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September NMRA InfoNet News

Written by Al Lowe
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Gerry Leone, NMRA Communications Director

After several years of work by incoming NMRA Secretary John Stevens, all U. S. Region boundaries are now defined by state and county boundaries instead of zip codes. This will help keep boundaries stable as the U. S. Post Office redefines zip code areas.

Michiana Division co-founder Jim Six, college professor and experienced education expert, has agreed to lead a team charged with developing a standardized clinic format to help ensure consistency and uniformity for clinics made available to Divisions and Regions. The format will be based on one currently in use in the Michiana Division.

Following the recommendation of Standards & Conformance Department head Didrik Voss, MMR, the Board directed that all eight DCC-related Recommended Practices now become NMRA Standards. Further, in the future the issuance of a Conformance Warrant is not to be influenced by Recommended Practices but will be based solely on adherence to applicable NMRA Standards.

President Charlie Getz appointed outgoing president Mike Brestel to replace Larry DeYoung, who retired as publisher of NMRA Magazine. Charlie also announced thatMike has also agreed to serve as assistant to the president to ensure a smooth transition between administrations.

Chief Financial Officer Frank Koch reported that the attendance of the National Train Show inGrand Rapids was the fourth-best ever. Saturday’s attendance exceededSacramento on the same day. Three more booths were sold at Grand Rapids thanSacramento.

Looking ahead to next year’s convention in Atlanta, the Peachtree Express team reports that it’s putting the finishing touches on a series of short videos featuring selected layouts that will be on tour during the convention. The videos will be posted to YouTube and will be able to be accessed from links on http://www.nmra2013.org

The Peachtree team is also proud to announce that there will be a number of Civil War-related tours – both rail-related and general interest – as well as a “Civil War track.”

And it’s not too soon to plan for the 2014 convention! The Cleveland Convention’s website is now up and running and taking registrations at http://www.2014cleveland.org.

News

Model Railroad Garage Sale this Saturday

Written by Al Lowe
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Ted Becker

There will be a Model Railroad Garage Sale this Saturday, September 22, 2012, from  9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at 23715 NE 6th Court, Sammamish, WA (in the Tree Farm development).

There will be 8–10 tables of great stuff: HO Locomotives, rolling stock, assembled and kit structures, dozens of HO turnouts, N Scale, railroad memorabilia, photos, slides, etc. S gauge, American Flyer, and  more!

Email me for more info.

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Tacoma Clinic

Written by Al Babinsky
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Al Babinsky

In the absence of MMR Gene Swanson, Al Babinsky opened the clinic and welcomed all to the 2012-2013 season. Gene decided that he would rather be in Alaska than doing the clinic but he missed an interesting clinic on how to become a “Sparky.”

Only 24 modelers attended, mostly due to the Narrow Gauge Convention in Seattle. Ed Liesse read a letter from his friend in Alaska concerning Gene’s visit. Mike Shaw gave us some information about the Video Library and obtaining access to the library. Bill Deutscher from Tacoma Trains presented what’s new at the Hobby Shop which included books and models in the scales from O to Z, including a model of a saw mill from Woodland scenic, almost good enough to qualify for the model of the month.

Speaking of the model of the month, we only had two entries; a couple of GP’s from Walt Houston in N scale and three cabeese to show how weight was installed. Walt Houston won the model of the month.

After the break, Al Babinsky presented a clinic on how to build a DC adjustable power supply. Power supplies are available at reasonable cost, but sometimes the output voltage is not correct, so by building one you can correct that problem. Not everyone is a “sparky” but if you follow the rules and watch out you should not have a problem. The high amperage adjustable regulators have the case as the output which is positive and need a heat sink. Be sure that the case of the regulator has insulation between it and the heat sink and that the screws have an insulating sleeve and washer. The DC power supply is required to use the SPROG II to program and then run the programmed locomotive. In the hand-out it was explained how to get 16V out of a 12v transformer and how to carry the load required without a drop in voltage. The handout will attached to this report so that anyone desiring to build one has the required information.

Next month clinic will be on October 11 at our usual location the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. the corner of 112th Street and Waller Road at 7:30 PM. Hope to see all of you there. Bring a friend to share in our good time and learn something new.

 

 

 

 

 

Tacoma Clinic

Tom Hawkins, 4D member, wins MR’s Track Plan Contest

Written by Al Lowe
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Al Carter

Tom Hawkins, 4D  member from Anacortes, recently won third place in Model Railroader’s 2012 track plan contest and will have an article called, “Room-sized Plan With A Car Float” in the October issue.

Tom’s plan depicts the fictional Port Thomas and Southern, inspired by the original Port Townsend and Southern. The plan is closely based  on Tom’s own layout.

The article includes a great photo of the prototype Seattle & North Coast (ex-Milwaukee Road) rail barge facility in Port Townsend, a photo I have never seen before. Most rail barge facilities seem to have straight tracks leading out to the ramp and float, but not this one. It snakes out into the bay on an S-curve approaching the float. A cool photo in a neat article!

Tom carries the title “Layout Planning Guru” for the Skagit/Whidbey NMRA clinic and, as the title suggests, he really enjoys working up different track plans. He has helped several fellow model railroaders with their layout plans. This comes naturally to Tom, a retired architect.

So, Tom: now that your’re famous, when will you be open for layout tours?

News, Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Sept 6 – Seattle North Debut for the 2012-13 Clinic Season

Written by Jeff Moorman
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By Jeff Moorman

Please come join us this Thursday, September 6, for the first clinic of the new season. The Mart should be there with the promise of some “freebies,” but they didn’t provide any specifics.

