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Grab Iron Posts

A Narrower View – Monsters and Miniatures

Written by Cliff Green
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Syd Schofield

Editors note: Welcome to the seventh article of a series on narrow gauge by Syd Schofield. The previous article is available by clicking here, or by filtering with the category “Narrow Gauge”. Syd welcomes discussions and feedback, which can be made by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of the post.

Well into the Machine Age, when cast iron foundries and machine shops were as common as weaving mills and breweries, the narrow gauge locomotives had many folks involved in their creation and development. The wheel arrangements were many and varied, not so much for pulling power and speed as for the capability of the rail and support systems. The smallest possible wheel arrangement (prior to the imaginary Smokey Stover Fire Chief car or the modern gyro-stabilized Segway) was the 0-4-0 and the 2-2-2, the middle number(s) being the number of driving wheels, capable of pulling only minimal consists (in the later years the 2-2-2 served as the power plant configuration for VIP and inspection cars) lightly rolling on small rail and primitive roadbed. The largest was the 2-8-2 and the 2-6-6-2 that required significant infrastructure but could pull dozens of car consists.

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Articles, Narrow Gauge

Seattle-North Clinic Season Starts September 3, 2015  

Written by Jeff Moorman
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by Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

Yes, it is before Labor Day and yes, the Seahawks are playing a game, but this Thursday is the first Thursday in September. And that means it is clinic night.

We’ll start by covering the latest trends in the hobby, based on some of our experiences at the National Convention. And we’ll chat a bit about the convention itself. And we will end with a round robin discussion of what we did (railroad-wise) this summer.

The church’s remodel looks to be mostly done, so we should be back in the “Fireside” room, which interestingly doesn’t seem to have a fireside any more. But, of course, things are always subject to change.

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Seattle-North Clinic

Take it Easy and Ride the Steam Train this Labor Day at Northwest Railway Museum

Written by Cliff Green
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Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

Our antique Steam Train makes a special Holiday Run on September 5th, 6th, & 7th.

The Northwest Railway Museum pays tribute to America’s workers this Labor Day with a special weekday steam train run of the Museum’s antique train on Monday, September 7th. This is in addition to the railroad’s usual weekend steam train schedule. The Northwest Railway Museum offers scenic train excursions through the Cascade foothills of the Upper Snoqualmie Valley, including a ride past the top of Snoqualmie Falls and a splendid view of the valley below.
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Northwest Railway Museum

Skagit Valley & Whidbey Island Clinic on Sep 9th will be a Blast (of Dynamite)

Written by Cliff Green
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Al Frasch

We will be getting the 2015 – 2016 SV&W clinic season going with a discussion of a real railroad, the DuPont Dynamite Narrow Gauge Railway, named as such because it hauled … wait for it … dynamite! Russ Segner, our 4th Division Superintendent, will come up to Oak Harbor to discuss the railway and how one could use it as a prototype for a model railroad layout. Should be very enlightening!
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Narrow Gauge, Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Chuck Ricketts Receives Master Model Railroader Number 562

Written by Cliff Green
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Russ Segner

4DPNR Superintendent Russ Segner presented MMR Certificate #562 at Chuck’s recent layout open house in Olympia. Congratulations, Chuck!

Chuck’s railroad is the Sherwood, Shelton, & Sarazen Railway set in the early 1900’s on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. It occupies two downstairs rooms (11 X 20 ft. and 13.5 X 13.5 ft.) with staging in the Operators Lounge and Dispatch Office. Read More

Achievement Program, News

Palmer, Alaska (Knik River Valley) Model Railroad Open House, Saturday Sep 12 from 1 to 5 pm

Written by Marty Quaas
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Marty Quaas

Every year on the second Saturday in September as for the past many years, the Consolidated South Western Railroad (CSWRR) holds it’s annual Open House. This year it will be held on Saturday, September 12th from 1 to 5 PM and as in the past, we will be featuring Operation. Also this year we will be celebrating 20 years since the first rails were laid on the CSWRR. The Open House is free and the public is invited to get a first hand look at the fun of Model Railroading. Visitors are also invited to try their hand at operation under the supervision of an Old Hand.

The CSWRR is located at 21550 E, Arnold. From mile 4.6 of Knik River Rd, turn right on Ivanhoe, right on Arnold, follow the Signs. Phone 907-746-6414. http://alaskamodelrrnews.homestead.com/CSW-Ops-1-1.html

Model Train Show, The Alaska Section

Free Train Magazines

Written by Cliff Green
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Jack Reid

I have many magazines that need a new home. Some are boxed by years, but many are loose. I’m happy to give these away to interested individuals but they would also be good for distributing to visitors at train shows and events. The magazines include Lionel, Model Builder, Model Railroader (from early 40’s), some miscellaneous foreign magazines, Live Steam, and Garden Railways.

Contact me at jreid61@gmail.com.

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A Narrower View – Exceptions

Written by Cliff Green
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Syd Schofield

Editors note: Welcome to the sixth article of a series on narrow gauge by Syd Schofield. The previous article is available by clicking here, or by filtering with the category “Narrow Gauge”. Syd welcomes discussions and feedback, which can be made by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of the post.

Most of the narrow gauge railroads were driven by the advantages of scale. The ability to negotiate tighter curves, smaller tunnels and bridges, narrower roadbed preparation and shorter ties were the chief advantages for narrow gauge lines over standard gauge railroads and became the chief reasons for being. The disadvantages of the accompanying smaller equipment were compensated by longer trains and more frequent service. However, in some remote regions, sparsely populated by industries and humanity, the cheaper infrastructure became the sole advantage as volumes to be transported were thin.

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Articles, Narrow Gauge