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Olympia April Clinic Report

Written by Al Lowe
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Jim Sabol / Photos by Brian Ferris

Hit the Road, Jack!

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Brian Ferris and Greg Wright focus on their East Broad Top RR presentation. Click photo to enlarge.

Those Olympia clinicians did it again. Twenty-one attendees barely had time to finish their diet pops and fold their tray tables in the upright position when bam!, off we flew to the Appalachian coal fields of backcountry Pennsylvania, courtesy of PowerPoint pilots and tour guides Brian Ferris and Greg Wright. Whisking us more than three thousand miles across the country by means of their colorful slides and video, Brian and Greg took us on a beautifully photographed visit to the East Broad Top narrow gauge railroad of Orbisonia, PA — and still had us home before midnight. Ideas for modeling scenery, structures, track work, and paint schemes practically flew off the screen into the fertile imaginations of twenty-one happy modelers paying close attention to every railroad-y detail. (Note: if you missed the clinic, click this link for a Google search of the Orbisonia Railroad.)

Host Scott Buckley counts bodies and chairs in his layout room

Host Scott Buckley counts bodies and chairs in his layout room. Click photo to enlarge.

Meeting in gracious host Scott Buckley’s Tumwater home and layout room was a trip in itself. Scott’s TehamaValley pike never fails to inspire visitors with its innovative benchwork, prototypical track plan, efficient valences, and complementary backdrops. What a great place to get together!

Jim Sabol reported that plans are set for the 22 June G.O.P.H.E.R.S. (Greater Olympia Prototype History & Engineering Research Society) annual outing and free hot dog picnic at the Ballard Locks and the Ballard Terminal Railroad. All 4th Division members are welcome to join us; reserve a hot dog or two by e-mailing jimsabol@msn.com.

Greg Wright won Most Popular Model Of The Month with a kitbashed snow plow for his 1:32n20 (really big models on HO gauge track) Consolidate Republic Mining Company, one more Olympia area layout often featured in national magazines.

We were reminded that next month’s get-together (always on the third Friday of the month) will feature Ted Eggleston and Robert Grove, handsome devils both, taking us on a visual and technical tour of Washington bridges.

Once again, it was discovered that everyone attending held a winning door prize number. “It’s a muracle!” exclaimed George Hansen.

Come and join in the fun. You’ll like us. We’ll like you. We’ll have the light on for you.

Greg Wright’s 1:32n20” scale plow and spreader

Greg Wright’s 1:32n20” scale plow and spreader. Click photo to enlarge.

A few notes about Greg Wright’s 1:32n20 scale plow and spreader:

Starting Point: Bachman On30 flat car; Bachman On30 2-6-0 tender shortened to fit; resin casting spreader plow from an online kit of a 2′ New England area prototype AHM HO snow plow.

Construction Notes: The plow was split down the middle and a section of wood added to the center, shaped and sealed with sanding sealer. The spreader was assembled per the instructions and added to the stock flat car. The heavy timber framework that sits in front of the spreader frame was scratchbuilt to hold the rams connected to the plow blades. The rams were scratchbuilt of brass tubing. Painting with Floquil colors in an airbrush. Weathering done with Dr. Ben’s weathering solutions (an alcohol-based suspension of pigments) and Bragdon weathering powders.

Olympia Clinic

4D Spring Meet 2013 Filling Up – Register Now!

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner

Click image to register!

Click image to register!

The 2013 4DPNR Spring Meet is coming May 18.

Space is limited to 120 attendees and already over half gone! Sign up now to take advantage of the low registration of $20 including lunch (for NMRA members). You must register ahead of time to get lunch. After May 11, registration will increase to $30. Registrations at the door will cost $30 without lunch.

Register online here.

Tukwila Embassy Suites Hotel, Saturday, May 18

Arrive at 8:00 AM for free coffee and rolls.

21 fellow model railroaders are presenting 12 clinics. Most of these clinics have never been seen before!

Attend the 4D Annual Meeting for the presentation of awards and activity reports.

Details, including names of presenters and descriptions of the clinics, are at the website.

Layout Tours, Sunday May 19

Layout open houses will run from 1 PM to 5 PM. Maps and driving information will only be distributed at the end of Saturday’s sessions!

