great Western Steam Up, held at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in July 2022. The steam up featured 8 cosmetically restored steam locomotives and 9 standard and narrow gauge locomotives under steam. The presentation includes video of all nine of the locomotives under steam.

Russ Segner will also share information and photos from the recent National Narrow Gauge Convention held in St. Louis.

Join us and share your experiences. I will open the room around 6:30 for informal chat.

Zoom meeting information:

Topic: Eastside Clinic September 18
Time: Sep 18, 2025 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85887099422?pwd=zizZeSUUCqwkuU0Pj2w3uGKA1OeSk8.1
Meeting ID: 858 8709 9422
Passcode: 285188

Russ

Second Saturday Zoom layout tour on Sept. 13 is Burr Stewart on modeling steel mill traffic

The September 2025 “Second Saturday” will feature an update by Burr Stewart on adding the West Seattle steel mill to his HO layout, and what he has learned about the steel industry. After the presentation, we will have an open discussion about industries in general and the traffic they generate. As usual, we will open the Zoom meeting at 9:30am, and Burr’s presentation will start at 10:00am, on Saturday, September 13. Here is the Zoom info needed to join the meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87210657142?pwd=ZHhIWnZGMUU0YnAwNVUvMENheEZSUT09

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

We are hosting the NMRA National Convention in 2027

If you have not already heard, 4D and the Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) of the NMRA will be hosting the 2027 NMRA Convention in downtown Tacoma, August 10-15 2027. Planning is already underway. Both the Tacoma Convention Center and several hotels have been contracted by NMRA HQ.

Now … we need everyone’s support to make this the best convention ever! We will be hosting guests from around the planet.

First, put it in your calendar: August 10-15, 2027.

Second, think about how YOU can contribute:

  • Perhaps open your layout for a layout tour? 
  • Or, offer an operating session.
  • Or, present a clinic.
  • Or be a volunteer … or just attend as a participant
  • … Whatever you do, we need YOUR support!

Third, tell your friends and family about this.  They may not want to attend the core convention, but there is something for everyone – especially kids of all ages – at the National Train Show, open to the public, that will take place on the Saturday and Sunday following the Convention.

Our theme is Expand Your Horizon and we want everyone to come away with new ideas and new friendships.

We will welcome both NMRA members and non-NMRA members (though non-members will pay a little more).

Our website has just been published and will expand as we finalize our plans. But you can signup to our newsletter now. Visit us at:

2027.nmra.org

If you want to help us right now, or have any ideas, then please contact Magnus Christerson or Robin Peel (Co-Chairs) at conv2027@nmra.org

PNWOn30 Modular Group Summer Report

During the weekend of 19-20 July 2025 we enjoyed our annual participation in the 23rd Annual “Clamshell Railroad Days” at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco WA on the southwest coast. This is an open house event hosted by the museum and is one of the main fundraising events to support the various museum projects to include restoration of the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Co narrow gauge passenger car the “Nachotta”.

The Pacific Northwest On30 Modular Group was of course there with a large setup. Also in attendance for the weekend was the Mount Rainier N Scale, Cascade Z Scale, the Longview, Kelso and Rainier Model Railroad Club (HO Scale), and Dean and Donna’s Lego Layout.

One of our members, Daniel Bentz made a great video that showcases all the various layouts and a lot of fun train operations action. See the video here on youtube.

Model Train Donations

By Mike Stepner

You’ve been offered a model train donation but you don’t have room or need for it. What do
you do now? The 4D Superintendent has an offer you can’t refuse. Mike has talked to several
brick-and-mortar train shops in the region who buy collections. They are willing to give the 4D a donation based on what they can sell the donations for. You take the donation from the person offering it; deliver it to your closest train shop. They sell it and 4D gets a portion of the proceeds. It is a win for everybody.
Here is the list of train shops that Mike has talked to. If you have additional recommendations, check to see if they would be willing to join the list.

  • Mike Huntzinger – Port Angeles
    360-797-4010
  • Electric Train Shop – Burien
    Scott 206-244-7077
  • PnP Trains – Renton
    Paul Pellegrino 206-909-2176
    Paula Pellegrino 206-909-8796
  • Train Center – Chehalis
    Kurt 360-736-2354

Mike