Stephen Chadwick started an HO layout but hasn’t finished it and would now like to find it a good home.
The layout is 12′ x 11′ and the substructure and top are in. He has cork roadbed and track but hasn’t installed it yet. He also has lots of buildings, switches, and other stuff just ready for someone to install.
If you are interested, or know of anyone who would be, contact him at 206 842-5235, or Annice70@aol.com. They live on Bainbridge Island.
In case you haven’t seen it on the PNR web page, the 2012 Joint PNR/PCR Convention will be May 2 – 5, 2012 in Medford, OR. More information is here. While the full schedule of events is not completed yet, the committee is working toward that goal. Committee members are from both PNR and PCR and several of the PCR members are still working on the X2011West National Convention in Sacramento from July 3 – 9. If you haven’t registered for the closest National to the 4th Division in a long while, you still have time.
Help spread the word in the PNR about the Medford Joint Convention. Register now on the website. Early bird registration is only $45 through October 31. We certainly want to have more attendees than PCR!
For those of you who are interested, BNSF will be featured on the Travel Channel’s new series “Off-Limits” tonight at 9:00 on Comcast channel 36. Users of other cable providers should check their listings.
In the show, host Don Wildman will explain how Seattle was developed and take a look at modern Seattle. He also rides the cab of a BNSF vehicle train and explains BNSF’s historic ties to the Pacific Northwest and looks at modern freight service. If you miss it tonight, it will be aired again on Memorial Day.
The Tacoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will host the NRHS’s annual convention Cascade Rails 2011 this June 20 – 26 in Tacoma, WA. Special events will include Chehalis steam, S.P. 4449 steam, Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad steam, trolleys, electric buses, geared locomotives, rod locomotives, first and second generation diesels, major intermodal operations, historic railroad structures, and more!
They have a 40-page program available for download, so there will be loads to do. The 4th Division is honored to have this major convention. Learn more at their website, CascadeRails2011.com.
To the Grab Iron’s readers:
The Grab Iron is only as good as the articles submitted for publication. The Grab Iron needs to know about events in a timely manner, with an article and/or images. Time-sensitive events should be published at least a month early so folks can plan.
Please let us know if there are news-worthy happenings in the railroad industry, prototypes, model railroading, etc., by submitting an article to 4dpnr@allowe.com. If we don’t get an article, we can’t publish the news.
The bits of news we hear about, we publish. But with no paid reporter position, we depend on you the members of the PNR 4th Division to help us gather and disseminate the news. Our contact information is on the 4D website.
I am working on a feature for the blog that will allow us to create a “month-in-review” PDF file that anyone could download and print, but it has been problematic at best. If you can help on this effort, please contact us!
JJ Johnston opened the evening with the announcement that our last get-together of the season in June will be a field trip to Chooch Enterprises in Maple Valley. There will be a small charge to help cover the costs of transportation, which will be determined in the coming weeks. We will be visiting the business, then going upstairs to view the layout. JJ will pass on further information when it becomes available. JJ also reminded everyone that ballots for open 4D offices need to be postmarked by May 20.
Ed Liesse made mention of the upcoming NRHS convention in Tacoma (June 20-26). Although most of us may not be able to participate (membership in the NRHS is required), there will be a lot of steam trains in the area during that time, including a trip over Stampede Pass behind SP 4449.
Ed went on to inform everyone that Pacific Northwest Region will be holding a joint convention with Pacific Coast Region next May in Medford, OR. Planning is still in the early stages, but hopefully there will be tours of Micro-Trains and Campbell Scale Models. There will also be clinics and a non-rail program. Siskiyou Summit 2012 will be held May 2-5.
Ken Liesse mentioned an item that showed up in the 4D mailbox: an announcement from the Port of Everett about an upcoming auction. They’re getting rid of two dioramas that they hope someone can re-use for modeling purposes. The auction will take place on June 2nd at the Port of Everett Conference Center. Watch for more information in the Grab Iron.
Stu Rogers brought the video library and mentioned that we now have all of Paul Scole’s videos in the library for member perusal. See the whole list of available titles on the 4D website.
There were five entries in the Model of the Month contest, which was won by Ron Cole with his scratchbuilt 1/32nd scale 12-1 Pullman. Other entries included the Washington Brewery (Di Voss), a switch tower with interior details (David Yadock), a display diorama (Bob Rorabaugh) and a handlaid, code 55, N gauge yard throat (Stu Rogers). Photos of the entries can be viewed here.
After the break, Russ Segner presented the clinic, which was an update on what’s happening at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie through a slide/video show. There has been quite a bit of progress since last June when Eastside held a picnic at the museum. Weyerhaeuser #1, the Fairbanks-Morse, has been pretty much completed and is now awaiting lettering. There has been much progress on Chapel Car #5, the “Messenger of Peace,” and the museum has a paid staff on hand to oversee the work being done on the car. Russ himself is continuing work on coach #218, a 1912 built Barney-Smith car. A lot of work has gone into this car, and the train crew is looking forward to adding it into the regular service. The other big news is that two items from the museum collection – WRL caboose #1 and GN caboose #001 – have been moved into the new Train Shed at the Railway History Center. These are the first exhibits to be housed in the Train Shed with many more to follow. (These cabooses were moved in Thursday afternoon between School Train runs and Russ had pictures of them to show us that night.) Russ reminded everyone that anyone who is interested in restoring equipment, teaching kids about railroading or even operating the railroad can volunteer at the museum. He will keep us up-to-date as progress continues.
