Skip to main content

Grab Iron Posts

Eastside Layout Tour Proposal

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner

Many of us visited layouts open in Olympia on April 30th. So far, several groupings of layouts throughout the region are open on weekends during the year, but there is no such opportunity on the Eastside (East of Lake Washington). These open houses are usually Saturdays from 1 to 5.

I am proposing a layout tour in the Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Renton, Maple Valley, Kent, Auburn, and other close by areas for a weekend in mid July.

If you have a layout you would be willing to open to members sometime this summer and are located in one of these areas, please contact me at 452-228-7327 or by email at russseg@gmail.com.

Burien Clinic, Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic, Layout Tour

Next Seattle-North Clinic – South of the Border – May 5, 2016

Written by Jeff Moorman
Leave a Comment

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.

Read More

Seattle-North Clinic

Tacoma Clinic Report for April

Written by Al Babinsky
Leave a Comment

By Al Babinsky, Photos by Dale Kraus

N scale semis detailed and weathered by Tyler, "Bring and Brag" winner

N scale semis detailed and weathered by Tyler, “Bring and Brag” winner

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic on time as always, we had 33 in attendance including one newcomer. MMR Dale Kraus presented a Merit Award in Scenery to Wain Miller.

Other announcements included requests for mailing in your 4D ballots, a Rail Day show on May 14, 2016 in Oregon, and a plastic model show in Renton.

A discussion was held about changing the start time for the clinic from 1930 hrs (7:30 PM) to 1900 hrs (7:00 PM) due to the fact that the doors must be locked before 2200 hrs (10:00 PM). The computer system will set the alarm at that time. By starting a half hour earlier we will be able to finish around 2100 hrs (9:00 PM) and have time to clean up and stack the chairs. The new start time will begin with the September clinic.

Bill Sandstrom from Tacoma Trains presented a number of new items from Rivarossi, Athearn, Intermountain, BLI, and Microtrains. He also carries some items from Chip Van Gilder including 3D printed log cars in N scale and the Morton Station.

Read More

Tacoma Clinic

Clinic in Renton on May 26

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner

We will have a clinic in Renton in May on the 26th.

Date: May 26
Time: 6:30
Location: Renton Highlands Library at 2801 NE 10th Street, Renton, 98056

Program information will come next week.

Last months meeting in Newcastle was very well attended and we had several new attendees. Plan to join us if this location works for you.

I can be contacted at russseg@gmail.com or 206-200-2211.

Burien Clinic

Mt Vernon Clinic will be May 12

Written by John O'Connell
Leave a Comment

By John O’Connell    Photo by Kevin Klettke

Date: Thursday, May 12
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Street, Mount Vernon (Click Here for map & directions)

The Program

Kevin Klettke will present his “Fleet Weathering” clinic. This is a reprise of his well-received Clinic at PDX 2015 on efficiently weathering large fleets of rolling stock. Visit Kevin’s website at http://wnrr.net.

Another Example of Kevin's Work

Another Example of Kevin’s Work

Read More

Mt Vernon Clinic

Reminder – Eastside Get Together is Thu April 21

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner

This is a reminder the Eastside Get Together is Thursday April 21.

Place: Redmond Library
Time: 6:30
Program: Neil Stanton discussing radio control and battery power for your locomotives. This technology can work for HO, S, On3, and larger scales. Solve the problems of dirty track and eliminate complicated wiring.

Neil has been working with these systems for years and can answer your questions about starting with this system or retrofitting your existing system.

Read More

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Mt Vernon April Clinic Report

Written by John O'Connell
Leave a Comment

By Roger Johnson and John O’Connell, Photos by Roger Johnson and Kevin Klettke

On the evening of April 14, Ted Becker kicked off the Clinic with 16 regulars and 3 newcomers in attendance at the Mt Vernon Senior Center. A special welcome to Chuck Wilkey, Dick Wilskey and Bonnie Hollingsworth. We hope you’ll join us again.

Announcements

April 30, 14th Annual Olympia Layouts Tour, Olympia. Details

May 12, Mt. Vernon Clinic. Kevin Klettke wil present “Fleet Weathering”, a reprise of his clinic at PDX 2015 on efficiently weathering large fleets of rolling stock. Visit Kevin’s website at http://wnrr.net.

Another Sample of Kevin's work

Another Sample of Kevin’s work

Read More

Mt Vernon Clinic

Eastside Get Together in Redmond on Thu, April 21

Written by Russ Segner
Leave a Comment

Russ Segner

Thursday April 21st, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Redmond Public Library, 15990 NE 85th Street, Redmond, WA 98052

Program: Use of Battery Power and Radio Control

Our next meeting on the 21st will feature Neil Stanton discussing how to run your layout using batteries and radio control. This technology can work for HO, S, On3, and larger scales. Solve the problems of dirty track and eliminate complicated wiring.

Neil has been working with these systems for years and can answer your questions about starting with this system or retrofitting your existing system.

Model of the Month – bring something to share and brag about!

Doughnuts and coffee will be available. There will be a discussion of future programs and possible alternate locations for this clinic.

Questions: contact David Cook at 206-542-3383 or eastside_organizer@4dpnr.com. Maps and other information is available by clicking here.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

13th Annual Olympia Model Railroad Layout Tour Saturday, April 30th

Written by Cliff Green
Leave a Comment

Scott Buckley

This is a reminder that the 13th annual Olympia Model Railroad Layout Tour will be held on Saturday, April 30th. The following layouts will be on the tour this year:

  • Jim Younkins’ N scale Mud Bay & Southern Railway
  • Greg Wright’s 1:32 scale Consolidated Republic Mining Co
  • Brian Ferris’s HO scale Port Townsend & Southern
  • Scott Buckley’s HO scale Tehama Valley Railroad
  • Chuck Ricketts’ On30 scale Sherwood, Shelton and Sarazen
  • Dave Rakestraw’s HO scale PNW mainline and logging layout
  • Robert Grove’s HO scale Rawlins, Lincoln, and Greeley Railway
  • Dean Cody’s N scale KD&S Railroad
  • The Olympic Model Railroad Society’s HO scale Olympic Mountain Rail System
  • Ryan Bates’ HO scale McCloud River Railroad
  • Scott Groff’s On30 Quevic Valley Railway (new to the tour this year)

Read More

Layout Tour, Olympia Clinic