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Snoqualmie Railroad Days This Weekend – Aug 14th thru 16th

Written by Cliff Green
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Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

Come on board for a steam locomotive excursion and more during this year’s festival!

What’s Special About This Year?

The Steam Era returns again to Snoqualmie! On July 4, 1889 the inaugural run was a day trip from Seattle to Snoqualmie Falls. The excursion was operated by the M.E. Church Society over the lines of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway Company. Now, 126 years later during Railroad Days, the Northwest Railway Museum brings steam train excursions to back to Snoqualmie. And in August of 1890, the iconic Snoqualmie Depot was built! Join us to celebrate this noted historic landmark’s “birthday” on Sunday, July 16 at 10:45 am. The Northwest Railway Museum will feature two of its steam locomotives in a special ceremony followed by cake and lemonade (while supplies last) for visitors!

Wouldn’t you love to ride a train powered by a steam locomotive to get a feel for that first run? Well you can this year! During Railroad Days, the Santa Cruz and Portland Cement locomotive 2, a 1909-built Porter locomotive will let you step back in time to the early days of Snoqualmie.

Other Railroad Days activities can be viewed in an earlier Grab Iron post.

For general information click on the museum website at http://www.trainmuseum.org, e-mail at info@trainmuseum.org or call the museum at 425-888-3030. I can also be contacted at ext. 7203 or peggy@trainmuseum.org. More information on Snoqualmie Railroad Days can be found at http://www.railroaddays.com.

Northwest Railway Museum

Welcome to the New 4DPNR Website

Written by Cliff Green
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Cliff Green

You may notice the “visual look” of the Grab Iron e-mail notifications has changed, and if you click on the “read more” link you may notice that the 4DPNR website look has changed as well.

Welcome to the new 4th Division website!

(Note – “4dpnr.org” and “4dpnr.com” are now both pointing to the new website. It’s possible, however, that the transition hasn’t made it everywhere in the Internet and if you visit “4dpnr.org” you will be seeing the old website. You may also want to “refresh” your browser.)

Why did we update the 4th Division website?

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Grab-Iron, News

Westside Clinic is Tuesday August 11th

Written by Cliff Green
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Bill Hupé

Last month’s clinic was a success. We had only six 4th Division modelers. Jack Hamilton pulled a clinic out of his back pocket on building details – “Details make the Difference”. Pete Rowe brought us up to date on the Port Blakely diorama he is working on. Jack “The Tool Guy” Hamilton shared a couple of the new tools he had discovered. He and Pete discussed Tom Brittell’s layout progress.

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Westside Local Clinic

Russ Segner Layout in August Trackside Model Railroading Online Magazine

Written by Cliff Green
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JJ Johnston

We are proud to announce our 4th Division Superintendent Russ Segner’s Sn3 masterful layout of the Coal Creek Lumber Company has been selected as one of two layouts in the August 2015 issue of the digital railroad magazine, Trackside Model Railroading. Lots of pictures and a video highlight this fine modeling along with extra coverage of Bill Zickerts HO scale Montana Rail Link layout. The photography is outstanding.

The online magazine is subscription based, and you can get the Segner August issue for $1.89 or a year subscription for $14.99.

News,

NMRA National Layout Directory Project

Written by Al Lowe
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Bob Chaparro, Chairman

Work is now underway on a member Layout Directory to replace the visitation feature of the old NMRA Pike Registry Program. Layout owner participation will be voluntary and built-in security features will protect privacy. The Layout Directory will be an on-line system that allows NMRA members (only) to:

  • Identify the layouts of participating NMRA members by location, scale, gauge, era, prototype and area modeled, etc.
  • Review the particular features of the layouts
  • Contact layout owners to arrange visits or exchange common-interest information

A working group has been formed to develop the Directory and input is needed from NMRA members. One of the first tasks of the group is to survey layout owners from the old Pike Registry and visitors to their layouts to determine:

  • What visitation aspects worked
  • What didn’t work
  • What features they liked
  • What features they didn’t like
  • Suggestions for the new Layout Directory

Please note that this is not a registry for layout names.

Members interested in having their layouts included in the Layout Directory also should contact me by email at chiefbobbb@verizon.net. Of course, comments are always welcome.

News

Snoqualmie Railroad Days Steams into Town August 14, 15 & 16

Written by Cliff Green
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Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager

Snoqualmie’s essence and fun history come to life during the 2015 Snoqualmie Railroad Days festival. Enjoy Snoqualmie – past, present and future! Snoqualmie Railroad Days festival brings the variety of what makes Snoqualmie unique to life with Timber Sports and Living History demonstrations, 3 stages of musical entertainment, the Grand Parade, the Children’s Field of Fun, a variety of food & fun vendors, the Legends Car Show, a special model train show, Arts in the Park with numerous artists demonstrating their craft, Wine & Beer Gardens, a Fun Run, Wagon Rides and Steam Train Excursions. And of course the event that started it all, the Firefighters Pancake Breakfast!

Join the fun during the Grand Parade as band director Matt Wenman is honored for his community spirit in building the music program at Mt. Si High School including two years as finalists with the Jazz I group to the Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival in New York City!

For general information click on the museum website at http://www.trainmuseum.org, e-mail at info@trainmuseum.org or call the museum at 425-888-3030. I can also be contacted at ext. 7203 or peggy@trainmuseum.org. More information on Snoqualmie Railroad Days can be found at http://www.railroaddays.com.

Northwest Railway Museum

Westside Clinic June Report

Written by Cliff Green
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Bill Hupé

The June Westside clinic was a great success with eleven 4th Division modelers attending. Jack Hamilton shared his latest model railroad adventures as well as some new tools. Pete Rowe brought a flat car and two trucks with loads of lumber that he cut on a miniature table saw, for use on a lumber mill project.

Steve Hauff’s clinic was titled “Toto, I don’t think we’re on Amtrak anymore”. The clinic illustrated traveling on two of Africa’s (and the world’s, for that matter) finest trains: Rovos Rail and the Blue Train.

The Rovos journey went from Pretoria, South Africa to Swakopmund, Namibia via Kimberly, DeAar, and Windhoek, with side trips to the dunes at Sossesvlei and Etosha National Park. The Rovos equipment as well as South Africian and Namibian hardware was also viewed.

The Blue Train section centered on the opulence of what is considered to be one of the best appointed trains anywhere. While the journey is only slightly more than a day, it is a day spent in 5-star luxury.

Typical clinics have a “Model Contest” and “Show And Tell”. Coffee and cookies are provided and bringing a friend is encouraged.

For those visiting us for the first time our clinics are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the United Way of Kitsap Building, 647 4th Street, Bremerton, WA at 7 pm.

Westside Local Clinic

Tom Enloe Passes

Written by Al Lowe
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Steve Haas

Tom’s wife Carol and daughter Jennifer have shared that Tom passed away July 5th, due to complications following heart surgery. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., July 18th at Bellevue Christian Reformed Church, 1221 148th Ave NE in Bellevue. This is in the Crossroads area. A casual reception with open mike will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall. All are invited to this memorial service.

Carol and Jennifer have expressed a strong desire to keep the Pacific Northwestern Railroad up and running in the future. They will be in touch with those interested.

News, Operations