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Grab Iron Posts

“Second Saturday” Zoom layout tour, postponed to October 12, will feature Kevin Wills

September’s “Second Saturday” Zoom layout tour has been postponed a month, due to the joint NP/GN convention layout tours taking place across the region on Sept 14. The next Zoom layout tour will be held at 10am on Saturday, October 12, featuring local modeler Kevin Wills. Kevin’s layout is a freelanced mainline extension of the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific lines through the western Sierra Nevada mountain area roughly set in the 1980s.  His 33’x13′ basement layout transits three levels, with staging, main yard with turntable and engine maintenance facilities, switching in various towns and long mainline stretches of track.  A train can take up to an hour to transit the entire layout at scale speed. The mainline is fully signaled with a full-hardware CTC panel.  A branch line is included in dark territory just to make it more interesting.  Scenery is about 75-80% complete. Please plan to attend if you can.

As usual, we will open the Zoom meeting at 9:30am for fellowship and tech rehearsal, and Kevin’s presentation will start at 10:00am and last about an hour. We plan to post a recording of the event afterwards on the 4dPNRMovies YouTube channel.

Here is the Zoom info to join the live meeting on Saturday morning:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87210657142?pwd=ZHhIWnZGMUU0YnAwNVUvMENheEZSUT09

Meeting ID: 872 1065 7142
Passcode: 805577

Burien Electric Train Shop Article

By Bob Rorabaugh

In case you missed it, on June 9, 2024, the Pacific NW Magazine published a 3-page article about the Burien Electric Train Shop, with photo of owner Scott Law and 5 other photos of customers and store shelves full of trains! Here is the link to the article:

https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/buriens-electric-train-shop-is-a-model-destination-for-enthusiasts

I wrote to the magazine suggesting that a follow-up series could be some of the world class layouts in the area, that the hobby is tens of thousands modelers strong, etc. Perhaps a few other Grab Iron readers could lend a voice.

Bob

O Scale Buildings Available

By Fred Kaser

I am tearing down my On2 layout due to health reasons. I have been working
on this for 40 some years and have a variety of structures that range from
scratch built to laser cut kits.

Outhouses, wood truss bridges, large and small industries, stations and town
business flats and full size buildings. Era is post WWI. Approximately 50
structures of various types. I would like to donate these to someone if I
can before they become dumpster fodder. Attached are some images of a few of
the structures.

Contact: Fred Kaser
Phone 503-949-5340
Email: fkaser@onlinenw.com

Fred Hamilton Passing

Fred Hamilton an NMRA life member for over 50 years died August 1, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. He was 82 years old.

Fred served on the advertising sales staff of Trains and Model Railroader magazines for 25 years. After that, he was general manager of NorthWest Short Line for several years.

He was a Trustee and President of the Model Railroad Industry Association, and later served as its Executive Director. He was a founding Director of the Narrow Gauge Trust Fund and the Narrow Gauge Preservation Foundation.

An avid and talented On3 modeler, Fred knew everyone in the model railroad industry.

Fred piloted Air Force C-141 Starlifters during the Vietnam conflict. Friends who served in country told me his cargo often – or, perhaps, always – included fallen soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Now he rests in peace with the heroes he brought home.

New Garden Railroad Open House

Cole Van Gerpen

Seattle’s newest garden railroad is ready for service! Luke Connor’s Oregon, California and Eastern and Weyerhaeuser Narrow Gauge Division is a 1:20.3 scale garden railroad located near Puyallup, WA.

The railroad depicts Southern Oregon, connecting the Mill at Klamath Falls with the yard and car float at Sycan. Between the two, you’ll find 12 feet of elevation gain, 150 feet of steel bridges, and much, much more!

The railroad will be hosting its first open house on Sunday, August 25th, from noon – 8:00 PM, and we want to see you there! Bring your trains and help us break our new railroad in! Address available upon RSVP; see the form on our website at ocery.org.

If you have questions or need additional information, contact Cole Van Gerpen, (425) 279-3922, or cole@cvgtrains.com.

Eastside Clinic Layout Benchwork

Our Zoom meeting is this Thursday at 7PM

We will share ideas and experinces in building benchwork. Share pictures of you work.

Here is the link:
Russ Segner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Eastside Clinic
Time: Jul 18, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88199685830?pwd=eZFFR59bUiehjbfe2MnEZyLkzC04ba.1

Meeting ID: 881 9968 5830
Passcode: 684294



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Ed Liesse Passing

By Bill Messecar

Dave Liesse wanted to let you all know, his dad (Ed Liesse) passed away earlier this week. He died of degenerative disease of the nervous system with adverse effects from a fall at the end October. No services of any sort are planned, but if that changes, I’ll let you know.  This was expected, and they’ve essentially been without him for several months anyway, so there’s no great change to their routine and they’re all doing fine.  It truly is a good thing all around.

We have lost a wonderful friend and fellow modeler in Ed. He and his wife Gay and his sons have been very active in the NMRA and 4th Division for many years. Ed ran all the inside activities at the last Seattle NMRA national convention in July 2004 and I had the pleasure of working closely with him at that convention managing the clinics. Ed received many awards for his service from the 4th Division, PNR and the NMRA. Condolences to Ed’s family in their loss of a wonderful man and role model.

Bill Messecar
4D Superintendent

Ed Liesse, 2004

Collection Donated to 4D

I picked up a large collection of HO yesterday. It is four large tubs full, mostly GN. It includes rolling stock, mostly Accucraft, etc. in excellent condition in original boxes and many DCC equipped diesels, also GN.

I will hold an open garage sale next Saturday, the 6th from 10 AM to 2PM at my home in Newcastle. If interested, contact me at 206 200 2211.