Special Turnout Clinic

Greg Amer has made special arrangements with Andy Reichert  of Proto87 Stores for jigs and ten kits to create #6 turnouts in Proto87. The kits are offered FREE! During this clinic you can

  • Compare prototype to commercial turnouts and introduce the “ultimate turnout”
  • Finish building a turnout yourself. It will be mostly built in advance but participants will place a few tie plates and glue in rail, frogs, points and guard rails. A variety of rail sizes will be offered.

But participants must sign up ahead of time and bring their own rail cutters, files and track gauge. Email Greg directly if interested.

Convention or Meet

Skagit/Whidbey Clinic Report for April

Written by Alan Carter
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Al Carter / Photos by Al Frasch

Chairman Rich Blake started the meeting and welcomed 38 eager attendees to the April 2013 Clinic. Al Carter reported on the upcoming Fourth Division Spring Meet to be held on May 17-18 in Tukwila and on the June 26-30 Pacific Northwest Region meet to be held in Boise, Idaho. Susan Gonzales discussed several of the clinics scheduled for the 2013-2014 season, including a field trip to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway, in late September.

One new attendee showed up, John Fuik of Anacortes, along with his wife Marjorie. For the Tool of the Month, Al Carter showed off MicroMark’s “Thin Beam” square, an invaluable tool for scribing sheet styrene and wood. John Mann displayed another MicroMark product – the “Crocodile Action Ear Polypus,” which is a nifty forceps-type tool that can fit into a 1/8” diameter hole.

Another member (sorry but I didn’t catch the name) reported on the fact that anyone with a Sno-Isl library card can subscribe to Model Railroader and also to Fine Scale Modeler, thus saving the yearly subscription costs. However, back issues are only available for the current year via the library. And apparently, anyone with a valid library card in the state of Washington can use this system. For further details, click here.

Bill Harper and John Mann sharing a moment of humor before the clinic started

Bill Harper and John Mann sharing a moment of humor before the clinic started

The “Main Event” of the evening was a clinic on installing sound decoders, by John Mann and Bill Harper. John started off by explaining that in our modeling world, size can be compressed to whatever size or scale we want, but sound is a different matter – think of muting the sound, rather than compressing it. There are lots of manufacturers of sound decoders available now and some sound a lot better than others. Prices generally reflect this, of course.  ohn demonstrated this difference by letting us hear Digitrax (lower end) and Tsunami (higher end) decoders.

John brought an incredible array of materials and supplies to augment his program, including a lot of hardware in addition to the actual decoders, including speaker enclosures, axle and drive wheel wipers, chuff sync devices, very fine and flexible wire, and mini-connectors. He pointed out that while most of the DCC manufacturers offer much of this equipment, one can also go to non-railroad supply houses such as Allied Electronics, Digikey, etc.

John and Bill described how adding a capacitor to the decoder circuit allows the sound to keep on uninterrupted, despite the locomotive running over dirty track or other disturbances in the signal reaching the decoder. We learned a lot about capacitors, including different types and ratings.

John Mann's DCC Test and Display Tracks

John Mann’s DCC Test and Display Tracks

Here’s a great tip, not only for sound decoder installation, but actually any modeling you do: take digital photographs of your work and your finished product for later reference.

John finished the evening with a great demonstration of several different sized speakers, both with and without speaker enclosures. It is truly amazing how a proper speaker enclosure enhances the sound. We learned a lot from John and Bill last night!

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Tacoma Clinic

Written by Al Babinsky
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Al Babinsky / Photos by Chip

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic on time to a crowd of 41 modelers. There were no new comers and we proceeded with the announcements. Ed Liesse made the following announcements; the 4D spring will be May 18 at the Embassy Suites in Tukwila with layout tours on May 19. The 4D board meeting is April 20 at Mitzel’s in Kent. Ballots for the 4D elections should be in your home in the next few days, the must be returned by May 10. The PNR convention is June 20 in Boise, ID.

Mike Shaw was given a number of posters from the Alaska Railroad as well as some pillows with railroad motive; these are free to anyone who wants them.

Mike Highsmith is running for one of the director positions and gave us his candidate statement.

The model of the month contest had some great entries from Chris Clancy with his ALCO C4-24s weathered. John Miller with 3 Varney stamped cars reworked to look correct. Dale Kraus with a European narrow gauge train in 760mm (HO n). Walt Huston with 3 N scale cars one decorated with a Saskatchewan logo. Dennis Reeves with a logging camp diorama featuring camp cars and log train, the diorama is to be installed in a display at the old Cannery in Sumner. Paul Vaughn had a newly designed tool to cut flex-rail. Duane Damgaard with a shotgun house that included a flickering fire in the stove. Skip showed a Bachmann Hogwarts Express with installed sound decoder and lights using micro LEDs. The winner of the model of the month was Dennis Reeves with the logging diorama.photo 1

What’s new at the hobby shop included items from Walthers, Microtrains, Railking, and Athaern Genesis.

