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Grab Iron Posts

HO Estate Sale, Las Cruces, NM

Jean Melvin, former 4D & PNR Secretary

As you may know, I now live in Las Cruces, NM, just 45 miles from the Texas/Mexico border. A local, very good modeler is down-sizing and thought you might be interested. His letter follows. If you’re interested, contact riograndeestatesales@gmail.com.

My wife and I have decided to move back to CA and are planning for an Estate Sale (due to down-sizing from a 4 bedroom house here in Las Cruces to probably a 1 bedroom apt in CA). Because of a tremor I have developed in my left arm, I am no longer able to do model work.

Therefore, I have made the very difficult decision to put my collection of limited-edition craftsman-style HO model RR structure kits, engines, and rolling stock into the Estate Sale. This is a collection I have developed over the last 50 years and I would like it to go to serious modelers. I hope that you can help put the word out to modelers in our Region.

I have concentrated on modeling backwoods logging and mining industries that a standard gauge steam railroad (pre-diesel) would have supported. Many of these structure kits are from Fine Scale Miniatures, B.E.S.T., Wild West Models, Western Scale Models, and Sierra West Scale Models. I have many 1880’s to 1920’s era rolling stock kits and supplies for scratch building cars.

In addition I am selling my Sherline Lathe, Mill, and Sherline tooling, along with machinist’s tools, taps, dies, Starrett gauges, and milling cutters.

The sale will be handled by Mark Leitch of Rio Grande Estate Sales: Email him at riograndeestatesales@gmail.com. The date will be Friday & Saturday, July 17-18, at 4715 Zeno Place, Las Cruces, NM88012, (650) 799-6060

Thanks and cheers,
Michael Morrill, michaelmorrill3@gmail.com

Custom Train Table Donation in Greater Seattle Area

Michael Highsmith

The following is from G. Deo. Please e-mail him at rigs2011@gmail.com for details, including a specific location:

We live in the greater Seattle area. We have a custom built train table that never got used for creating the layouts that it was meant for. Now we are downsizing and moving away. We would like to donate it. It is pretty big 8’L x 4’W x 3’H. Please see the picture below.

They will need to come pick it up since we do not have a big enough vehicle to transport it.

Custom train table available as a donation.

Custom train table available as a donation.

Have a JAM Breakfast on Thursday, July 2nd

David Yadock

Thursday, July 2nd marks the birthday of John Allen. He constructed the famous Gorre and Daphetid Railroad (pronounced “gory & defeated”). It was a true model railroading marvel. The Gorre & Daphetid Yahoo group usually celebrates with a JAM (John Allen Memorial) breakfast. John Allen was a real pioneer in model railroading. Just like Frank Ellison, Whit Towers, and many others, he promoted many of the things we now take for granted in our model railroading hobby. So help celebrate his birthday by having a hearty breakfast!

Eastside Get-Together on Thursday, Ted Becker Presenting Servos for Switches

JJ Johnston

Reminder: The Eastside Get-Together meets Thursday (tomorrow), June 18st at 7:30 pm at the Bellevue FourSquare Church. Our speaker will be our own Ted Becker presenting his special clinic on servos for switches. This program has been ranked as outstanding by those who have heard Ted. This will be our last meeting before the summer break so please plan to attend.

For Eastside Get-Together location and other information, see the 4D Clinics page.

Mooselips Model Railroad Display at Palmer, Alaska Colony Days

Marty Quaas

This weekend, June 12-14, the City of Palmer, Alaska will be celebrating its heritage with the annual Colony Days celebration. Along with a parade, antique cars, fire trucks, and tractor pull, the HO scale Mooselip Model Railroad will be on display Saturday, June 13 from 10 AM until 3 PM in the old Palmer depot.

All are invited to stop by and visit the imaginary town of Mooselip and see how much fun model railroading can be.

Westside Clinic in Bremerton Tuesday, June 9, 7 pm

Bill Hupé

This coming Tuesday, June 9th, is our next Westside Clinic in Bremerton. Steve Hauff has stepped forward and will present one of his excellent clinics.

Please bring an item you worked on this past winter. We will have our usual “Model Contest” and “Show And Tell.” Coffee and cookies will be provided. Please come and bring a friend.

For those visiting us for the first time our clinics are held at the United Way of Kitsap Building, 647 4th Street, Bremerton, WA.

See you at 7 pm.

Paul Scoles Layout on PBS Tracks Ahead

Cliff Green

According to a reliable source (Russ! As forwarded to him from Fred …) Paul Scoles’ Sn3 scale Pelican Bay & Railway Navigation Company layout will be featured on the Tracks Ahead program on PBS Channel 8 (Seattle area – 108 hi-def on many of the cable channels) at 8:30 am this morning (June 7, 2015). Yes, this is late notice, so you may be able to catch it on a re-broadcast.

Return to the White Pass & Yukon Railroad

By Lee Bishop

Heading up the grade, halfway to Fraser.

Heading up the grade, halfway to Fraser.

Early in the morning on May 27, 2015, my wife and I arrived at Skagway, Alaska to ride the 3-foot gauge White Pass & Yukon Railroad. We had arrived on the cruise ship Norwegian Jewel out of Seattle for a round trip to Skagway and stops in between. For me, the White Pass was the highlight of the trip for the activities ashore.

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Last Call for MAKING TRACKS

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

“How and why we build our layouts”

Our Spring Meet is tomorrow, Saturday, June 6, at the Bellevue Sheraton.

We have designed a program to give insights and ideas on building layouts.  Lots of questions will be answered, such as how big to build? Or what era and prototype to use for ideas? What about operations? Do you build alone or with others in a group or club?

Several MMRs and others will share their experiences and what inspires them in the hobby.  So, come with your questions.  Meet and share ideas with model railroaders from across the Fourth Division.

A bonus is your chance to see several layouts on Sunday afternoon.  Descriptions and locations will only be available to those attending Saturday.

During the lunch break, the Division will hold its Annual Meeting. Several awards will be presented, including The Golden Grab Iron Award.  You will also get to see our redesigned website and Grab Iron.

We sincerely hope you will attend. If you’re not already registered, you can register at the door. See you tomorrow!

 

SPRING MEET SCHEDULE

Sheraton Bellevue

Registration Opens 8:00

 

Session Room

Session Room

 

Snoqualmie North

Snoqualmie South

Session One

0900

to

1000

Fast Tracks

Mike Shaw

A Prototype Layout

Bill Messecar, MMR

Session Two

1030

to

1130

Modular Operations

Rich Blake
Thomas Dye

Prototype Panel

Di Voss, MMR

Burr Stewart

Jim Younkins, MMR

Luncheon

 

Annual Report

Grab Iron Presentation

Awards

Session Three

1400

to

1500

Freelancing

JJ Johnston

Ron Hopkins

David Yadock

Large Layout Panel

Al Frasch

Mike Highsmith

Jim Sabol

Session Four

1530

to

1630

Trackside Details

Tom Beaton

Bridge Design

Max Maginness, MMR

Sunday’s layout information distributed at close of meeting