Bring your summer modeling projects and we can all admire your work during “show & tell.” And come prepared to talk about what you did this summer (railroad-wise, that is).

At our last meeting, Bobj regaled us with tales from his railroad tour trip to Cuba. It sounded like quite the trip. Based on what I heard, Cuba seems to be defined by four things: (1) some wonderful people; (2) an inconsistent bureaucracy; (3) some marvelous older American cars with jury-rigged, non-American power trains; and (4) some very interesting railroads (of all sorts). The pictures of the sugar cane mill railroad operations were particularly interesting.

Glenn F was there to give a presentation on the upcoming National Narrow Gauge Convention. This convention is being held September 12-15 right here in Bellevue. It is still not too late to register. Their website is www.seattle2012.com.

“Show and tell” had two displays. Dennis T showed an N scale VO-1000 switcher and a Doodlebug. Rob J brought an N scale modern fire truck.

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 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 September 6. And the one after that is October 4.

Hope to see you there or at least sometime on down the line.

Seattle-North Clinic

OLY-OPS is looking for a few good…

Written by Al Lowe
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Scott Buckley

… operators!

There are a few spots still available for OLY-OPS 2012, to be held Saturday, November 3. If you’d like want to operate on some of the finest layouts in the 4th Division, sign up now!

Email your name and anyone else who will carpool with you to Gregory Wright. Tell him if you have special needs such as “can’t do steps” or “no crawl-unders.”

Participants must be in Olympia by 8:15 a.m and will operate on one layout in the morning and another in the afternoon. Everyone is also invited to a no-host dinner following.

Only request a spot if you are sure you can attend. No-shows destroy our schedule and eliminate those who could have attended.

Olympia Clinic, Operations

NMRA InfoNet News — Post-Convention Edition, Part 1

Written by Al Lowe
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Gerry Leone, NMRA Communications Director

Here is the August NMRA InfoNet News.

  • Charlie Getz is the new NMRA President. Mike Brestel passed the reins to him at the Annual business meeting inGrand Rapids. Charlie says his first order of business is to simplify the NMRA’s organizational structure.
  • New Board Members: Pacific Director Michael Bartlett (Australia) andCanada Director Fred Headon became members of the Board inGrand Rapids. Michael replaces Peter Jensen; Fred replaces Clark Kooning, who took over for Don Hillman who retired for health reasons.
  • Charlie appointed Western Director Jack Hamilton to lead a new Strategic Planning Committee, which will prepare a plan to help guide the NMRA into the future. He’ll make a preliminary report at the winter Board meeting.
  • The Sacramento National Convention host group presented the Board of Directors with a check for $7,500 to be donated to the Diamond Club. Diamond Club funds are used for scanning and posting archival photographs and artwork of the NMRA’s Kalmbach Memorial Library.
  • Charlie updated the Board on the state of the “Magic of Scale Model Railroading” exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum (CSRM). An anonymous donor has pledged $250,000 in matching funds and, as of late July, donations of at least $160,000 were still needed to achieve the match. The funds must be received by the end of 2012. The exhibit is expected to cost between $500,000 and $750,000. The “Magic of Scale Model Railroading” exhibit will be seen annually by 600,000 visitors to CSRM.
  • Page Martin, Garrett Ewald, and Barrett Johnson were named to the Marketing Department during the convention. Each individual has professional marketing experience and is tasked with developing advertising and promotions aimed at retaining existing members, re-enlisting lapsed members, and attracting new ones.
  • Ben Sevier of the Pacific Southwest Region has accepted the position of Information Technology Director for the NMRA.

Remember: if you change email addresses, be sure to send your old and new email addresses to: NMRA-infonet@earthlink.net.

News

4D Summer Meet — Last Minute Info & Driving Directions

Written by Al Lowe
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Al Lowe

Dress

Even though Saturday is predicted to be really hot, I must warn you: dress warmly! I stopped by the Hilton Garden Inn Thursday afternoon in my typical summer garb and quickly cooled down. So if you dress for Saturday’s outdoor heat, you may want to bring a layer with you. On the other hand, if your house isn’t air conditioned, you should definitely be at the 4D Summer Meet! It will be a great way to stay cool on the hottest day of the year!

Layout Day Change

There have been a few slight changes to the schedule but only one major change: Stafford Jones has to work Sunday and has graciously offered to open his layout to us on Saturday afternoon only. Since it’s only five minutes from the Hilton, it will be easy for you to drop over.

Payment

4D Treasurer Sherman Stevens will be on hand to take your $20 registration fee from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. He prefers cash, but will accept checks. Sorry, no credit cards. After 10:30, you will not receive a badge, nor directions to the layouts, and you won’t be admitted to the clinics and layout open houses. (The annual General Membership Meeting that closes the day is, of course, still open to any and all 4D members.)

Model Display

While we want you to share your models with everyone attending, we cannot take responsibility for them. You display them at your own risk. Of course, only 4D members will be anywhere near the model room, but still…

Directions

The Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn is southwest of exit 15 off I-90 at the western edge of Issaquah. The address is 1800 NW Gilman Blvd. Here’s a map and driving directions. Call (425) 837-3600 if you can’t find it.

In Closing

I hope you’ll be able to attend Saturday and Sunday. This is a good opportunity for members who attend one or another of our local monthly clinics to get to know members in other parts of our Division. See you Saturday!

Convention or Meet