This month clinic was given by Dale Kraus and titled What you really don’t need to know about DCC or Myth-busters. The clinic had great information along with a hand-out on how to get started. Due to the fact that the clinic was too long it was decided to continue the clinic at the June clinic.

May’s clinic will be given by Jim Clowers and is called; how to get manufacturers to make what you want, this should be a very interesting topic. We will meet at our usual place, the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. at the corner of 112th Street and Waller Road at 7:30 PM, hope to see all of you there.

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Tacoma Clinic

Board Meeting April 20th, edit

Written by Doug Bulger
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Superintendent Ken Liesse

There will be a meeting of the 4D Board of Directors on Saturday, April 20th, 1:00 at Mitzel’s in Kent, WA. If you have any items you would like to have added to the agenda, please email either me or Jean Melvin before next Wednesday, April 17.

This is also the 4D’s annual budget meeting, so if you have any items you would like to have discussed for the budget, please let us know.

Note: this is a change from the originally planned date of April 27.

 

Note repaired email links. Doug.

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It’s Not How Big!

Written by Al Lowe
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Jim Sabol / Photos by the author

If all your trains do is run around in a circle, a layout the size of an airplane hangar will soon leave you bored and looking for another hobby. But if you emulate Brian Ferris and convert even a modest-sized room into an actual railroad (just smaller), you will have a hobby for a lifetime of interest and enjoyment.

Superintendent Brian Ferris, seated, orients Greg Wright to the Dispatcher's job and tools

Superintendent Brian Ferris, seated, orients Greg Wright to the Dispatcher’s job and tools

 

Brian’s HO Port Townsend Southern, Third Subdivision, occupies a spare room about 12’x20′ in the Ferris home in Olympia. The PTS is point-to-point (no loop) 54.7 theoretical miles from Centralia to Tacoma, with branches to Union Mills and Maytown, all in Western Washington.

The busy engine terminal and classification yard are designed to receive, classify, block, and dispatch an efficient flow of freight traffic over the road

The busy engine terminal and classification yard are designed to receive, classify, block, and dispatch an efficient flow of freight traffic over the road

 

Recently, a road superintendent, a dispatcher, a pair of yardmasters, three teams of engineer/conductors, and two station agent/operators combined to move three first class passenger trains, a second class freight, plus eight extra trains and a logger over the main and branches, originating like magic through a hole in the wall leading to staging tracks in the adjacent garage that represented the terminals at Centralia and Tacoma.

As with big brothers NP, UP, GN, and Milw—whose trains regularly use PTS rails as a bridge line–emphasis is strongest on safety for employees and passengers, reliable on-time performance for customers, and meticulous care for company equipment and infrastructure. First time operator Tom Murphy said, “I had no idea that operating a model railroad as much as possible like a full-sized railroad could occupy a person for four hours with no sign of boredom!”

             Operators’ Duties on the PTSRR, 3rd Sub

Superintendent
  1. Create master timetable
  2. Monitor progress of all trains and safe operation of subdivision
Dispatcher
  1. Monitor safe and on-time movement of all trains in subdivision per timetable
  2. Record movement of all trains in subdivision
  3. Authorize agent/operators to issue clearance cards for all scheduled and extra trains
  4. Authorize extra trains
  5. Authorize #19 orders (for special movements) of trains
Yardmasters Robert Grove and Charles Ricketts break down arriving freight #674 prior to blocking southbound local #703 for Engineer Jim Elder

Yardmasters Robert Grove and Charles Ricketts break down arriving freight #674 prior to blocking southbound local #703 for Engineer Jim Elder

Yardmasters
  1. Prepare yard to receive arriving freight trains.
  2. Classify and block arriving cars for forwarding on departing freight trains
  3. Manage safe and efficient operation of arriving, departing, and switching locomotives within yard limits
Station agent Greg Arndt issues a clearance form to Mike Davison, conductor of Train #1905

Station agent Greg Arndt issues a clearance form to Mike Davison, conductor of Train #1905

