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

Written by Cliff Green
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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)

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Layout Tour, Olympia Clinic

Westside Clinic in Bremerton on Tuesday, April 12th

Written by Cliff Green
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Bill Hupé

The Westside Clinic is Tuesday April 12, 2016.

For this month’s clinic Steve Hauff will be presenting his latest African rail adventure – Rovos Rail, Capetown to Dar es Salaam.

Please bring a model railroad friend and an item you’ve been working on. As always we will have a “Model Contest” and “Show And Tell.” Coffee and cookies will be provided.

If you are visiting for the first time our clinics are held at the United Way of Kitsap Building in downtown Bremerton (647 4th Street) at 7 pm. Additional details (including a map and contact info) are on the Clinics Page.

Westside Local Clinic

Return your 4D Ballot

Written by Al Lowe
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Al Lowe

You should have received in the U.S. mail your ballot for the 4D’s current election. Before you forget, vote and then follow the instructions on the ballot to return it to your Elections Committee.

We’ve received many ballots already, but we want your vote, too!

The deadline is May 1.

News

New Clinic Reminder, Newcastle Public Library on April 14

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

Thursday night, April 14 at 6:30 pm
Newcastle Public Library
Social Hour from 6:30 to 7:30

This will be a meeting to test the level of interest in starting a new clinic in the south end handy to Bellevue, Renton, Kent, Maple Valley, and Issaquah.

There will also be a presentation “The Coal Mines of Newcastle” by me (Russ Segner). This will describe the first significant railroad in the Seattle area which handled coal from mines in Newcastle just east of Lake Washington to Seattle where millions of tons of coal were shipped by boats to San Francisco. This little railroad is an excellent example of smaller rail lines which we can easily model.

If you are interested in having a clinic nearer to you, come on by and get acquainted. I can be contacted at russseg@gmail.com or 206-200-2211.

Burien Clinic

Free Steam Train Ride for Moms on Mother’s Day at NW Railway Museum

Written by Cliff Green
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Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

Northwest Railway Museum Hosts Special Mother’s Day Event May 7 – 8
Mothers Day at the Northwest Railway Museum

Mothers Day at the Northwest Railway Museum

Celebrate mom this Mother’s Day with a scenic steam train excursion through the Cascade foothills. You and your mom will journey to the top of Snoqualmie Falls and enjoy the view of the valley below. The Northwest Railway Museum invites mothers to enjoy a free ride aboard our antique train, when accompanied by a paying child – of any age. Passengers may board in Snoqualmie or North Bend. The round trip takes approximately 70 minutes. Passengers may get off at the halfway point, shop, eat lunch, or take a stroll before returning on any later train. Trains depart every 90 minutes beginning at 11:00 AM from the Snoqualmie Depot at 38625 SE King Street and at noon from the North Bend Depot at 205 McClellan Street. Roundtrip fares: $12 ages 2-12, $20 ages 62 and up, $22 ages 13-61, Under 2 are free!

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Northwest Railway Museum

A Welcome to New Members, Many Activities in the 4D Including Spring Meet in May

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green, Grab Iron Editor

Welcome, new 4th Division (PNR) NMRA members (or former members recently renewed)! An e-mail notification is sent out to all subscribers every time a new Grab Iron post is made, so this may be one of the first messages you see from our Division. Our 4D web site has clinic info, modular group info, an events calendar, some excellent model train photos, and many pages of other related info as well as all of our Grab Iron posts – click here to navigate to the front page.

The 4th Division Spring Meet is on May 14th at Tacoma Community College, and there are three tracks of great clinics presented by multiple well known (and very skilled) 4D members. The clinic info is complete and up to date – click here to view. Lunch is included (if registered by May 1st) – click here to register and reserve a lunch.

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Grab-Iron, News

Mt Vernon Clinic April 14

Written by John O'Connell
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By John O’Connell

Diorama Build Challenge

It’s been fun and interesting to watch the dioramas evolve over the last many months. Tonight each builder will present their final effort.

Mini-Clinics

Ted Becker sent out a request to advise him if you have a topic for a mini-clinic.

Show and Tell and Tool Time

We encourage attendees to bring models for “show and tell” – show us what you’re working on, even if it is not complete. And, if you have a tool or gadget that you have found useful, bring it along and share it with us. We also encourage folks to bring along items for sale or swap, or even “freebies” – we’ll have a table for those items.

When?    Thursday, April 14
Time?      7:00 PM
Where?    Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Street, Mount Vernon
Click Here for map & directions

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Ross Tabor Passes

Written by Cliff Green
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Rob Staples

Ross Tabor, one of the original members of the 4D HO Modular group, has passed. Services will be on Saturday, April 9, at 2 PM at Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave S, Auburn, WA 98001.

His obituary at Cascade Memorial:

Ross Tabor was born on May 4, 1930 and passed away on April 2, 2016 in Des Moines, Washington. He is survived by his loving wife, family, and friends. He is and will be dearly missed.

News

Learn About Track Warrants at the Next Seattle-North Clinic – April 7, 2016

Written by Jeff Moorman
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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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Seattle-North Clinic