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Grab Iron Posts

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

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,