Station Agent/Operators
  1. Issue clearance cards for all scheduled departing trains on confirmation from dispatcher
  2. Issue #19 orders as instructed by dispatcher
  3. Register names of crew and train numbers for all arriving and departing trains
  4. Advise dispatcher of all arrivals and departures
Conductors Mike Davison, Scott Buckley, and Ry Bates (with order sheets) go over schedules with yardmasters Robert Grove and Chuck Ricketts

Conductors Mike Davison, Scott Buckley, and Ry Bates (with order sheets) go over schedules with yardmasters Robert Grove and Chuck Ricketts

Conductors
  1. Verify wheel report (number and identity of all cars in train)
  2. Obtain clearance card from stations agent/operator, confer with engineer
  3. Plan any switching moves with engineer
  4. Monitor on-time and safe operation of train at all points at all times
  5. Protect train from all directions in case of failure to maintain schedule
  6. Advise dispatcher immediately upon failure to maintain schedule.
Engineers
  1. Verify readiness of motive power assigned to train
  2. Confer with conductor regarding correct current time, timetable, and authority to proceed
  3. Confer with conductor on all switching moves
  4. Conduct sanding brake test (operation of DCC throttle)
  5. Conduct running brake test (verify all cars coupled, DCC brake)
  6. Operate train over the road safely per timetable, speed limits, and special orders
Station Agent Greg Arndt coordinates throttle settings with engineers Jim Elder, Allan Manson, Clint Brown, and Tom Murphy

Station Agent Greg Arndt coordinates throttle settings with engineers Jim Elder, Allan Manson, Clint Brown, and Tom Murphy

Station agent Arndt issues a Form 19 order authorizing Scott Buckley's extra train to meet and pass an opposing extra by virtue of superiority of direction (northbound per company rules) while Enforcer Chuck Ricketts looks on.

Station agent Arndt issues a Form 19 order authorizing Scott Buckley’s extra train to meet and pass an opposing extra by virtue of superiority of direction (northbound per company rules) while Enforcer Chuck Ricketts looks on.

 

Conductor Clint Brown coordinates heavy switching moves at Union Mills with engineer Scott Buckley. Both boys play nice together which is good . because the mill here is a major shipper on the Port Townsend Southern.

Conductor Clint Brown coordinates heavy switching moves at Union Mills with engineer Scott Buckley. Both boys play nice together which is good . because the mill here is a major shipper on the Port Townsend Southern.

 

It's not all work! Conductor-Engineer team Ry Bates and Tom Murphy enjoy a seat and a cold one between runs

It’s not all work! Conductor-Engineer team Ry Bates and Tom Murphy enjoy a seat and a cold one between runs

Olympia Clinic, Operations, Tacoma Clinic

4D Spring Meet Clinic Announced

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner, Spring Meet Chair

Dreaming?

Click image to register!

Click image to register!

Suppose you were able to fill an entire level of your home with a new layout? What would you build? What would you choose for a theme? An era? What if you wanted to model in a large scale but only had limited space? Are you tired of driving that string of beautiful diesels that made no sounds?

Well, we’ve planned a day for you to find answers to these and all sorts of other questions at the Annual 4D Spring Meet! We’ve reserved the Embassy Suites Hotel in Tukwila for May 18. Space will fill up quickly.

Twelve clinics will be led by some of the most talented model railroaders you will ever meet on:

  • Layout Design and Operations
  • Modeling Prototypes
  • Scenic details
  • Electronics
  • Modules
  • Lots more

Register online now or by mail. Please don’t wait, or you’ll be left on the platform, waiting for next year. Check our website now.

Convention or Meet

Seattle-North Clinic – Railway Express Agency – April 4, 2013

Written by Jeff Moorman
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By Jeff Moorman

Join us on Thursday (April 4) for our next clinic. Our topic will be the Railway Express Agency (REA). Tom K, whose father was a long time REA employee, will be our presenter.

Last month we took a video cab ride over Donner Pass in Southern Pacific Cab Forward #4274. The video was edited together from several different films shot during the last cab forward run over the pass in November 1957. You sure do get a great view looking out from the front of one of those engines. And there was some great scenery to look at. Also great were some super shots of #4274 and her train.