At the end of the evening, JJ reminded everyone of the BOD meeting on 5/21 and Michael Kavanaugh reported that he was now cancer free. A great way to end the evening.
Traditionally the Seattle-North Clinic takes a railroad-related tour instead of its June meeting. This year is no different. And, like always, we are not telling you where we are going ahead of time. Yes, we can promise some variety, plus maybe something a little different. Yes, it was arranged by a self-proclaimed professional railroad tour guide. And, yes, we still have some seats left.
The cost is $5 (bring it with you) to defer the cost of the vans and we will leave the church parking lot no later than 7:00PM on June 2. See directions below. We should get back to the church by 10:00.
There are a limited number of seats, so do not just show up on June 2 without me responding that we have room.
The clinic meets at the Ronald United Methodist Church, 17839 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline, WA. That is on the west side of Aurora (State Route 99) just north of 175th Street, between the Cadillac dealer and Deseret Industries. Note that there is still a lot of construction along this stretch of Aurora. Therefore, it might be best to be going southbound so you can make a right-hand turn into the church driveway immediately after passing the Deseret location.
Meetings are the first Thursday of each month, except July and August. In June we usually take a tour. The tour is by pre-registration only and leaves from the parking lot at the rear of the church building at 7:00PM sharp. If you are late, there is no provision for you to join the tour in progress.
Hope to see you there or at least sometime on down the line.
The Tacoma Northwestern Model Railroaders held a successful first year show and swap meet May 14 – 15, at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma. Several modular railroads attended, including the 4dNTRAK Group. Sound Transit had a Sounder there with its cab car open. A few lucky souls even got into the locomotive (and convinced the engineer to “wind ‘er up!”) The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad provided steam train rides on the hour to 72nd Street and back. Over $3,200 was raised for the Tacoma food bank.
On behalf of the 4dNTRAK Group, I would like to thank TNW for providing us with a wonderful place to run trains during what’s usually a slow spring for train shows. And what better place to host a show than beside working prototypes? Not to mention all the wonderful, non-franchise food places right in the building.
Photos by Ken Liesse are posted here.
And photos by William M. Kajdzik are posted here.
MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic with 36 modelers in attendance and asked for suggestions of when and to whom we should donate the money that we collect every month for charity. It was decided that we would give the donation to the Northwest Food Network at our clinic on November 10th.
Under announcements it was mentioned that the NRHS would be held in Tacoma in June. In May 2012 the PCR and PNR will hold a joint convention in Medford, OR called the Siskiyou Summit 2012. For more information go to http://pcrnmra.org.
The TNW will hold their 1st annual swap meet and train show May 14–15 in Freighthouse Square in Tacoma. Sound Transit will have a Sounder there with its cab car open. Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is providing train rides on the hour to 72nd Street and back.
What’s new at the Hobby shop was presented by Tacoma Trains which included items from Lionell, Kato, Atearn, Bachmann, MTH, Accurail, and Micro-Trains.
In the model of the month section, or “bring and brag” as we like to call it, we had a number of entries which included a Maerklin pre-war freight consist; a water tower; a Black Bear Co. bridge kit; a homemade easy-to-access drill index and paint brush stand; freight cars weathered with different media; a tree made from an azalea branch; a GP-39M with a depressed-center flat car and transformer load, plus caboose with a flashing red light; and a diorama with a Sierra West tool shed. The winner of the contest was Dave Faucett with his tool shed diorama.
The clinic, given by MMR Dale Kraus, was “What I Did on my Vacation.” It was a trip back in time while railfanning in the UK, beginning in London with a trip to York riding the rails behind steam power and then on to Wales to ride behind various narrow-gauge steam locomotives. A great slide show and very interesting equipment; thanks to Dale for great clinic just in time for summer to entice us to go and search for places to railfan.
Next month’s clinic will be presented by Scott Groff and Mike Shaw. We hope to see you there at our usual place, the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. at the corner of 112th Street and Waller Road, clinic starts at 7:30 PM.
The photo is courtesy of Ken Liesse, who has posted more photos here.
Election Results Are In! The new NMRA Canada Director will be Don Hillman, replacing Clark Kooning, MMR. The new Central District Director will be Peter Magoun, MMR, replacing Bob Beatty, MMR. The new Regional Advisory Council Director will be Stephen Priest, MMR, replacing Bob Ferguson. All new Directors will take office at the Sacramento Board Meeting.
This year’s Board Meeting will be held prior to the Sacramento x2011 Convention on Friday, July 1, 2011. Current plans put the meeting in the Beavis Room in the Sacramento Grand Sheraton Hotel. Tentative starting time is 9 am. Locations and times subject to change.
Sacramento x2011 Reminders: A special “Carpet Cutting Ceremony” (the indoor equivalent of a Ground Breaking Ceremony) for the Gallery Exhibit will be held Thursday evening of the Convention. All are invited.
Convention Registrations have passed 1,500 attendees, while attendance at the Advance Section over the weekend prior to the Convention is over 150 attendees. You can still register online at www.x2011west.org. You can also sign up for tours and operating sessions and purchase convention cars and shirts.
2012 Elections: Open for election in 2012: President, Vice President-Administration, Vice President-Special Projects, Eastern District Director, Pacific District Director, and At-Large North America Director. Please check the NMRA Executive Handbook, located here, for the extent of the districts affected and qualifications. All candidate names for consideration by the Nominations Committee shall be submitted to Didrik Voss, davoss@pvmtengr.com, no later than June 15, 2011.