There were three folks displaying for show and tell:

  • Dennis T brought a couple of N scale ore cars and a N scale Doodlebug into which he had installed a DCC decoder.
  • I brought some photos of a 12 inches to the foot scale Colorado & Southern caboose I saw in Washougal, WA over Presidents’ Day weekend.
  • Rob J displayed more of his seemingly inexhaustible collection of N scale resin vehicles.
Dennis T's Ore Cars and Doodlebug - March 2013

Dennis T’s Ore Cars and Doodlebug – March 2013

Jeff's Caboose Photos

Jeff’s Caboose Photos

More of Rob J's N Scale Vehicles

More of Rob J’s N Scale Vehicles

We meet at the Ronald United Methodist Church, 17839 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline, WA. That is on the west side of Aurora (State Route 99) between 175th and 185th Streets and more specifically, between the Cadillac dealer on the south and Deseret Industries to the north. Going southbound on Aurora, make a right-hand turn into the church driveway immediately after passing the Deseret location). The parking lot is at the rear of the church. For regular meetings enter the lower, left side of the church from the rear lot.

Meetings are the first Thursday of each month, except July and August. In June we usually do a tour. Doors open around 7:00 PM and the program starts at 7:30.

Remember the next meeting is April 4 and the one after that is May 2. Hope to see you there or at least sometime on down the line.

Seattle-North Clinic

Westside Local March Madness

Written by Ken Liesse
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Bill Hupe

This month’s clinic was turned into an interesting experience for all who attended.

It, as always, was good to see the regular crew: Jack Hamilton, Armand Cyr, Jim Byerley, Pete Rowe, Steve Neupert, Steve Avery, Bud Johnson, Glen and Corey Walls, Reed Cranmore and new member Jerry Enders.  Surprise visits from the Superintendent Ken Liesse and the rest of the Liesse clan, Ed, Gay and Dave, made the clinic special.

Our scheduled clinician had to cancel at the last minute, which left me wondering how the clinic would progress.

We started off the meeting with reports from around the NMRA. Reed reported that the Bremerton Northern Model Railroad Club had set up the small configuration of their new layout for the Veterans out at Retsil Veterans’ Home. Said it worked well and once again was appreciated by the Vets. He said they are now working on completing the scenery by the Kitsap County Fair in August. He also said the fair is talking about moving them to the Pavilion from the Presidents Hall.

I then passed the floor to Ken, who brought us up-to-date on 4th Division business. Ken also introduced his clan. Most attendees had not met Ken’s family, so it was good to have this opportunity. Ken also brought up the thought of us hosting layout tours on this side of the “Sound” in conjunction with a 4th Division event.

I then passed the floor to Jack Hamilton, who brought us up to date on the NMRA. Jack presented Merit Awards to Jim Byerley for his Structures – Jamestown Station and Lumber Yard. Jim also was awarded a Civil Merit Award for his dual-gauge turnout. Jack then presented Pete Rowe with Merit Awards for his structures:  Coaling Tower, Pennzoil Service Co. and Cycle Shop. Pete doesn’t have a home layout, but his structures show up on other modelers’ layouts.

Jack also brought a couple of new modeling items to share.  First was Balsa Foam, an amazing plastic foam that carves like butter and paints like wood. It’s ideal for sculpting and model making because it can be carved, chiseled, sawed, textured, or embossed with sharp-edged detail. He also shared a set of brushes: “Special Brush Set” from Micro-Mark™ that appeared to be a set of make-up brushes.

Glen Walls entered his first scratchbuilt building, a freelanced engine shop, in the Model of the Month contest. And Pete Rowe shared a diorama created to showcase a trestle built by Dennis Hill (past 4th Division Superintendent) which will be presented to his widow.

We took a short break where the Liesse Clan spent time with clinic members.

Following the break, Jack Hamilton presented a clinic on “Building a Resistance Soldering Machine” based on an article from October 1995 Mainline Modeler™ “Resistance Soldering” by Karl Eiler.

The clinic wrapped up with a drawing for door prizes.

Come join us April 12th at United Way of Kitsap County, 647 6th Street, Bremerton. Clinic starts at 6:30. Clinician Walt Huston will present a clinic on DCC Decoder installation.

Westside Local Clinic, ,

Elections for 4D Board Postions

Written by Doug Bulger
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Ken Liesse, Superintendent, 4D/PNR/NMRA

Just a reminder, all candidate statements from anyone who wants to nominate themselves for the 4D Board need to have such statements in to Nominations Chair, Ed Liesse (eeliesse@aol.com) by this Saturday, March 30. We hope to have the ballots in the mail by the end of next week.

As a reminder, there are three positions open: the Assistant Superintendent and two Directors. With the passing of the new bylaws and policy manual last year, we no longer vote for Directors in individual positions. The top two vote getters will be the winners.

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